During the 1970s, the burgeoning interest in ethics in the social work profession coincided with a broader interest in applied and professional ethics among other professions. In fact, during this period ethics became a subject in and of itself, spurred on by the growing interest in bioethics. The most recent stage, the Ethical Standards and Risk Management Period, is characterized by the significant expansion of ethical standards to guide practitioners' conduct and by increased knowledge concerning professional negligence and liability. This chapter provides an overview of the credentialing and licensing of social workers for professional practice.