Can a social worker date a former client?

The Code says social workers should not have sexual relationships with former clients, and anyone claiming an exception carries the full burden of showing there was no exploitation (1.09(c)). It sets no waiting period, and some states, such as Texas, ban sexual contact with any former client.

Can I follow or friend a client on social media?

The Code says to avoid accepting clients' requests or having personal relationships with them on social media (1.06(h)), and to avoid personal contact with clients by technology (1.06(e)).

NASW Code of Ethics: A Private Practice Guide for LCSWs

The NASW Code of Ethics is the National Association of Social Workers' statement of the values, principles and standards that guide social workers, and for many licensed clinical social workers it is also part of the rules their state board enforces. Most guides to it are written for students and the licensing exam. This one is for LCSWs in private practice, or about to start one: what the Code is for, its six core values, the six sections of standards in our own words with standard numbers, the standards a solo practice meets every week, how state boards use the Code, exactly where the edition stands, and a checklist you can copy.

Status on October 25, 2026: the current edition is the 2021 NASW Code of Ethics, in effect since June 1, 2021. NASW's Delegate Assembly is set to vote on proposed amendments on November 18, 2026. The details, with sources, are in the edition section below.

What the NASW Code of Ethics is and what it is for

NASW's Delegate Assembly adopted the first edition of the Code on October 13, 1960 (NASW Code of Ethics page). Today's Code dates from 1996 and has been revised since. Two revisions matter most for private practice: the 2017 revision on technology, in effect January 1, 2018, and the 2020 and 2021 revisions on self-care and cultural competence, in effect June 1, 2021.

The Code has four parts:

Preamble:the profession's mission and its six core values.
Purpose:what the Code is for and a short guide to handling ethical dilemmas.
Ethical principles:six broad principles, one for each core value.
Ethical standards:six sections of numbered standards, 51 in all. A standard is cited by section and number, with a letter for each part: 1.07(m) is item (m) of the seventh standard in Section 1.

The Purpose section lists six jobs the Code does. In our words: it names the core values behind social work's mission; it summarizes the principles that flow from those values and sets specific standards for practice; it helps you see what matters when obligations conflict; it gives the public standards to hold the profession to; it introduces new social workers to the profession's values and encourages self-care and ongoing learning; and it gives the profession a basis for judging unethical conduct, including NASW's own process for complaints against its members.

Four points shape how the Code works in practice:

It is not a rulebook.The Code says it "does not provide a set of rules that prescribe how social workers should act in all situations" (NASW Code of Ethics, Purpose). It doesn't rank its values either; when they conflict, you use your own informed judgment and consider how a peer review would see your decision.
Some standards are firmer than others.The standards section says: "Some of the standards that follow are enforceable guidelines for professional conduct, and some are aspirational." Where the line falls is left to whoever reviews a complaint.
It is not law by itself."Violation of standards in this Code does not automatically imply legal liability or violation of the law." It gains legal force when a licensing board writes it into its rules, and the Code names licensing boards, liability insurers and courts among the bodies that may adopt it or use it as a frame of reference.
It applies online too.Since 2017 the Purpose section says that, in general, the standards apply whether you work in person or through technology, and it defines technology-assisted services broadly: video, phone, text, email, social media and apps.

The six core values and their principles

The core values, each paired with the principle that flows from it (NASW Code of Ethics, Ethical Principles), in our words:

Service:helping people in need and working on social problems comes before self-interest. The Code encourages some pro bono work.
Social justice:challenging injustice, especially poverty, unemployment and discrimination, and working for access to information, services and resources.
Dignity and worth of the person:treating each person with care and respect, promoting clients' socially responsible self-determination, and balancing duties to the client and to society.
Importance of human relationships:relationships are a vehicle for change, and clients are partners in the work.
Integrity:behaving in a trustworthy way. Since 2021 this principle also says social workers "should take measures to care for themselves professionally and personally."
Competence:practicing within your areas of competence and continuing to build your knowledge and skills.

In private practice the service value often shows up as reduced-fee spots or a sliding scale; our sliding fee schedule example shows one way to set that up.

