From time to time, the Journal of Teaching in Social Work will publish a special issue centered on a contemporary issue of pedagogical importance. This special issue focuses on continuing education in the social work profession and includes eight articles on this increasingly important topic. With such lifelong learning an expectation by the profession’s national organizations, including the Council on Social Work Education, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Association of Social Work Boards—representing the licensing boards in the United States and Canada—participation in (and completion of) recognized continuing education offerings now essentially has become a mandate as well as a standard.
We hope that this special issue, with its specific examination of the current status and future direction of continuing education, will provide a timely look at the present state and future direction of this element of professional education. The editors are greatly indebted to the authors of these special issue articles for their thoughtful observations and their scholarly contributions.