Exam Content Exam Program
April 13, 2026

Inclusive standard setting panel meets to inform passing standard for the social work licensing exams

Tags: Exam development
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Sixty-five social workers from across the United States and Canada recently gathered in San Antonio, Texas, to participate in a standard setting workshop for the 2026 social work licensing exams. Psychometricians — experts in the development of fair and valid testing — facilitated the workshop with the volunteer subject matter experts. Through a collaborative process, panelists attained consensus on essential information for establishing the passing standards for the new exams, set for launch in August 2026.

“The inclusivity, diversity, and representation of this year’s panel surpassed ASWB’s previous standard setting groups,” said ASWB CEO Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Ph.D., J.D., LCSW, PGDip, who attended the meeting. “As I observed the collaborative process, I was struck by the way these volunteers from all corners of the social work profession contributed their professional and lived experience to a scientifically sound process.  They came together to create something much larger than themselves.”

Participants

Bachelors examination panel

Group photo of the social workers who served on the Bachelors Examination standard setting panel.

  • Mackenzie Broomfield, Alberta
  • Patricia Desrosiers, Kentucky
  • Donna Ennis, Minnesota
  • Jharrell Frazier, Wisconsin
  • Carole Gallant, New Brunswick
  • Liz Gallaspy, Georgia
  • Radinka Jeyathas, Ontario
  • Chris Jordan, Massachusetts
  • Veronica Knowles, Mississippi
  • Mary McKernan-Gryzmala, Pennsylvania
  • Bessie Nazeem, Arkansas
  • Edwin Santos Lepiz, Utah
  • Tammy Sung, Texas

Masters examination panel

Group photograph of the social workers who served on the Masters Examination standard setting panel

  • Melvin Cheatem, Minnesota
  • Harold Dean, Arkansas
  • Dr. Carol Edwards, Florida
  • Dr. Cheryl Fergerson, Mississippi
  • Alicia Garcia, Minnesota
  • Kam Yin (Trista) Lam, Alberta
  • Erin Michel, Ohio
  • Kyla Miller, Kansas
  • German Sanchez, New York
  • Dr. Justin Singleton, Tennessee
  • Lara Vanderhoof, Kansas
  • Raina Williams-Caldwell, Texas
  • Kenzie Woodard, Utah

Clinical examination panel

Group photo of the social workers who served on the Clinical Examination standard setting panel

  • Dr. Spencer Blalock, Washington
  • Ja’Quez Busby, Illinois
  • Dr. Charina Carothers, Washington
  • Vivian Colón, New York
  • Janelle Comtois, Quebec/Ontario
  • Clarissa Garcia, Texas
  • Victoria Gray, Florida
  • Jacqueline Guigue-Glaspell, Ontario
  • Blake McCullough, Michigan
  • Navita Bhinderjit Senghera, British Columbia
  • Dr. Joi Griffin Showell, Georgia
  • Charnell Smith, Maryland
  • Adelaida Tran, California
  • Sandra Turner, New Mexico

Advanced Generalist examination panel

Group photo of the social workers who served on the Advanced Generalist Examination standard setting panel

  • Melissa Beccera, Wisconsin
  • Erika Dautruche, New York
  • Cedric Dent Jr., New York
  • Haleigh Dotson, Tennessee
  • Jolene Engelking, Minnesota
  • Dr. Katrina Floyd, Washington, DC
  • Jodi Gore, Ohio
  • Dr. Jerome Land, New Jersey
  • Dr. Catherine Macomber, Michigan
  • Sara Manisco Chapo, Texas
  • Carisa E. Sanchez, Connecticut
  • Joseph Wiley, Nevada
  • Cynthia Wilkerson, South Carolina

Associate/Social Service examination panel

Group photo of the social workers who served on the Associate/Social Service Worker Examination standard setting panel

  • Elisha Chery, Massachusetts
  • Ana Depina-Baptista, Massachusetts
  • Alicia Antoinette Gordon-Smith, Ontario
  • Sarah Gray, Ontario
  • Shelley Hale, Ontario
  • Michelle Hayes, Connecticut
  • Nycole Hughes, Massachusetts
  • Amanda KaczMarek, Ontario
  • Chantell Oliveras, Massachusetts
  • Tavonte Phillips, Massachusetts
  • Rubeena Pakrichiya Pura, Ontario
  • Brian Seng-Low, Ontario
  • Marion Wogbeh (Upshur), Rhode Island
  • Jose Zeno, Massachusetts