Where to get the NASW Code of Ethics PDF, and how to check you have the current one

NASW publishes the full Code on its website in English and Spanish, and you can read it there without paying. Print and eBook copies are sold through NASW Press. The NASW ethics pages we checked on October 25, 2026 link to the online text, the NASW Press copy, and PDF summaries and FAQs about the 2017 and 2021 changes, not a full-text PDF of the current Code.

Many results for "code of ethics social work pdf" are copies hosted by colleges and agencies, and some are out of date. One college copy in today's top Google results for "nasw code of ethics" is the 2017 edition, which predates the 2021 changes. To check any copy in a minute:

2021 edition (current):standard 1.05 is titled "Cultural Competence" and mentions cultural humility, and the Purpose section has a paragraph on professional self-care.
2017 edition (in effect 2018 to May 2021):standard 1.05 is titled "Cultural Awareness and Social Diversity," and there is no self-care paragraph.
Before 2018:standard 1.07 has no item asking you to set a policy for notifying clients of a data breach, and 1.03 has no item on getting consent before searching for a client online.

If your forms or policies cite the Code, include the year ("NASW Code of Ethics, 2021, 1.07(m)") so the reference stays accurate when the Code changes.

Citing it in a paper. University library guides, such as Saint Leo University's, give an APA reference entry in this form: National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2021). National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English. Check your school's or journal's style guide for the exact format.

Is there a 2025 or 2026 NASW Code of Ethics? The current edition

There is no 2024 or 2025 edition. Documents online labeled "NASW Code of Ethics 2024" or "2025" are overviews or uploads, not NASW editions. Here is what NASW's own pages say, read on October 25, 2026:

The current edition is 2021. NASW's Delegate Assembly voted the latest changes on November 6, 2020 and February 19, 2021 (NASW highlighted revisions). NASW's FAQ on those changes says the 2021 Code took effect on June 1, 2021 and that the changes were limited to the Purpose section, the Ethical Principles (the value of integrity) and standard 1.05 (NASW 2021 revisions FAQ, PDF).
The 2017 revision was voted on August 4, 2017, and NASW called it the most substantive revision since 1996, focused largely on technology (NASW highlighted revisions). It took effect January 1, 2018 (NASW 2017 changes FAQ, PDF).
A vote is coming. NASW is in its 2024 to 2027 Delegate Assembly cycle, which includes reviewing changes to the Code. Members may propose revisions, which are reviewed by NASW's planning task force, its National Ethics Committee and its equity committees before NASW's board decides whether to put them on the agenda (NASW Delegate Assembly, Code of Ethics and Bylaws). NASW says public comment on the proposed amendments is now closed and that "the final proposed version of the Code of Ethics will be voted on at the culminating meeting of the Delegate Assembly on November 18, 2026" (NASW Delegate Assembly, Current and Future Actions).
What is in the proposal: the page with the proposed text requires an NASW member login, so we could not read it and don't describe it here.

What to do in the meantime:

Keep following the 2021 Code.
After November 18, 2026, check NASW's Code page for the result and the date any new edition takes effect.
When a new edition is published, re-read your consent form, telehealth consent, social media policy and website against it, and check which edition your state board's rule names (more on that below).

The six sections of ethical standards, summarized

Each summary is in our own words; the numbers are from the 2021 Code.

Section 1: Ethical responsibilities to clients (1.01 to 1.17)

The largest section and the one private practice lives in, with 17 standards: your primary commitment to clients and when legal duties such as reporting child abuse override it (1.01); self-determination and its limits when a client poses a serious, foreseeable and imminent risk (1.02); informed consent (1.03); competence (1.04); cultural competence (1.05); conflicts of interest, dual relationships and contact with clients through technology (1.06); privacy and confidentiality (1.07); clients' access to records (1.08); sexual relationships (1.09); physical contact (1.10); sexual harassment (1.11); derogatory language (1.12); payment for services (1.13); clients who lack decision-making capacity (1.14); interruption of services (1.15); referral (1.16); and termination (1.17). Read Section 1.

Section 2: Ethical responsibilities to colleagues (2.01 to 2.10)

Respect for colleagues and no unwarranted criticism of them (2.01), keeping colleagues' confidences (2.02), working on interdisciplinary teams (2.03), not exploiting disputes with or among colleagues (2.04), consultation (2.05), sexual relationships with and harassment of supervisees and colleagues (2.06, 2.07), and what to do about a colleague's impairment, incompetence or unethical conduct (2.08 to 2.10). In private practice this covers coordinating care with a prescriber and peer consultation, where you share the least information needed (2.05(c)). Read Section 2.

