Enforcement, while sometimes viewed as limited to administrative prosecutions, is a broad term that describes all aspects of social work regulation. Understand it and use it to fulfill the public protection obligations of social work regulators.

A social work education and supervised experience are critical to preparing social workers for licensed practice. When combined with a uniform, validated competence assessment, they can provide a fuller picture of a candidate's fitness to practice safely and competently.

Developing high-stakes licensure examinations is a complex process involving the use of psychometrics and statistical analyses.

The need for informed regulators is paramount. The questions identified in this article merely scratch the surface of those in need of discussion and debate.

First and foremost, ASWB is a membership organization. Simply stated, the member boards are ASWB.

In a sense, all regulators are public members, but some bring social work expertise to the table.

Mobility and portability are here to stay, and the regulatory community must consider and embrace models used to address social work practice through technology and otherwise.

Be assured that ASWB adheres to and maintains a valid examination program for use by member boards. The process is highly technical, so bear with me as we navigate the details.

Member boards and legislatures must understand the basic premise behind entry-level competence assessments and the vital role they play. This knowledge will lead to more-informed legislative and administrative decisions.

Recently, the First Amendment has provided the basis for challenges to mental health practice with plaintiffs arguing that professional practice is not conduct but rather speech protected by the First Amendment. These cases continue to matriculate through the judicial system.