News

Have you ever wondered about the connection between the knowledge learned in a social work program and the applied knowledge tested by the social work licensing exams? The Association of Social Work Boards recently explored answers to this common question by conducting an alignment study that found significant overlap, strengthening evidence for the connections among education, licensure, and professional practice.

The Association of Social Work Boards convened a panel of social work educators to compare the content of one of the social work licensing exams alongside the competencies for academic accreditation.

ASWB is recruiting exam question writers from all license categories who represent a variety of experience and educational, geographic, and demographic backgrounds.

ASWB has published a revised edition of the Guide to the Social Work Licensing Exams for Educators and Supervisors and has expanded access to the available set of group review practice questions. These changes allow access to the exam materials for both social work educators and social work supervisors.

ASWB is seeking volunteers to participate on the standard setting panel for the next iteration of competence assessments for social work licensing. Deadline for applications is August 15, 2025.

The changes made to the licensing exam blueprints based on feedback from more than 25,000 social workers who participated in the practice analysis include structural and editorial modifications for comprehensiveness and currency.

ASWB is pleased to announce the 2023 edition of the Examination Program Yearbook, highlighting the individuals who serve as Examination Committee volunteers, item writers, and exam development consultants.

The 2022–2024 Practice Analysis Task Force, a group of 32 licensed social workers, provides subject matter expertise to ASWB’s next analysis of the practice of social work.

The data highlighted disparities in exam pass rates for different demographic groups. For Black test-takers and older test-takers, pass rates were particularly low. The discrepancies seen in the data are unacceptable. Recognizing that multiple factors impact a test-taker’s performance and need to be addressed, we remain committed to doing our part and working with other […]

Editor’s note The transition to three-option multiple-choice is ongoing and will be completed as soon as feasible while continuing to uphold the validity and reliability of the exams. Candidates can expect to see these improvements to the exam administration process starting in January 2023: Three-option multiple choice phased in Exam forms may contain both three- […]