11/22/2025
What we do is professional work. From our research papers, to the hours of internships, to supervision hours to passing the ASWB examination we are professionals.
Social work is professional work- and we need the Department of Education to treat it that way. Recent federal changes to loan limits for professional and graduate programs leave social work out, despite the fact that MSW and DSW programs meet rigorous professional standards and prepare practitioners for licensed, regulated, life-impacting work. This exclusion harms social workers and threatens access to our profession. NASW is working with CSWE and coalition partners to push the DOE to recognize social work as a professional degree. We’ve updated our student loan relief resources with the latest information and will be issuing an action alert as soon as the public comment period opens. When that happens, we will need social workers, students, educators, and allies everywhere to submit comments. Your voice will matter, your expertise will matter, your solidarity will matter.
Learn more:
socialworkers.org/Advocacy/Policy-Issues/Student-Loan-Debt-Relief-for-Social-Workers