The Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards of the Council on Social Work Education, adopted in 2008 and revised on March 27, 2010, lays out 10 core social work competencies that should guide curriculum design in social work education programs. One specifically points to critical thinking: ""Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments."" But many other descriptions of social work core competencies implicitly require critical thinking skills: ""analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance social well-being.""

This career emphasis is an international value:  the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS) 2010 – 2011 standard stipulates that all AASW accredited Social Work Degrees incorporate curriculum content that develops critical thinking skills.