Section 3: Ethical responsibilities in practice settings (3.01 to 3.10)

Supervision and consultation (3.01), education and training (3.02), performance evaluation (3.03), client records (3.04), billing (3.05), taking on a client who already sees another provider (3.06), administration (3.07), staff development (3.08), commitments to employers (3.09) and labor-management disputes (3.10). If you supervise social workers working toward clinical licensure in your practice, 3.01 applies to you. If you take social work students as a field instructor, 3.02(c) asks that clients be told when a student provides their services. Read Section 3.

Section 4: Ethical responsibilities as professionals (4.01 to 4.08)

Your conduct as a professional in public: competence and continuing education (4.01), nondiscrimination (4.02), keeping private conduct from interfering with your work (4.03), no dishonesty, fraud or deception (4.04), impairment (4.05), accurate claims about your credentials (4.06), solicitation of clients and testimonials (4.07) and giving credit for work (4.08). Your website, directory profiles and marketing all fall here. Read Section 4.

Section 5: Ethical responsibilities to the social work profession (5.01 to 5.02)

Upholding the profession's standards, sharing knowledge and helping prevent unqualified practice (5.01), and the rules for evaluation and research (5.02), including consent, the right to withdraw and protecting participants' identities. If you collect outcome data for a study or publish case material, 5.02 applies, including leaving out identifying details unless you have consent (5.02(n)). Read Section 5.

Section 6: Ethical responsibilities to the broader society (6.01 to 6.04)

Promoting social welfare (6.01), helping the public take part in shaping policy (6.02), providing services in public emergencies as far as you can (6.03), and social and political action against discrimination and for equal access to resources (6.04). Read Section 6.

The sections above are the map. These are the standards that come up every week in a solo or small practice, with what each one asks of you.

Informed consent (1.03)

The Code expects consent in clear, understandable language, with a chance for the client to ask questions (1.03(a)). Its list of what clients should be told makes a good outline for your consent form:

The purpose of your services and their risks.
Limits on services because of an insurer's or other third-party payer's requirements.
Relevant costs.
Reasonable alternatives.
The client's right to refuse or withdraw consent.
The time frame the consent covers.

Then the details: take steps to make sure clients understand, with an interpreter or translator where possible (1.03(b)); seek permission from an appropriate third party for clients who can't consent, and keep the client informed at their level (1.03(c)); tell involuntary clients what their right to refuse covers (1.03(d)); discuss your technology policies (1.03(e)); get consent before audio or video recording or letting anyone observe a session (1.03(h)); and get consent before searching for a client online, except to protect someone from serious, foreseeable and imminent harm or for another compelling professional reason (1.03(i)). Our informed consent example turns these points into a template you can copy, and the therapy intake form guide covers what to ask before the first session.

Privacy and confidentiality (1.07, 1.08)

Standard 1.07 has 23 parts, labeled (a) to (w). The ones a private practice uses most:

Talk about limits early.Explain confidentiality and its limits, including when disclosure may be legally required, as soon as possible in the relationship and again as needed (1.07(e)).
Consent first.Disclose with valid consent from the client or a legally authorized person (1.07(b)). Share with insurers only when the client has authorized it (1.07(h)).
The harm exception.Confidentiality gives way when disclosure is needed to prevent "serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm" to a client or others, and even then you disclose "the least amount of confidential information necessary" (1.07(c)). When you can, tell the client before you disclose and what may follow (1.07(d)). Your state's law, not the Code, sets when you must warn or report.
Couples, families and groups.Seek agreement on each person's confidentiality, including whether information can be shared electronically outside sessions, and tell participants you can't make everyone keep it (1.07(f)). Explain your own policy on sharing information among the people in the room (1.07(g)).
Where you talk.Discuss confidential information only where privacy can be ensured, electronically or in person (1.07(i)). For a social worker seeing clients from home, that includes who can overhear.
Court orders.If a court orders disclosure without consent and it could harm the client, ask the court to withdraw or narrow the order, or keep the records under seal (1.07(j)).
Consultation and teaching.Leave out identifying information when you discuss a client in teaching unless the client consented (1.07(u)), and with a consultant unless the client consented or there is a compelling need (1.07(v)).
Access to records.Give clients reasonable access to their records. Limit access only in exceptional circumstances with compelling evidence of serious harm, and document both the request and your reasons (1.08(a)). Protect other people named in the record (1.08(c)).

