News

As part of ASWB's continuing efforts to improve the testing experience, test-takers now have a scheduled 10-minute break during the social work licensing exams.

ASWB will return to Pearson VUE for examination administration and development beginning in March 2025. During this transition, ASWB will ensure the continued delivery of the very highest quality testing experience to candidates. To facilitate the change in testing administration, there will be a two-week pause in testing between March 16 and March 30. This […]

ASWB is pleased to announce the publication of the 2024 edition of the Examination Program Yearbook, highlighting the individuals who serve as Examination Committee and Form Review Team volunteers, item writers, and exam development consultants.

The goal of the exam report series, based on additional analyses of data on ASWB exam pass rates and those of other professions, is to inform ASWB’s and the social work profession’s approach to addressing the complex individual, institutional, and community factors influencing the testing experience and exam results.

In January 2023, ASWB began partnering with FifthTheory, a minority-owned firm with expertise in high-stakes testing and occupational assessment. ASWB has decided to expand the offering all registered candidates.

To date, more than 52,000 social workers have participated in the Social Work Census, a major workforce study and practice analysis for the social work profession. That total number includes approximately 17,000 people who have submitted completed surveys and another 35,000 individuals who have begun responses and saved their progress. To maximize opportunities for participation […]

ASWB's examination development team continues to manage the equally important processes that result in valid, reliable, and fair licensure exams. "Partnerships with our vendors are key," says Exam Development Director Carl Hokanson, LGSW. "We all work together to make sure these projects are successful and uphold the highest standards."

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.

ASWB's exam services team and their partners at PSI were prepared for the higher volume and for a possible bump in testing incidents, as test-takers and test centers adjust to new procedures and new software.

ASWB is using the Community Conversations research findings reported by HumRRO to inform the continued development of fair, reliable, and valid competence assessments and to determine future initiatives aimed at closing pass rate gaps among demographic groups.