Defining the Minimum Expectation of MSW Students: Implementation and Application of Technical Standards

The call for professional education programs to clarify the standards students are held accountable to is particularly challenging for social work. For social work educators, tackling this task not only involves grappling with their role as gatekeepers to the profession but also ensuring that such standards preserve the profession’s commitment to accessibility in the student body. This article describes the process and lessons learned at one graduate school of social work who developed and implemented technical standards for professional and ethical behavior for MSW students. The challenges articulating professional standards for students beginning their social work education are shared and the discussion serves as a guide to inform the future development and implementation of similar standards across social work programs.