The Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker – Certified (APHSW-C®) examination is designed for experienced hospice and palliative social workers.
Eligibility requirements for applicants with a state license as a social worker, with a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) or a master’s degree in social work (MSW)
- Applicants must hold either a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) or a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or equivalent accreditation for degrees outside of the United States
- BSW applicants must have at least three years of post-degree supervised experience in hospice and palliative social work and have at least three years of post-degree experience in hospice and/or palliative social work within the previous five years. Supervision must be provided by an MSW or licensed professional experienced in hospice and/or palliative care. (One year of experience is defined as working 2,000 hours)
- MSW applicants must have at least two years of post-degree experience in hospice and/or palliative social work within the previous five years. (One year of experience is defined as working 2,000 hours)
- Applicants must attest to practicing in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics
- If the applicant’s state requires licensure to practice based on the applicant’s educational level and type of practice, licensure in good standing is required.
Eligibility requirements for applicants with a state license as a social worker, but without a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) or a master’s degree in social work (MSW)
- Applicants must hold either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in a related field (e.g., sociology, psychology, gerontology, social science, public health).
- Applicants must have at least three years of supervised experience in hospice and palliative social work and have at least three years of experience in hospice and/or palliative social work within the previous five years. Supervision must be provided by an MSW or licensed professional experienced in hospice and/or palliative care. (One year of experience is defined as working 2,000 hours.)
- Applicants must attest to practicing in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.
- If the applicant’s state requires licensure to practice based on the applicant’s educational level and type of practice, licensure in good standing is required.
| Exam Fees | |
|---|---|
| Initial Certification | non-member | $435 |
| Initial Certification | HPNA, SWHPN, National Alliance for Care at Home member | $295 |
| reTEST Assured | $135 |
Members of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network (SWHPN), and National Alliance for Care at Home are eligible to receive member pricing for APHSW-C® recertification. If you are a member of one of these partnering organizations, please utilize the following directions to secure member pricing.
Members of SWHPN: Find your member discount code within SWHPN’s online member portal. Please contact info@swhpn.org if you need assistance.
Members of the National Alliance for Care at Home: Please utilize the following link to log in and obtain a member pricing code https://allianceforcareathome.org/education/social-work-exam-certification/
Members of HPNA: Member pricing is automatically confirmed and calculated within the application.
Quick Links
Testing Windows and Deadlines
- December 1 – Application Start Date
- February 15 – Online Application Deadline
- March 1 – Application Start Date
- May 15 – Online Application Deadline
- June 1 – Application Start Date
- August 15 – Online Application Deadline
- September 1 – Application Start Date
- November 15 – Online Application Deadline
Applying for your exam
You may complete the application and scheduling process online. After the application information and payment have been submitted, eligibility will be confirmed or denied, and you will be prompted to schedule an exam appointment at a test center or for live remote proctoring. Additional eligibility information may be requested.
The current online application is for the upcoming certification exam window only, and the application must be received by the testing company on or before 11:59 pm Central Time on the exam deadline date. For technical assistance with online applications, contact PSI at 833-256-1422.
To receive the membership discount for HPCC exams, candidates must purchase the membership before submitting the exam application.
Click the button below to view your exam details or reschedule an exam.
View/RescheduleUse the button below to access your LRP exam on the day of your scheduled exam.
Access Your ExamWhat to know:
- HPNA membership number to determine eligibility for membership discount (if applicable) or NHPCO/SWHPN member pricing code
- Choice of test assessment center if scheduling an appointment online. Test locations are the same for all exams. PSI Testing Locations
- Credit card information (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)
- For clarification of any specific concerns or questions, contact the HPCC national office via email at hpcc@goHPCC.org or by phone at 412-787-1057.
HPCC and PSI comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities or impairments are not deprived of the opportunity to take the examination solely because of a disability or impairment, as required and defined by the relevant provisions of the law. Special testing arrangements will be considered for these individuals, provided that an appropriate written application request for accommodation is received by PSI by the application deadline and the request is approved.
To request accommodations, you must complete the online form at Test Accommodations Request and attach the Documentation of Disability-Related Needs form. This form must be completed by an appropriately licensed professional. It may take up to 10 business days for the accommodation request to be reviewed and approved. Upon approval, you will receive a confirmation email and/or call from PSI with further information on how to schedule your exam. If you have questions regarding exam accommodations, you must call the Accommodations Department at PSI at 800-367-1565 ext. 6750.
HPCC does not review or approve accommodation requests. All questions must be directed to PSI at the number above.
Certification Resources
Candidate Handbook
Live Remote Proctoring
reTEST Assured Program
The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF) provides scholarships to nurses nationwide to cover the cost of certification fees and are valid for those earning a new Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) certification or those who are renewing their current HPCC certification. HPNF accepts applications on an ongoing basis.