What Is an Advanced Standing MSW?
Updated on: October 1, 2026 | 9 minutes read
By: Alliant University
Earn Your MSW Online in One Year at Alliant
You’ve already invested considerable time and effort in earning your Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). But many advanced positions and clinical licensure pathways require a Master of Social Work (MSW).
If the idea of spending another two years in school and potentially repeating material from your undergraduate program gives you pause, consider Alliant University’s online Advanced Standing MSW. Designed for qualified graduates of BSW programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), it allows you to skip generalist coursework and begin advanced graduate study directly.
If you are currently evaluating your options, asking “What is an Advanced Standing MSW?” is the best place to start. Learning how this track compares with a traditional MSW, and what accelerated online study requires, can help you decide whether Alliant’s program fits your goals.
Key Takeaways
- Recognizes Your Background: Builds on your CSWE-accredited BSW so you transition straight into specialized clinical preparation.
- Accelerated Online Format: Delivers a 10-class, fully online program across three 15-week trimesters.
- Uncompromised Quality: Expect the same academic rigor, experienced faculty support, and CSWE-accredited preparation as a traditional two-year degree.
- Faster Career Advancement: Allows you to step into MSW-level roles and start accumulating postgraduate hours for clinical licensure sooner.
What Is an Advanced Standing MSW?
When exploring what is Advanced Standing MSW study, the answer comes down to momentum and focus. This accelerated graduate pathway is specifically designed for BSW holders, allowing you to bypass foundational coursework and dive directly into upper-level specialization. At Alliant, our 30-unit curriculum deepens your clinical expertise through targeted instruction in assessment, intervention, policy, advocacy, and research.
“The value of Advanced Standing is that students can use graduate school to move forward rather than revisit generalist material they have already completed,” says Dr. Megan Hampton, (LISW, LCSW) MSW program director at Alliant University. “They can focus their time on the complex decisions and responsibilities that come with advanced social work practice.”
That targeted focus accelerates your timeline toward clinical licensure, leadership roles, and the broader community impact you’re working to make in the social work profession.
What’s the Difference Between an Advanced Standing MSW and a Traditional MSW?
Now that you better understand what an MSW Advanced Standing path entails, you’re likely wondering how it differs from a traditional MSW. At Alliant, both options are part of the same online, CSWE-accredited MSW program, but your undergraduate education determines where you begin.
If you hold a qualifying BSW, you can enter our Advanced Standing MSW program and concentrate on graduate social work courses right away. If your bachelor’s degree is in business, psychology, sociology, or another subject, you can pursue Alliant’s traditional MSW, which includes foundational social work education before moving into specialized study.
While the traditional path spans two years, Advanced Standing lets you complete your degree in as little as three trimesters. Both prepare you across the social work competencies established by CSWE and support your preparation for MSW-level practice. The difference in length reflects the education you completed before enrolling, not the quality of the degree you earn.
Interested in learning more about career timelines? Read How Long Does It Take to Become a Social Worker?
What Can You Expect From an Online Advanced Standing MSW?
Completing an MSW on an accelerated schedule may sound appealing, but it’s important to consider how accelerated MSW Advanced Standing programs will fit into your life. Alliant delivers its online MSW Advanced Standing program asynchronously, meaning you don’t have to attend required weekly classes at set times. Instead, you complete your work within established deadlines.
That flexibility can help if you plan to work while earning your degree or need to accommodate family and other responsibilities. With MSW class starts available in January, May and September, you can enroll when it best fits your schedule. However, because the Advanced Standing curriculum is condensed, you’ll need to make sure you set aside consistent time for reading, assignments, course activities, and field education.
“Flexibility is about more than just setting your own schedule,” Dr. Hampton says. “Students who thrive turn that freedom into a strong routine while staying connected with faculty and classmates every step of the way.”
What Are the MSW Advanced Standing Requirements?
Before you apply, make sure your degree and academic record meet Alliant’s MSW Advanced Standing requirements. You must:
- Hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
- Have earned your BSW within the past seven years.
- Have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0*.
- Submit official transcripts from every postsecondary institution you attended.
- Complete our graduate application and provide all required admission materials.
*Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 are still encouraged to apply; you may be considered for an individualized review, which includes a mandatory admissions interview and an exemption petition.
