2003 Practice Analysis

The Association of Social Work Boards completed its most recent analysis of the practice of social work in 2003. The practice analysis, a survey of social work practice across the U.S. and Canada, was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, the practice analysis survey was developed and piloted. In phase two, a survey of social workers in the U.S. and Canada was conducted to collect data on the current state of practice. In phase three, the results of the practice analysis were used to update the examination blueprints for all four categories of the social work licensing examinations. In turn, the content outlines determine the nature and distribution of questions that appear on the ASWB examinations.

U.S. and Canadian survey responses were compared, and the responses were remarkably similar and were correlated at 0.94. Due to the similarities, the Practice Analysis Task Force voted unanimously to create North American blueprints of all four categories of licensure exams.

In addition, the names of three of the social work licensing examinations were changed to reflect the education and practice levels of candidates. The Basic exam became the Bachelors exam; the Intermediate became the Masters; the Advanced exam became the Advanced Generalist exam.

More information on the 2003 Practice Analysis is available:

Analysis of the Practice of Social Work, 2003, Final Report (practice analysis PDF)

Additional appendices not included in the final report:

Web-based survey form A (link to PDF)

Web-based survey form B (link to PDF)

Sample of French alert letters to Canadian social workers (link to PDF)