The Advanced level is focused on the knowledge and skills required for professional leadership and the improvement of services.  This incorporates managerial forms of leadership but also includes other types of professional leadership including those linked to the promotion and dissemination of advanced practice skills.

The minimum academic level for programmes leading to a post-qualifying award in advanced social work is Master's level.  Level M is the academic level common to both postgraduate diplomas and masters' degrees.  However, only programmes leading to masters' degrees will be approved as advanced award programmes.  These programmes will build on and incorporate higher specialist work, but they will also require professional ‘mastery’ of a specific area of work with a strong emphasis on various aspects of professional leadership.  This includes leadership in relation to professional practice, management, education or applied research.

Another feature of the Advanced level is that it has a focus on developing the capacity to evaluate and undertake research to support the ongoing improvement of services.

Candidates wishing to enter programmes at Advanced level must hold a Higher Specialist award or have made an application for the accreditation of prior learning (APCEL) in relation to relevant modules of their chosen Advanced level programme.