If you don’t qualify yet for Advanced Standing, you may still be eligible for Alliant’s traditional MSW. Additionally, depending on your prior academic record, Alliant may accept transfer credits to help streamline your path. An admissions counselor can review your academic background and help you determine which option best aligns with your goals. Contact Admissions directly at admissions@alliant.edu, 866-U-ALLIANT, or by scheduling a virtual appointment.
What Should You Look for in the Best Advanced Standing MSW Programs?
While a fast-track online MSW may catch your attention, you’ll want to consider the entire program before choosing where to enroll. The best Advanced Standing MSW program for you should support your education, schedule, professional goals, and licensure plans.
As you compare accredited online MSW programs with Advanced Standing tracks, ask yourself:
- Does the program hold accreditation, specifically from the CSWE?
- Will the online format work with my schedule?
- Does the curriculum support the type of social work I hope to pursue?
- How will the university assist me with field education placements?
- What access will I have to faculty, advising, and exam preparation resources?
- Will the degree meet educational requirements where I plan to practice?
These questions can help you look beyond speed and choose an online Advanced Standing MSW program that meets your long-term needs.
How Can Earning Your MSW Sooner Expand Your Impact?
Finishing your MSW sooner can do more than reduce the time you spend in graduate school. It allows you to pursue MSW-level positions, begin postgraduate licensure requirements earlier, and apply your education sooner in communities that need qualified social workers.
That need is growing across the United States, including California. As of September 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6% growth in social worker employment nationwide through 2035. In California, Employment Development Department projections through 2032 show 18.5% employment growth for mental health and substance abuse social workers alone, with 16,250 total projected job openings in that specialty.
Behind those figures are people waiting for support. Schools need social workers who can assist students and families. Hospitals need professionals who can support patients coping with illness. Behavioral health programs need social workers prepared to respond to mental health and substance use concerns.
With an MSW, you’ll be prepared to pursue social work careers in healthcare, education, behavioral health, child and family services, policy, advocacy, or nonprofit leadership.
If clinical licensure is your goal, remember that earning an MSW fulfills the educational requirement but doesn’t grant a license automatically. You’ll generally need supervised postgraduate experience and must pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) licensing examination. Requirements vary, so review the rules in the state where you plan to practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Advanced Standing MSW Programs
Can You Enroll in Alliant’s Advanced Standing MSW Without a BSW?
No. You need a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program to qualify for Alliant’s Advanced Standing MSW. If your bachelor’s degree is in another subject, you can pursue our traditional MSW.
Why Were Advanced Standing MSW Programs Created?
Advanced Standing MSW programs were created to eliminate redundant coursework for Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) graduates. Following the Council on Social Work Education’s accreditation and standardization of BSW degrees in the 1970s, graduate schools recognized that BSW holders already possessed core generalist skills and required a distinct, specialized pathway rather than repeating introductory material.
Alliant University’s Advanced Standing MSW builds on this model by offering eligible BSW graduates a streamlined, one-year pathway to earn their master’s degree faster without duplicating foundational studies.
Can You Work While Completing an Online Advanced Standing MSW?
You may be able to work while completing the program, but the accelerated three-trimester format will require consistent attention. Alliant’s asynchronous format gives you more control over when you study, while your job, field education, and other commitments will determine what you can reasonably manage.
Does an Advanced Standing MSW Automatically Grant Licensure?
No. Your MSW provides the graduate education required for many social work licenses, but most jurisdictions also require post-degree supervised experience, an examination, or both. Check with your state licensing board for current requirements.
How Alliant Prepares Advanced Standing MSW Students
Designed to build on your undergraduate degree and prepare you for specialized clinical competence, Alliant’s Advanced Standing MSW program delivers advanced study in clinical practice, assessment, intervention, policy, advocacy, and research.
You’ll learn from California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) faculty who bring real-world experience in clinical practice, social work education, leadership, scholarship, and community-based services to the online classroom. Their experience connects what you study with the daily decisions and responsibilities you may encounter in social work practice and helps guide you through ASWB exam alignment and LCSW eligibility.
Moving directly into advanced coursework helps you enter the workforce sooner. More importantly, it prepares you for greater responsibility and a broader contribution to the clients and communities who need you.
Build on Your BSW. Earn Your MSW Sooner.
You’ve already completed the foundation. Find out how Alliant’s fully online Advanced Standing MSW can help you prepare for advanced practice in as little as one year.