Measuring social work competence
The social work licensing exams are an important element of public protection because they assess whether an applicant for a social work license has the minimum competence to practice safely and ethically.
Exam categories
Associate: Candidates who do not hold a baccalaureate degree in social work
Bachelors: Candidates who have completed a baccalaureate degree in social work, typically a BSW
Masters: Candidates who hold a master’s degree in social work, typically an MSW, with no post-degree experience
Advanced Generalist: Candidates who hold a master’s degree in social work, typically an MSW, with two years of experience in a nonclinical setting
Clinical: Candidates who hold a master’s degree in social work, typically an MSW, with two years of experience in a clinical setting
Examination Program Yearbook
Learn more about the social workers involved in exam development.
Measuring competence fairly
The social work licensing exams follow strict test development standards that ensure fairness. Every question, called an item, is reviewed at each step in the process for signs of potential bias.
Exams for the future of social work
ASWB is collaborating with the social work community to bring more perspectives, including those of individuals representing diverse racial, social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds, into the exam development process. The association is launching these initiatives to build on current practices.
Practice analysis
The process of creating the exam begins with a practice analysis, a major survey of the tasks of thousands of practicing social workers.
Examination Committee
The Examination Committee reviews each exam question before it is included as a pretest item on the licensing exams. Committee members are selected from among the item writers trained to write questions for the exams.
Exam scoring
In any pass/fail exam, there is a ”pass point,“ the number of questions a candidate must answer correctly in order to pass the exam. All jurisdictions that use the ASWB exams recognize the same pass point.
Item writer program
Every question, or item, on the social work licensing exams is written by a practicing social worker and depends on verifiable social work knowledge.
Exam materials for faculty
Helping students better understand the licensing exams can help reduce their anxiety about the experience. By reviewing test questions together, educators and students can explore rationales and engage in critical thinking.
Pass rates
See the most recent pass rates for individuals taking an exam for the first time.