Demonstrated Practice Information

Demonstrated Practice activities must meet the following criteria to be claimed for OSW-C Initial or Renewal of Certification:

  • Rationale: Demonstrated Practice activities are required for the Initial and Renewal candidate’s portfolio to provide evidence of the professional’s knowledge and ability to effectively perform core components of the oncology social worker competencies and role.
  • Activities must be on or related to topics listed in the OSW-C Competency Domains.
  • Activities must be performed and/or implemented in an oncology social work setting.
  • Organizational committee participation activities (e.g., Cancer Committee, Breast Committee, Tumor Board) must be explicitly included in the OSW-C Competencies and the group must meet at least four (4) times per year with the professional attending at least 75% of the meetings and taking an active role. Participation in regular staff meetings is not accepted as Demonstrated Practice.
  • Activities used for Demonstrated Practice requirement may NOT be claimed for CEU requirement.
  • For Initial:
    • Three (3) documented oncology specialty-related Demonstrated Practice activities completed during the two (2) years prior to application.
    • Not more than two (2) activities may be from any one Domain of the OSW-C Competency Domains.
  • For Renewal:
    • Two (2) documented oncology specialty-related Demonstrated Practice activities completed during the two (2) years prior to application.

Sample Demonstrated Practice activities include:

  • Leading / organizing a program offered through ACS, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Cancer Support Community, etc.
  • Facilitating or co-facilitating a support group for individuals impacted by cancer, families, and/or caregivers for a duration of six (6) months or more
  • Involvement in formal oncology-related educational presentations in the community and non-CEU oncology-related presentations
  • Offering oncology-specific formal presentations to social work and/or interdisciplinary colleagues in your own settings (excluding care rounds and case conferences)
  • Preceptorship of an MSW/DSW level social work student in an oncology setting (with proper documentation)
  • Participation in some aspect of research in oncology (e.g., cancer survivorship)
  • Active leadership role in AOSW, APOS, or APOSW through committees, SIG activities, Board membership, serving as a State Representative, etc.
  • Participating in your institution’s Cancer Committee
  • Participating in oncology community prevention and screening programs
  • Publishing oncology-related content in newsletters, lay magazines, or newspapers
  • Developing a new program to meet a new need or enhance patient care
  • Writing an oncology-related program/service grant
  • Facilitating an ongoing Patient/Family Advisory Council for a duration of six (6) months or more

Examples of Acceptable Documentation of Required Demonstrated Practice Activities

Note:
1. NO documentation that contains Personal Identifying Information or Personal Health Information or that otherwise might violate privacy laws, policies, or regulations should be submitted to BOSWC unless properly and completely redacted.
2. Due to the inability to adequately assess performance from a job description or a redacted or blank assessment form, job descriptions and psychosocial assessments may not be submitted as Demonstrated Practice.
3. Candidate’s name and pertinent information showing duration, content/activity, other evidence of completion must be included in the documentation.
  • Program/Project/Activity promotional materials, report, redacted documents, or approved minutes showing the candidate’s name, the content covered from the OSW-C Domains, date, emails, letters, etc.
  • Committee (Cancer Committee, Breast Committee, Tumor Board, etc.) attendance record showing candidate name and participation in at least 75% of meetings per year with the group meeting at least four (4) times per year
  • Supervisor letter attesting to role in the activity, the dates, the content, and other details necessary to validate active involvement (separate from the Supervisor Attestation and Assessment of KSAs)
  • Copies of published articles or book chapters or a notification of publication acceptance
  • Copy of course syllabus, including course readings, learning objectives, and content for teaching a course
  • Developed and/or presented presentation promotional materials including the candidate’s name, title of presentation, and date. If relevance to OSW-C Domains is unclear from promotional materials, please submit a copy of presentation and learning objectives
  • Field placement work, MSW Intern Practicum instruction, academic advising, practicum student supervision, or licensure supervision – must be for at least one (1) full semester and attestation letter or program documentation may be provided as evidence

Examples of Unacceptable Demonstrated Practice Activities

  • Submission of position description
  • Redacted or blank psychosocial assessment forms
  • Professional association membership certificates or other proof of membership