ESL testing arrangements now available in all states and provinces

As of June 2025, all states, provinces, and territories that use the social work licensing exams allow nonstandard testing arrangements for test-takers whose first language is not English. The New York State Education Department’s Professional Practice Committee recently approved a change to its regulations that permits ESL arrangements for New York exam candidates.

“Social work regulatory boards understand the value of consistency in procedures,” says ASWB Director of Exam Administration Felicia Dennison, MBA. “This update now allows ASWB and our member regulatory boards to provide a consistent option for test-takers whose primary language is not English.” ASWB’s Nonstandard Testing Arrangements Handbook has been updated accordingly to reflect this policy change.

With this regulatory change, the New York State Office of the Professions is also accepting prior exam results for candidates who tested with ESL arrangements for licensing in another state. Procedures for requesting ESL testing arrangements may vary across jurisdictions, and candidates must receive approval for any nonstandard testing arrangements before registering for a licensing exam.

Qualified English as a second language candidates will receive additional time (up to two extra hours) and may request permission to use up to two dictionaries, one bilingual word-to-word translation dictionary and/or one general English dictionary. ASWB administers the social work licensing exams only in English, but qualified candidates who use English as a second language may submit this Request for Nonstandard Testing Arrangements.