What Can I Do with an MSW Degree? The 2020 bachelors ASWB exam had a pass rate of 68.5%. This process,equating, ensures the overall ability required to pass the exam remains the same from one exam form to another. WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) on August 5 published data in a 2022 ASWB Exam Pass Rate Analysis.This disclosure stems from years of advocacy by NASW and other social work organizations, schools of social work, and individual advocates to push ASWB to post data that it has been unwilling to release for decades. LCSWs are social workers with specialized training that authorizes them to provide clinical services to patients, including psychotherapy. Each state dictates its own requirements for licensure, but these typically fall into four categories: bachelors, masters, advanced generalist, and clinical. Should you need to practice prior to passing the exam, you will need to apply for the CSWA and do so under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker. Social work licensing in Washington DC is managed by District of Columbias Board of Social Work, which grants the following four credentials: To qualify for any level of licensure you need to: The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing Division issues three social work credentials: The Idaho Board of Social Work Examiners issues three types of social work credentials: Each requires you to earn an appropriate degree from a program thats accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and to pass the appropriate exam from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). The 200-question multiple-choice exam will be offered twice instead of once a year beginning in 2024 - and its passing score will be lowered from 145 to 143, according to local outlet WHYY. To obtain the LAPSW license, you will need post-masters supervised work experience. You have a total of 4 hours to complete the exam. The Social Work ASWB exam consists of 170 multiple choice questions of which 150 are scored. To request the score verification, see Score Transfer on the ASWB web site. According to ASWB, you will need to answer 93-106 questions (depending on the version of the exam) correct. Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE), Alaska is handled by the Board of Clinical Social Work Examiners (BCSWE), Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (BBHE), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), A degree in social work from a school thats accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Passage of an exam from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), At least a bachelors degree in Social Work, Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Bachelors Examination, Maintain four hours per month of supervision under a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) for two years, Master of Social Work or Doctor of Social Work, Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Masters Exam, Demonstrate a minimum of two years of supervision of four hours per month, Have at least two years of post-graduate continuing supervision from an LICSW, Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Exam, Have either three years of full-time (or five years of part-time) post-MSW practice experience, or one year of full-time (or two years of part-time) post-graduate experience after receiving the LICSW, Must define your social work practice method, at least one area for which you wish to be certified, The other state requires standards that are equivalent to Alabamas for issuing a license, You agree to practice social work according to ASBSWE rules, If youve already taken the appropriate ASWB social work exam you dont need to take one to become licensed in Alabama, Your out-of-state license must be active and in good standing, When applying for licensure via reciprocity in Alabama you must submit proof of the requisite hours of supervision and a complete record of any past or pending disciplinary actions, Baccalaureate Social Worker (BSW) license, Passage of an exam from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) a temporary one-year license may be issued pending exam passage, A Master of Social Work or Doctor of Social Work degree, Must have two years of continuous full-time employment in post-graduate clinical social work, as well as 3,000 hours of employment within the past 10 years, Must have 100 hours of direct clinical supervision, Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW), Have at least a bachelors degree in Social Work, Pass one of the following ASWB exams: Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical, Pass one of the following ASWB exams: Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical. You may request a waiver that allows you to retake the exam before the end of the 90-day period if you meet all of the following criteria: Candidates may not receive more than two waivers in twelve months for any single examination category. But typically, it is between 90 to 107 correct out of 150. USC offers virtual and in-person field education, and students focus on adults, youth or social change. Students can earn their degree in as few as 12 months for the Online Advanced-Standing MSW or 27 months for the Online MSW. Traditional and advanced standing online MSW options are available. You can be eligible for a temporary LBSW, LMSW, or LCSW if youre a licensed social worker in another state. Contact the Association of Social Work Boards . Some also have licenses available for those who do not have post-graduate experience. Pass the ASWB Clinical exam. Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP). The rules and laws exam is self directed and open book. Some states will offer an associate license for applicants without either degree, but it is not a common practice. Receive your Authorization to Test email. Take the ASWB Master's exam. 5. Print out a copy of your score report and retain it for your own records. General Questions Concerning ASWB Passing scores Different Jurisdictions Tests . There are multiple versions of each level of the exam, so different exam takers of the same level can receive a different set of questions. Exceptions are listed below. Finally, congratulations on your efforts to become a licensed social worker. 