Become A Certified Oncology Social Worker OSW-CTM

OSW-CTM Initial Requirements

  • Academic Preparation – You must have a Master of Social Work diploma (MSW/MSSW/MSSA) from a Council on Social Work Education accredited (CSWE) program. Non-CSWE accredited MSW program degrees and MSW schools/programs in candidacy are not eligible for OSW-CTM.
  • Licensure or Terminal Academic Preparation – You must hold a current, active, unencumbered, master’s level social work license issued by a U.S. state or territory (or equivalent if applicant is from another country), or if employed in an academic/faculty or research role may hold a PhD or DSW in social work in place of licensure.

  • Current Employment – You must be currently employed in a social work position engaged in the professional delivery of paid, post-master’s biopsychosocialspiritual services—including clinical practice, academic education, advocacy, administration, policy formulation, grant writing, and/or research—to patients, families, and caregivers facing the impact of a potential or actual diagnosis of cancer and healthcare professionals on the care team.

  • Oncology Social Work Practice Hours – You must have a minimum of 4,000 Oncology Social Work Practice hours (approx. 2 years or 24 months at full-time; approx. 3.9 years or 47 months at part-time [20 hours per week]) within the most recent five (5) years. This work experience must be paid MSW social work experience post master’s degree. This is attested to by the candidate and validated by Supervisor Attestation. Individuals with no supervisor (e.g., in private practice) may assign the Supervisor Attestation to a colleague that is among their consultative group of otherwise provides professional feedback. Volunteer work, internships, and any other non-employed work experience do not count toward the 4,000 hours.
  • Code of Ethics – Applicants must read and attest to uphold and abide by the NASW Code of Ethics.
  • Attestation and References – You must have an Immediate Supervisor and Two (2) Non-supervisory Colleagues submit the Assessment of Candidate Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities based on the OSW-CTM Competency Domains and directly related to the work responsibilities of the role. Additionally, your immediate supervisor must attest to your employment and Oncology Social Work Practice hours.

  • CEU Requirement – You must submit documentation of ten (10) hours of accredited social work CEUs on topics listed in the OSW-CTM Competency Domains that have been completed within the two (2) years prior to application. A minimum of two (2) hours must be on content in Domain 1: Clinical Assessment and Intervention Knowledge and Practice. CEUs should be from a non-duplicative variety of content areas across the OSW-C Competencies. Specifically, CEUs should NOT all be from the same content area/on the same topic. Completion of multiple learning activities on the same topic/competency area may not effectively fulfill the purpose of the continuing education requirement and the Board retains the right to deny acceptance of such CEUs. CME, Nursing, and APA CEUs are not accepted for initial certification. Activities used for Demonstrated Practice requirement may NOT be claimed for CEU requirement. More information on types of and documentation for CEUs is online at CEU Requirement Information.

    Note: To ensure compliance, CEUs must be entered in the application system FIRST. Once requirement is met, the application for become available.
  • Demonstrated Practice Requirement – You must submit for your portfolio 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-CTM Competency Domains. More information on types of and documentation for Demonstrated Practice is online at Demonstrated Practice Requirement Information.

    Note: 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. Due to the inability to adequately assess role performance from a job description or a redacted or blank assessment form, job descriptions and psychosocial assessments may not be submitted as Demonstrated Practice.
  • FEE STRUCTURE:

    • 2-year certification fee: $225 [Increasing to $250 on January 1, 2024. Apply now and save!]
    • Member Discounted 2-year certification fee: $150 [Increasing to $175 on January 1, 2024. Apply now and save!] – Members of the following professional organizations supporting oncology social workers and providing documentation of current membership receive a $75 discount: Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW), Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Work (APOSW), American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS), Florida Society of Oncology Social Workers (FSOSW), and Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network (SWHPN). The Board feels strongly that participation in a professional organization helps to strengthen knowledge, community and leadership – all which align with our mission.
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Existing users/current certificants should use the primary email address on file with BOSWC as their Username. Use the Forgot Password functionality to reset your account password for initial login. If you are an Existing User and you do not remember the email address on file, please contact us at [email protected]. Please do NOT create a new account.

New users (those that have never applied to or been certified by BOSWC) must create an account.

Important Application Notices

The CEU requirement must be met before the OSW-C application will be available on your profile. Review CEU requirements on this page (at left) and on the “tile” on your profile once logged in. Once entered CEUs meet program requirements, the application will be available on your profile Dashboard under Things You Can Do.

To ensure our emails always make it to your inbox, please add us ([email protected]) to your email whitelist, address book, and/or contacts list. If that does not work, then the next step would be to ask your institution for help in adding our email address or domain (oncc.org) to the institution “Safe Sender” policy or email security rules.

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IMPORTANT POLICIES:

  • All BOSWC program applications, related documentation, and payments must be submitted online via the secure candidate management platform. Application fees are nonrefundable for denied applications.
  • Withdrawn Applications are subject to a $75 Administrative Fee after submission/payment and evaluation has begun; Refund will be application fee less $75. Late and Reinstatement fees will not be refunded.
  • Renewal Application Deadline – BOSWC OSW-CTM credential holders must submit a complete and paid Renewal Application THIRTY (30) DAYS PRIOR to their Renewal Due Date (printed on their BOSWC OSW-CTM certificate) thus ensuring the credential does not lapse/expire and that the certificant can maintain certification without interruption. Applications for renewal must be submitted on or before the Renewal Application Deadline (30 days prior to the individual’s Renewal Due Date) with all required documentation and payment of fees) to avoid additional fees or expiration of their credential.
  • Late Fee – Renewal applications submitted after the Renewal Application Deadline (thirty [30] days prior to the Renewal Due Date) and by the Renewal Due Date will be charged a Late Fee of $25.00.
  • Denied Application Wait Period – Initial or Renewal applicants denied for any reason (e.g., lack of CE, DP activities) after fulfilling any requests by the BOD Reviewer during portfolio review must wait 90 days before reapplying as an Initial candidate. If a renewal applicant, the OSW-CTM mark may NOT be used past the expiration date. Candidates are given the opportunity during application/portfolio review to reconcile any concerns regarding criteria after which a final Accepted or Denied decision will be made (similar to a pass/fail of a certification exam). The 90-day waiting period for denied portfolios is based on the 90-day waiting period required by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) before retaking a failed licensure exam and provides the professional time to complete OSW-CTM program requirements, gather appropriate documentation, and otherwise prepare for re-application. This new policy was approved by the BOSWC Board of Directors on February 2, 2024 and will become effective May 1, 2024.