Board certified diplomate: Who cares?

The Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work credential is considered as a representation of the advanced clinical social worker's professional identity. Various potential audiences for the credential are discussed, including other social workers, other psychotherapists, legislators, third-party payors, clinical social workers and clients. Problems with these audiences are discussed, and conceptualized in political terms. General suggestions are offered to enable clinical social workers to survive and advance in a distinctly political climate. Identification with the value, knowledge and skill characteristics represented by the Board Certified Diplomate status is recommended.This paper is based on ideas originally presented at the Fifth Annual Meeting and Conference of the Texas Society for Clinical Social Work on September 17, 1988 in New Braunfels, Texas.