The technology standards (added in 2017, in effect 2018)

The 2017 revision added technology language across the Code (NASW highlighted revisions). For telehealth and an online practice:

Consent for telehealth.Get informed consent at the first screening or interview, before services start, and verify the client's identity and location when you communicate by technology (1.03(f)).
Fit.Assess whether remote services suit the client, including their ability to use the technology and understand its risks, and help clients who don't want remote services find other options (1.03(g)).
Competence and law.Have the skills to work competently by technology (1.04(d)), and follow the laws of the jurisdiction where you are regulated and located and, as applicable, where the client is located (1.04(e)).
Security.Protect electronic communications with safeguards "such as encryption, firewalls, and passwords" (1.07(m)). Under HIPAA that usually also means a Business Associate Agreement with each vendor that handles client information; see our guides to Gmail and Google Meet.
Breaches.Write a policy for notifying clients of a breach in a timely way and tell clients about it (1.07(n)), and inform clients if their records are accessed without authorization, consistent with the law (1.07(o)).
Searching and posting.Tell clients your policy on searching for information about them online (1.07(p)), avoid such searches without a compelling reason (1.07(q)), and never post identifying information about clients on your website or social media (1.07(r)).
Access by technology.Tell clients your policy on giving them access to records through technology (1.08(b)).
Social media boundaries.Avoid contact with clients by text, email, chat or social media for personal reasons (1.06(e)), and don't accept clients' friend or follow requests (1.06(h)). Be aware that personal information on professional sites, and your personal affiliations online, can blur boundaries (1.06(f), 1.06(g)).
Culture and access.Watch for cultural and economic differences in clients' access to technology and try to prevent barriers (1.05(e)).

NASW also publishes separate, more detailed Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice, developed with ASWB, CSWE and CSWA. They are practice standards, not part of the Code, but three are worth building into your telehealth policy: know and follow the laws that govern your services and tell clients your legal obligations (2.03); plan for unexpected interruptions, with a backup plan you discuss at the start (2.12); and know the emergency services where the client is located and share them, with an authorized emergency contact (2.13).

Fees, billing and bartering (1.13, 3.05, 1.16(c))

Fair fees. Fees should be "fair, reasonable, and commensurate with the services performed," with consideration given to the client's ability to pay (1.13(a)).
Bartering is discouraged. Take part only in very limited cases: when it is accepted practice among local professionals, essential to providing services, negotiated without coercion, and started by the client with informed consent. You carry the full burden of showing it won't harm the client (1.13(b)).
Agency clients. Don't charge a private fee to someone entitled to the same service through your employer or agency (1.13(c)). This matters if you keep an agency job while you build a practice.
Billing. Bill accurately for the nature and extent of what you provided, and identify who provided it (3.05).
Referral payments. Don't give or take payment for a referral when the referring social worker provided no professional service (1.16(c)). Ask a lawyer or ethics consultant before signing any arrangement that pays someone because a client was referred.
Unpaid balances. You may end services over an overdue balance only if the financial arrangement was made clear, the client isn't an imminent danger to self or others, and you've discussed the clinical and other consequences with them (1.17(c)). Put your payment and nonpayment policy in writing at the start.

Interruption, referral and termination (1.15, 1.16, 1.17)

Plan for interruptions.Make reasonable efforts to keep services going if they are interrupted by your unavailability, a technology failure, relocation, illness, disability or death (1.15). In practice that means vacation coverage, a telehealth backup plan, and a written plan, often called a professional will, naming who will contact clients and care for records if you can't. Protect confidentiality if you close your practice, become incapacitated or die (1.07(t)).
Refer when needed.Refer clients when someone else's expertise is needed or when you aren't making reasonable progress (1.16(a)), arrange an orderly transfer, and with consent share what the new provider needs (1.16(b)).
End well.End services when they are no longer needed or no longer serve the client (1.17(a)). Take reasonable steps to avoid abandoning clients who still need help, and withdraw services "precipitously only under unusual circumstances" (1.17(b)). Never end services to pursue a social, financial or sexual relationship with a client (1.17(d)). When you expect to end or interrupt services, tell clients promptly and help with transfer, referral or continuation (1.17(e)).
Leaving a job.If you leave an agency to go into private practice, tell clients about their options for continuing services and the benefits and risks of each (1.17(f)).

