Creating the next version of the ASWB examinations requires making connections and understanding context. That’s exactly what happened during recent meetings of two groups directly involved in providing input into how ASWB will gather workforce data and build new social work licensing assessments.

The Association of Social Work Boards acknowledges and calls out systemic and institutional racism, specifically anti-Blackism, as being core to the racial disparities evidenced by the recently released licensing exam pass rate data. While other pass rate disparities exist, the most jarring and disappointing gap is in the rates reported for Black candidates. ASWB stands […]

ASWB is committed to continuing to provide data annually and engaging members of the profession to provide input as it develops exams for the

The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) today released an in-depth trend analysis of pass rate data for its social work licensing exams alongside state and school-level data. ASWB published these data as part of the association’s commitment to participating in data-driven conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion. ASWB Chief Executive Officer Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Ph.D., […]

Leaders of major social work organizations in the United States and Canada gathered in Northern Virginia, April 21–23, 2022, invited by ASWB as part of the association’s commitment to including more diverse voices in the examination development process.

The momentum is building. ASWB’s effort to collaboratively reenvision the examination development process is ramping up, and exciting developments are getting under way. The current work is aimed at making progress on the goals identified in the association’s Strategic Framework 2022–2023—specifically, to “engage with stakeholders to educate and increase transparency around the licensing exams.” That […]

News from ASWB members and volunteers

ASWB is committed to listening to the entire social work community, learning from the profession’s diverse voices, and including as many perspectives as possible as it builds exams for the future of social work.

ASWB’s new strategic framework positions the social work licensing examination program as a central focus, directing the association to expand understanding and acceptance of the necessity for assessing social work competencies through valid and reliable competence measures.

On November 9, ASWB’s Board of Directors unanimously approved a motion to gather, analyze, and release examination performance data. The motion directs ASWB staff and its consultants to develop a plan to implement this important information-sharing initiative. ASWB anticipates that the new analysis will include performance data broken down by demographic group for our member jurisdictions […]