If you have seen social workers on Instagram, Reddit or LinkedIn talking about CSWE “removing anti-racism” from social work education, here is what is actually happening, what has and hasn’t changed, and what it means for you as a student, educator or practicing social worker.
The short version: nothing has changed yet. The 2022 standards are still in force. But the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has released a first draft of its 2029 accreditation standards that would remove the stand-alone anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion competency, and the public comment period closes November 20, 2026.
What Is CSWE and Why Do Its Standards Matter?
CSWE accredits BSW and MSW programs in the United States. Its Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) spell out the competencies every accredited program must teach and assess. Because most states require a degree from a CSWE-accredited program for licensure, the EPAS shapes what every new social worker learns.
What the Current 2022 Standards Say
The 2022 EPAS includes nine competencies. Competency 3 is “Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice,” and Competency 2 is “Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice.” These are still the standards programs are accredited under today.
What the Draft 2029 EPAS Would Change
CSWE opened public comment on the first draft on October 13, 2026. Based on CSWE’s announcements and analyses published by social work educators and advocacy groups, the draft would:
- Replace the ADEI competency with “Apply Person-in-Environment Perspective in Practice”
- Rename Competency 2 from “Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice” to “Promote Dignity, Respect, and Justice for All”
- Shift language from “anti-racist and anti-oppressive” toward “just and inclusive” and “inherent dignity and worth”
- Add a 10th competency on technology, AI and digital environments
- Make field placement a shared responsibility, so students aren’t solely responsible for finding their own placements
- Keep field minimums at 400 hours for BSW and 900 hours for MSW programs
The side-by-side wording comparisons circulating online come from critics’ readings of the draft, including the Influencing Social Policy statement. If you plan to comment, read the draft itself on CSWE’s 2029 EPAS page.
Why CSWE Says It Is Making These Changes
CSWE points to state laws. It says anti-DEI restrictions have been enacted in 19 states that are home to about 40% of accredited programs, and that it will not ask programs to break state law. CSWE leadership has said its “underlying values and expectations have not changed.”
The draft also follows months of outside pressure. In 2025, federal executive orders targeted DEI and accreditation, and in May 2026 the group Do No Harm demanded CSWE remove its DEI requirements. CSWE publicly refused that demand in August. Critics argue the national rewrite goes further than state laws require, since CSWE had already let programs in restricted states adapt their competency language in January 2026. CSWE has not said federal pressure drove the draft.
How Social Workers Are Responding
- Educators staged a walkout at CSWE’s Annual Conference in Atlanta in October, calling for explicit, assessable anti-racist and anti-oppressive competencies.
- Influencing Social Policy called on CSWE to withdraw the draft.
- NASW state chapters, including Texas and Illinois, have encouraged members to submit comments.
- Some educators see room for more viewpoint diversity in the new framing.
After early feedback, CSWE said on October 20 that its writing committee will reassess the language substitutions, consider “more explicit language around addressing and combating racism,” and strengthen environmental justice language.
What This Means for You Right Now
If You Are a Social Work Student
Your program is still accredited under the 2022 EPAS and its nine competencies. Any final 2029 standards wouldn’t take effect for years, and programs can’t adopt them until they are final.
If You Teach or Supervise Field Education
Programs in states with enacted restrictions may already be using adapted competency titles in accreditation documents. Ask your program how it is handling the January 2026 guidance.
If You Are a Practicing Social Worker
The NASW Code of Ethics has not changed, and its value of social justice still applies to your practice. Your license and your ethics are separate from CSWE’s education standards.
Two Other Changes Every Social Worker Should Know
- Federal student loan caps: Starting July 1, 2026, social work was left off the Department of Education’s list of professional degrees, so MSW students can borrow up to $20,500 a year and $100,000 total in federal loans. NASW opposed the exclusion.
- The new ASWB exam: New licensing exams launched August 3, 2026, with fewer questions and a bigger focus on ethics. Check ASWB for the official content outlines.
With borrowing capped, planning your career and your pay matters even more. My guide on how to negotiate salary as a social worker can help.
My Take: Why Every Social Worker Should Start a YouTube Channel
I know this isn’t a long-term solution, but this is exactly why I recommend that every social worker start a YouTube channel.
CSWE can’t control what we teach future social workers when we use our own channels to keep the tenets of social work practice embedded in the work we do. They only have as much power as we give them. If we decide those tenets matter to us, and they should, then we can take control of teaching the kind of social work practice that honors marginalized groups, centers people who are oppressed and locked out of services, and champions the rights of the very communities we were taught to fight for.
Your experience, your ethics and your voice belong to you. Share them. If you want help turning what you know into content that teaches and reaches other social workers, that’s what I teach in Teach What You Know, and you can see how I do it on my YouTube channel.
How to Submit a Public Comment
- Go to cswe.org/2029-epas and read the draft.
- Attend CSWE’s public information session on November 13 at noon ET if you can.
- Submit your comment before November 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
- Be specific: name the competency, quote the language and explain how it affects students, clients or practice.
Whatever your view, this is your chance to shape how the next generation of social workers is trained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did CSWE remove anti-racism from social work education?
Not yet. The 2022 standards, including the ADEI competency, are still in force. A first draft of the 2029 standards proposes removing the stand-alone ADEI competency, and it is open for public comment.
When would the 2029 EPAS take effect?
CSWE plans a second draft in fall 2027 and final standards around 2028 to 2029, with an implementation timeline to be announced.
Does this change the NASW Code of Ethics?
No. The Code of Ethics is set by NASW, not CSWE, and it has not changed.
Will this change the ASWB licensing exam?
Not directly. ASWB sets the exam separately, and its new exams launched in August 2026.