Client records (3.04)

Keep documentation accurate and true to the services provided, on paper or electronically (3.04(a)).
Document enough, and soon enough, to support care now and continuity later (3.04(b)). Our DAP notes examples show notes written to that standard.
Protect privacy in what you write, and include only information directly relevant to services (3.04(c)).
Store records after services end so they stay reasonably accessible, for the number of years your state's laws, agency policies and contracts require (3.04(d)). The Code sets no number of years; your state does.
Keep records secure from anyone not authorized (1.07(l)), and transfer or dispose of them in a way that protects confidentiality and follows your state's rules (1.07(s)).

Your website, credentials and solicitations (4.06, 4.07)

Accurate claims.Make sure what you tell clients and the public about your credentials, education, competence, affiliations, services and "results to be achieved" is accurate, claim only credentials you hold, and correct others' misstatements (4.06(c)). Outcome promises on a website fall under this standard.
No pressure.Don't solicit potential clients who, because of their circumstances, are vulnerable to undue influence, manipulation or coercion (4.07(a)).
Testimonials.Don't solicit testimonials from current clients or from anyone vulnerable to undue influence, including asking permission to use something a client said before as a testimonial (4.07(b)). The technology standards apply the same rule to online testimonials from clients or former clients (Technology Standard 2.14). Asking clients to post online reviews is a form of solicitation; if you're unsure where your marketing falls, ask an ethics consultant.
Keep clients off your site.No identifying or confidential information about clients on your website or social media (1.07(r)).
Check what's posted.The technology standards ask you to make sure information you post is accurate and to review periodically how your credentials appear online, including on profiles others maintain (Technology Standard 1.02).

Our article on marketing for therapists and our therapist website examples apply these rules to real marketing choices. If you're building a site, you can browse the practice website designs and the booking page on TranqBay and plan where your license type and number, your board's link and your fees will go before you write any copy.

Boundaries and dual relationships (1.06, 1.09, 1.10)

Dual relationships.Avoid dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients when there is a risk of exploitation or harm. When one can't be avoided, as often happens in small towns and close communities, you are responsible for setting clear, appropriate and culturally sensitive boundaries (1.06(c)).
Couples and families.When you see people who are related to each other, make clear who the client is and what you owe each person, and clarify your role early if you might be asked to testify in a custody or divorce case (1.06(d)).
Current clients.No sexual activity, sexual communication by technology or in person, or sexual contact with current clients, consensual or not (1.09(a)).
Former clients.The Code says social workers should not have sexual relationships with former clients, and anyone who does or claims an exception carries "the full burden" of showing the former client was not exploited, coerced or manipulated (1.09(c)). Unlike the ACA Code's five-year rule, the NASW Code sets no waiting period, and some state rules are stricter (see Texas below).
Other limits.Don't provide clinical services to a former sexual partner (1.09(d)), and avoid physical contact that could cause psychological harm (1.10).

Competence, impairment and self-care (1.04, 4.01, 4.05)

Work only within your education, training, license, certification, consultation and supervised experience (1.04(a)), and get training and supervision before using a new approach (1.04(b)).
Keep up with the literature and continuing education on practice and ethics (4.01(b)).
Don't let personal problems, distress, legal problems, substance use or mental health difficulties interfere with your judgment (4.05(a)). If they do, get consultation and act: seek help, reduce your caseload, stop practicing for a time, or whatever else protects clients (4.05(b)).
The 2021 self-care language. The Purpose section now says: "Professional self-care is paramount for competent and ethical social work practice," and the integrity principle includes caring for yourself professionally and personally (NASW Code of Ethics). NASW's FAQ describes this language as "aspirational and not prescriptive" (NASW 2021 revisions FAQ, PDF). In a solo practice nobody else sets your caseload, so the impairment standard is where self-care becomes a duty. Our piece on therapist burnout covers the warning signs.

