The most recent cycle of research and updates culminates on August 3, 2026, when ASWB launches new exams based on the 2026 blueprints. Scheduling is now available for both the current exam, based on the 2018 blueprint, and the new exam, based on the 2026 blueprint.

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.

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 social work licensing exams determine whether an aspiring social worker is ready to practice as a member of a profession that serves vulnerable client populations. Because the stakes are high — for licensure candidates and for the communities they hope to serve — ASWB adheres to rigorous exam development standards. The 2026 exams will feature a new structure centering candidates’ experiences and a renewed focus on applied knowledge rather than simple recall of information.

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.

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.

The development of the next iteration of competence assessments for social work licensing, slated for launch in 2026, took a major step forward when the 2022–2024 Practice Analysis Task Force held its final meeting on September 6 and 7 in Reston, Virginia.

The most comprehensive profession-wide study to date, the Census will generate an up-to-date picture of who today’s social workers are and what they are doing in their practice. Findings will help support the development of a more inclusive and equitable social work workforce and will be used in designing future competence assessments for social work licensure.

As we enter 2024, the ASWB examination program is looking forward to realizing many long-anticipated changes and initiatives. We are transitioning out of a year of planning and preparation and into a year of goals completed. Read more for details on what’s coming in the new year!

ASWB recently took a major step forward in building competence assessments for the future of social work when a group of volunteers gathered for a working meeting. The Practice Analysis Task Force, composed of social workers selected for expertise and diversity, met in Reston, Virginia, September 7–9, 2023.