Become a Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker

Major Takeaways:

Hospice and palliative social workers provide critical emotional support and practical resources to patients with terminal illnesses and their families, helping them cope during a difficult time.
While a bachelor’s degree can qualify someone for entry-level roles in hospice care, obtaining a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) and the Certified Hospice & Palliative Social Worker (CHP-SW) certification expands career opportunities and earning potential.
To become a CHP-SW, social workers must complete an accredited MSW program, supervised field experience, specific continuing education units (CEUs), and pass a specialized exam focusing on end-of-life care.
The CHP-SW certification enhances professional credibility, career advancement, and salary prospects in hospice and palliative care settings, with certified professionals in this field often earning over $70,000 annually.

Death is a natural part of life, but it still scares many of us. Hospice and palliative care is for people with life-limiting illnesses. It focuses on easing pain and symptoms and helping people live their final days with dignity, comfort, and support.

Featured Programs

Although you can work in hospice and palliative care with only a bachelor’s degree, your career opportunities would be much wider if you become a Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker.

The Certified Hospice & Palliative Social Worker (CHP-SW) exam tests social workers’ skills and knowledge of end-of-life care, grief counseling, and teamwork. The CHP-SW certification process is intricate.

This article outlines becoming a CHP-SW, detailing educational requirements, supervised practice, and the certification examination.

Related:

The Role of a Hospice and Palliative Social Worker

Hospice and palliative care are different but related.

Hospice care is for patients expected to live less than six months, focusing on comfort rather than curing the illness. Palliative care, however, helps manage symptoms and can be used for both terminal and non-terminal illnesses.

Nevertheless, hospice and palliative social work have overlapping roles.

Emotional and Practical Support

Hospice and palliative care social work entails providing emotional support to patients and families who face a terminal diagnosis. You will offer counseling, support groups, and family sessions. Essentially, your goal is to create a safe space for expressing emotions and foster emotional well-being during this difficult time.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Your role will also involve connecting patients and families with healthcare services and resources. You will help with tasks like advance care planning, healthcare directives, and accessing community support.

Advocacy

Above all, social work in hospice settings advocates for the dignity and respect of patients at the end of life. You must ensure patients are treated with compassion, their wishes are honored, and they can find peace and closure. Social workers are dedicated to preserving dignity in every part of their care.

Educational Pathways for Becoming a CHP-SW

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW)

This degree level focuses on teaching you how to provide social services to individuals, families, and communities—focusing on serving the oppressed or underserved. Common topics and courses delve into:

social work
mental health
patient advocacy

Pursue a Master’s in Social Work (MSW)

MSW degree programs are advanced degrees that allow you to specialize in a specific social work practice. You’ll undergo intensive training to become a licensed social worker. You’ll learn advanced topics, including:

assessment methods
how to support mental health and social well-being
how to diagnose and treat psychosocial issues

You will also learn to evaluate your own practice. You can focus on elder care, grief counseling, family dynamics, and medical ethics.

Before enrolling, make sure that the program is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). The main benefit of earning an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program is meeting state licensing requirements, as all states require clinical social workers to have degrees from accredited schools before they can be licensed.

Graduates of accredited programs also show they have the necessary skills and competencies. This makes them more qualified when seeking employment and qualifying for certification, such as the Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker exam.

Field Experience and Supervised Training

Practical Experience

While traditional social work coursework helps you understand the situations you might face, there’s no substitute for real-world experience. Practical experiences allow you to:

apply what you’ve learned
develop problem-solving skills
gain the confidence needed to handle the challenges of social work

MSW programs for palliative care and/or hospice care typically require at least 900 hours of field education, with many programs requiring more—around 1,000 hours in total. Most students split their field placements, completing about 300 hours at one organization and the rest at another.

Key Skills Developed

Practical experience helps you build key skills that employers and clients need:

Crisis intervention
End-of-life care planning
Team collaboration

Certification Requirement

Once you’ve earned your BSW/MSW degree and state license, you’ll need to pursue a specialty focused on hospice and palliative care. The CHP-SW certification requires you to have at least the following:

20+ CEUs in hospice and palliative care
3 years of supervised practice in hospice care and palliative care.

Steps to Obtain CHP-SW Certification

Eligibility Requirements

The first step to becoming a certified palliative or hospice care social worker is earning a degree in social work from an accredited school. A bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field, like psychology, may be enough for entry-level roles. However, most social workers pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) to meet state licensing requirements.

You must also complete certain hours of supervised work experience and earn an endorsement of the NASW Code of Ethics.

Continuing Education

Continuing education (CEUs) is key to staying current in hospice and palliative care. There are several ways you can gather CEUs. This includes:

Attending specialized workshops or conferences focused on hospice and palliative care.
Pursuing online courses specifically designed for hospice and palliative care professionals.
Joining and attending webinars and conferences offered by professional associations like HPNA, SWHPN, or NHPCO.

You can also do self-study courses or review relevant literature and research articles to earn CEUs.

The CHP-SW Exam

The CHP-SW exam tests your knowledge of hospice and palliative care. It focuses on topics supporting patients and families at the end of life, such as ethical principles, end-of-life care, and family support strategies.

Certification Costs and Renewal

The exam fees for initial certification are as follows:

Non-members: $415
Members of HPNA, SWHPN, or National Alliance for Care at Home: $285

If you need to retake the exam, the retest fee is $125.

To renew and maintain your certification, you need to meet the required 20+ hours of CEUs continuously. This includes CEUs in areas like pain management, grief counseling, or end-of-life ethics. You also need to maintain NASW membership.

Top 5 Schools for Hospice and Palliative Social Work Programs

University of Southern California (USC)

USC is one of the best schools for hospice social work. It’s notable for its specialized MSW track in palliative care and aging. The track includes six units of practice and three units of assessment, all within the 48-unit curriculum.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

UM Ann Arbor offers a strong program with a focus on integrated health, including palliative care. Founded in 1967, the U-M Medical School Department of Internal Medicine Division of Geriatric & Palliative Medicine is now one of the largest and most successful in the country.

Boston University

Known for its MSW program with advanced practice options in healthcare and hospice, Boston is a popular school for those who want a career in end-of-life care social work. You can also complete the MSW program in an accelerated format, which lets you graduate in under two years.

New York University (NYU)

NYU provides training in palliative care through its MSW and healthcare social work programs. The Zelda Foster Studies Program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (PELC) MSW Fellowship offers advanced training and mentorship to help NYU Silver students build successful careers in providing high-quality, evidence-based palliative and end-of-life care services.

University of Washington

UW is widely known for its MSW program, which focuses on medical and geriatric social work. It has become one of the best training grounds for grief and bereavement counseling for social workers. UW offers three degree options—Advanced Standing, Day, and Extended Degree programs—to fit students’ personal, professional, and educational needs.

Benefits of Becoming a Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker

Career Advancement

Certified hospital and palliative social workers have improved job prospects, as they are more eligible for specialized roles in hospitals and hospice centers.

Higher Salary Potential

Certifications like CHP-SW can lead to salary increases in clinical and healthcare settings. On average, social workers earn $58,380 annually, with hospice social workers earning over $70,000 with advanced qualifications. Employers also offer benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Professional Recognition

The CHP-SW credential highlights expertise in a specialized area of social work, building trust with patients and healthcare teams.

Conclusion

Getting the CHP-SW certification is a great way to boost your career in end-of-life care. It opens up more job opportunities and helps you build trust with both clients and employers. The certification shows that you have the knowledge and commitment needed for hospice and palliative care.

It takes some dedication—education, hands-on experience, and passing the exam—but the rewards are worth it. Take the next step and join a community of social workers making a real difference.