Cultural competence (1.05, revised in 2021)

The 2021 revision restored the title "Cultural Competence" and made the standard more specific. In our words: understand culture and its role in people's lives and recognize the strengths in every culture (1.05(a)); have the knowledge and skills for culturally informed services, act against oppression, racism and discrimination, and acknowledge your own privilege (1.05(b)); practice cultural humility through self-reflection, treating clients as experts on their own culture and committing to lifelong learning (1.05(c)); and learn about social diversity and oppression across the characteristics the Code lists (1.05(d)).

A private practice ethics checklist (copy it)

Paste this into your practice manual and review it once a year, and again after NASW's November 18, 2026 vote. Standard numbers refer to the 2021 NASW Code of Ethics; "Tech" refers to the separate Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice.

Checklist to copy60 lines

Private practice ethics checklistStandard numbers: 2021 NASW Code of Ethics

INFORMED CONSENTConsent form covers every 1.03(a) item (1.03(a))Plain language, time for questions (1.03(a))Interpreter or translator plan (1.03(b))Third-party consent for clients who can't consent (1.03(c))Technology policy discussed with clients (1.03(e))Consent before recording or observing (1.03(h))Online search policy, consent before searching (1.03(i), 1.07(p))

CONFIDENTIALITYLimits explained at intake and as needed (1.07(e))Written consent before sharing (1.07(b))Insurers get information only with consent (1.07(h))Harm exception: least information needed (1.07(c))Client told before disclosure when feasible (1.07(d))Couples, family, group agreement in writing (1.07(f), 1.07(g))Sessions held where no one can overhear (1.07(i))Court order steps known (1.07(j))Consultations leave out identifying details (1.07(v))

TELEHEALTH AND TECHNOLOGYTelehealth consent before services start (1.03(f))Client identity and location verified (1.03(f))Suitability for remote services assessed (1.03(g))Laws of my state and the client's state checked (1.04(e))Encrypted tools, BAA with each vendor (1.07(m), HIPAA)Written breach notification policy (1.07(n), 1.07(o))No personal contact or friending online (1.06(e), 1.06(h))Backup plan if the call fails (1.15, Tech 2.12)Emergency services where the client is (Tech 2.13)

FEES AND BILLINGFees fair, ability to pay considered (1.13(a))Bartering avoided or meets every 1.13(b) test (1.13(b))No private fees for my agency's clients (1.13(c))Bills match services and provider (3.05)No payment for referrals (1.16(c))Nonpayment policy written at intake (1.17(c))

RECORDSNotes accurate, timely and relevant (3.04(a)-(c))Records secure, access limited (1.07(l))Retention period set by my state's law (3.04(d))Client record requests handled, documented (1.08(a))Disposal protects confidentiality (1.07(s))

CONTINUITY AND ENDINGSCoverage for vacations and illness (1.15)Professional will and records custodian named (1.07(t))Referral list ready (1.16(a))Endings discussed, clients told promptly (1.17(b), 1.17(e))

WEBSITE AND MARKETINGCredentials and services stated accurately (4.06(c))No outcome promises (4.06(c))No solicited client testimonials (4.07(b), Tech 2.14)No client details on site or social media (1.07(r))Online profiles reviewed for accuracy (Tech 1.02)

COMPETENCE AND SELF-CAREWorking only within my training (1.04(a))Continuing education current, incl. ethics (4.01(b))Self-check for impairment, caseload adjusted (4.05)Self-care plan in place (Purpose, 2021)My state board's rules read this year

How state boards use the NASW Code of Ethics

Two separate systems can hold you to the Code.

NASW, for its members. NASW reviews complaints of Code violations only against its own members, through a peer process it calls professional review. Sanctions, when violations are found, can include notifying state licensing boards and employers if the member doesn't take corrective action (NASW professional review).

