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 a current, unrestricted social work state license.
  • 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
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 a current, unrestricted social work state license.
  • 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.
Exam Fees
Initial Certification | non-member$415
Initial Certification | HPNA member$285
reTEST Assured $125

Members of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network (SWHPN), and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) 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: Please contact SWHPN, at 412-850-3375 or info@swhpn.org for a member pricing code.
Members of NHPCO: Please utilize the following link to log in to the NHPCO website to obtain a member pricing code https://www.nhpco.org/sw-cert/.
Members of HPNA: Member pricing is automatically confirmed and calculated within the application.

Testing Windows and Deadlines

For exams March 1 – 31
  • December 1 – Application Start Date
  • January 15 – Paper Application Deadline
  • February 15 – Online Application Deadline
For exams June 1 – 30
  • March 1 – Application Start Date
  • April 15 – Paper Application Deadline
  • May 15 – Online Application Deadline
For exams September 1 – 30
  • June 1 – Application Start Date
  • July 15 – Paper Application Deadline
  • August 15 – Online Application Deadline
For exams December 1 – 31
  • September 1 – Application Start Date
  • October 15 – Paper Application Deadline
  • November 15 – Online Application Deadline
Applying for your exam
Online Application & Scheduling

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. For technical assistance with online applications, contact PSI at 833-256-1422.

Important Application Information
  • HPNA membership number to determine eligibility for membership discount (if applicable)
  • 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)
  • 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 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.
Exam Application Instructions

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.

Certification Resources

Candidate Handbook

Live Remote Proctoring

reTEST Assured Program

Additional Resources