News

The Social Work Registry, a service established by ASWB in 2004, will wind down operations over the coming twelve months. The Registry was developed as a tool for professional mobility in social work, a function that is being subsumed by the Social Work Licensure Compact, which has been adopted in 30 U.S. states.

Twenty-eight states have adopted the Social Work Licensure Compact as of June 2025. Compact Commission committees are meeting regularly to develop proposed rules, consider financial resources and needs, and plan next steps for implementation.

Twenty-two delegates convened via Zoom for the first meeting of the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission on Tuesday, September 17. The meeting focused on governance of the Commission itself, with commissioners discussing bylaws, data systems, ex officio members, and initial operating funds.

Seven states have now enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, triggering the implementation of multi-state licensure for social workers.

The Council of State Governments and partners have announced that language is finalized for the Social Work Licensure Compact. The compact must be enacted into state law by at least seven states. At that time, the Social Work Compact Commission will be created and additional infrastructure established, and then multistate licenses will begin to be issued.