Your state board, for your license. Boards discipline licensees under their own laws and rules, and they write the Code in very differently:

West Virginia names an edition.The board "adopts the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, in the version effective January 1, 2018" and may discipline a licensee who doesn't comply (W. Va. Code R. 25-7-2). That is the 2017 edition, so the 2021 changes are not in the text of the rule.
South Dakota names a later one.Its rule, effective November 11, 2024, requires applicants, licensees, supervisees and supervisors to comply with the Code as "revised by the NASW Delegate Assembly in 2020," and cites the 2021 edition (ARSD 20:59:07:01).
Texas writes its own code.Texas sets out its own code of conduct for social workers, and a violation is grounds for discipline. Some items are stricter than the NASW Code: "A social worker shall not have sexual contact with a client or a person who has been a client" (22 Tex. Admin. Code 781.301).

The Association of Social Work Boards, whose members are the licensing boards, has always held that states should write the language they need into their own rules "rather than simply naming the NASW code," partly because aspirational wording is hard to enforce fairly (ASWB). So even where your board hasn't adopted the Code, its rules often cover the same ground in different words.

Why the wording matters now: a rule that names a specific edition may keep pointing to it until the board changes the rule, even after NASW adopts a new one. Which version your board applies on a given date is a question for the board or a lawyer.

Two more points:

Courts and insurers.NASW's 2017 FAQ notes that social workers may also be held to the Code by employers, universities and courts that look to it as the standard of practice (NASW 2017 changes FAQ, PDF). Not being an NASW member doesn't take you outside it.
Conflicts with law.When the Code conflicts with a law or rule, the Code asks you to try to resolve the conflict consistently with its values and to seek consultation before deciding if you can't. HIPAA and state privacy laws are legal duties of their own, whatever the Code says.

Which code applies to you

"Therapist" covers several professions, and the code depends on your license:

Social workers (LCSW, LICSW, LMSW and similar):the NASW Code of Ethics, plus your state board's rules. Clinical social workers may also look to the Clinical Social Work Association Code of Ethics, revised in February 2024, which builds on the NASW Code with a clinical focus.
Licensed counselors (LPC, LMHC and similar):the ACA Code of Ethics; our ACA Code of Ethics guide is the companion to this article.
Psychologists:the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
Marriage and family therapists:the AAMFT Code of Ethics.

If you hold two licenses, both boards' rules apply to you.

When you face an ethical dilemma

The Code doesn't give a single decision model, but its Purpose section sets out the habits: consider every value, principle and standard that applies; be aware of your own values and beliefs; and get consultation, which may mean an ethics committee, a regulatory body, knowledgeable colleagues, supervisors or legal counsel.

Consult.NASW's Office of Ethics and Professional Review offers ethics consultations to members. NASW says it can talk through the applicable standards but can't give definitive answers or make the decision for you (NASW ethics consultations). Peer consultation groups, a former supervisor, your board and your liability insurer's risk line are other options.
Share little.When you consult about a client, disclose the least information needed (2.05(c)).
Write it down.Note the question, who you consulted, the options you weighed and why you chose what you did.
Concerns about a colleague.Raise it with the colleague when that's feasible and likely to help (2.10(c)); otherwise use formal channels such as the state licensing board or NASW's National Ethics Committee (2.10(d)).

How this works in TranqBay

TranqBay is practice software for therapists in private practice. It doesn't make a practice ethical; that part is yours. It does give the paperwork behind several standards a place to live:

Consent and releases (1.03, 1.07(b)).The form library has ready-made templates you send to a client for a session, including consent to treat, telehealth consent and release of information, along with intake forms, the PHQ-9 and the GAD-7. The client fills them in online and the answers wait with the session. Edit the wording to match your policies and your state's rules, and still talk consent through, as 1.03(a) expects. TranqBay doesn't score the PHQ-9 or GAD-7 automatically; you score them, or use our PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scoring pages.
Telehealth (1.07(m)).Video sessions are HIPAA-ready, and TranqBay signs a Business Associate Agreement. Your identity check, backup plan and emergency plan (1.03(f), 1.15) still belong in your telehealth consent.
Records (3.04).Session notes can be written in BIRP, DAP, SOAP or GIRP format, or as a blank note. The structured formats are part of the advanced note templates, which some plans include.
Website and booking (4.06, 1.13).A practice website with online booking is where you state your license accurately and show your services and fees before anyone books. What goes on it is up to you, so run it past the website section of the checklist above.

What to check with an ethics consultant or lawyer

The Code is national; the answers to these questions depend on your state and your situation:

Which edition of the NASW Code your board applies, especially after the November 18, 2026 vote.
Your state's rules on relationships with former clients, which may be stricter than the Code.
Your state's duty-to-warn, mandated reporting and court-order rules (1.07(c), 1.07(j)).
How long your state requires you to keep records, including for minors (3.04(d)).
What your breach notification policy must say under HIPAA and state law (1.07(n), 1.07(o)).
Seeing clients who live or travel in another state (1.04(e)).
Whether bartering, sliding fees or ending services over unpaid balances fit your state law and any insurer contracts (1.13, 1.17(c)).
Whether asking clients for online reviews counts as soliciting testimonials (4.07(b)).
Any business arrangement that pays for referrals (1.16(c)).

Frequently asked questions

What is the most recent NASW Code of Ethics?

The 2021 edition, in effect since June 1, 2021. As of October 25, 2026, NASW's Delegate Assembly is set to vote on proposed amendments on November 18, 2026; check NASW's Code page after that date.

Is there a 2025 or 2026 NASW Code of Ethics?

Not yet. There is no 2024 or 2025 edition. Proposed amendments go to a vote on November 18, 2026, and any new edition would take effect on a date NASW announces.

What are the six core values of the NASW Code of Ethics?

Service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. Each has a matching ethical principle.

How many sections does the NASW Code of Ethics have?

Four parts (preamble, purpose, ethical principles and ethical standards). The standards are in six sections: responsibilities to clients, to colleagues, in practice settings, as professionals, to the profession, and to the broader society, with 51 numbered standards in all.

Where can I get the NASW Code of Ethics PDF?

NASW publishes the full text online in English and Spanish and sells print and eBook copies through NASW Press. Copies hosted elsewhere may be older editions; check standard 1.05's title, which reads "Cultural Competence" in the 2021 edition.

Is the NASW Code of Ethics legally binding?

Not by itself. NASW enforces it for members through professional review. It becomes enforceable against your license when your state board adopts it into its rules, as West Virginia and South Dakota have; other states, such as Texas, write their own rules.

Do I have to follow it if I'm not an NASW member?

NASW can only review complaints against its members. But if your state board has adopted the Code, it applies to your license whether or not you belong to NASW, and employers, schools and courts may look to it as the standard of practice.

Can I barter with a client?

Only in very limited circumstances: accepted locally, essential to providing services, negotiated without coercion, started by the client and with informed consent, and you carry the burden of showing it won't harm the client (1.13(b)).

Can I ask clients for testimonials or reviews?

The Code says not to solicit testimonials from current clients or anyone vulnerable to undue influence (4.07(b)), and the technology standards extend this to online testimonials from former clients who are vulnerable. Ask an ethics consultant before asking any client for a review.

Does the Code require self-care?

The 2021 Code calls professional self-care "paramount," and NASW describes the language as aspirational, not prescriptive. The impairment standard (4.05) is the firmer duty: if your own difficulties affect your judgment, you must act to protect clients.

How do I cite the NASW Code of Ethics in APA style?

A common reference entry is: National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2021). National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English. Follow your school's or journal's style guide for details.

Follow the 2021 Code, and watch the November vote

For now, the 2021 NASW Code of Ethics is the one to follow, and most of what it asks of a private practice comes down to clear paperwork and a few habits: a complete consent form, a telehealth consent with identity, backup and emergency steps, secure records with a named custodian, honest marketing without solicited testimonials, and documented boundary decisions. Copy the checklist, read your state board's rule, and put a reminder in your calendar for after November 18, 2026 to check what the Delegate Assembly decided.

If your website is on that list, look through the practice website designs and the booking page your clients would use, and plan where your license, your board's link and your fees will sit. When you're ready to set up your practice, you can join TranqBay as a provider.

Sources

16 sources

Associations 10naswpress.org 1Regulations 2States 1clinicalsocialworkassociation.org 1slulibrary.saintleo.edu 1

Professional associations10

naswpress.org1

11NASW Press. Code of Ethics.naswpress.orghttps://naswpress.org/product/53535/code-of-ethics

Laws and regulations2

Updated October 25, 2026. Found it useful? Send it to a colleague.