4. Between 2011 and 2021, the U.S. states with the highest numbers of first-time test-takers for the Clinical exam were New York (13,721), California (13,603), and Michigan (11,518). Culpeper, Virginia 22701, A comprehensive guide to the social work licensing exams, When youre ready, begin the registration process here. Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA). While the DC Board of Social Work doesnt have reciprocity agreements with any other state, if youre a licensed social worker in another state you can apply for licensure in DC via endorsement at an equivalent level if you have fulfilled the DC requirements working in another state. ASWB Licensure Exam Pass Rate. 17126 Mountain Run Vista Ct. The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) provides this data to the Virginia Board of Social Work. If you seriously intend on beginning acareer in social work, you should plan on having an appropriate degree (Bachelor of Social Work or masters in social work). The master's exam is designed for entry-level social workers with a MSW degree who have less than 2 years of practice experience. Between 2011 and 2021, the largest proportions of first-time test-takers from historically marginalized communities were observed in Georgia (44% African American/Black), California (34% Hispanic/Latino), and Hawaii (25% Asian). Bachelors degree in Social Work or an equivalent Social Welfare program, Two years of supervised social work practice as a CSW, You can apply for licensure in Kentucky if you hold an equivalent level of social work licensure in another state and have met Kentuckys education, exam, and experience requirements, Bachelors or masters degree in Social Work, Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Masters exam, Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical exam. If you have any additional questions, you can call the Association of Social Work Boards at 1-888-579-3926 or 1-800-225-6880. Like all licensure requirements, this differs from state to state, but generally involves continuing education hours and a renewal fee. The number of questions that you are required to answer correctly to pass a particular version of an exam is the same for every state. Culpeper, Virginia 22701, A comprehensive guide to the social work licensing exams, When youre ready, begin the registration process here. Registry enrollmentincludesone single record transfer per enrollment period. To become a licensed social worker in most states, you need at least a bachelors degree in social work from an accredited programalthough it may be possible to obtain an entry-level license with a bachelors degree in a similar/related subject. The scaling system is used to ensure that the number of correct answers needed to pass an ASWB test requires the same level of performance from test-takers. In certain states, you can only become licensed after completing a masters or doctoral program in social work. Similarly, to achieve a clinical license, you have to complete a minimum number of supervised clinical hours after graduating with your MSW degree. Some states may make an exemption and allow you to perform certain responsibilities within the field of social work without a licensebut only if youre a health care professional with relevant experience or a social work student. Different jurisdictions have different regulatory requirements for licensure, but as long as you meet the basic requirements of both or even multiple states, you can hold more than one license. The clinical ASWB exam was taken over 16,000 times in 2020, with a pass rate of 74.8%. It is only natural that the Association of Social Work Boards remains true to its values by leading change within the profession. Kentucky candidates must upload a copy of the unofficial score report and pay the license fee online after passing the exam. To transfer scores, contact the jurisdiction where you want to be licensed and review their transfer process. For social workers looking for credentials in addition to a license, theNational Association of Social Work (NASW) offers focused credentials to showcase their specialized training. If you hold a social work license in another state that had the same education and examination requirements as Iowas then you can apply for licensure in Iowa by providing verification of your out-of-state license, confirmation of your education, and proof of passing the ASWB exam to the Iowa Board of Social Work. The bachelor's exam is designed for entry-level social workers with a BSW degree. When you are ready to schedule your test, simply call the testing center or go online and register. 11.If you have questions about the examination or scoring, such as the process for sending your passing exam score to another state in which you want to be licensed, visit the ASWB website at www.aswb.org for additional information and necessary forms. Certificate of completion of an 8-hour laws and rules course completed through a board approved provider listed on CE Broker. Social work licensure and certificate requirements or standards are set forth to help the public understand standards for the safe and professional practice ofsocial workers. MSW Career Paths, HBCU MSW Programs Online and On-Campus Guide, Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) Degree Programs Online, How to Become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Practicing Anti-Racism in Social Work: A Guide, Theories & Practice Models Used in Social Work, Theoretical Approaches in Social Work: Systems Theory, Jessica Holton on Working With Clients Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Cornell Davis III on Misperceptions About the Child Welfare Field, Morgan Gregg on Working with Law Enforcement, Social Work Student and Professional Toolbox, Ethnic and Minority Social Work Resources, top-ranked USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP), Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker (LAPSW), Utah, you need a masters degree or higher to apply as a CSW, New Jersey, you only need a bachelors degree and one year of field experience, West Virginia, refer to graduate-level social workers as LGSWs instead of LMSWs, Nebraska, the LMHP license allows social workers to provide mental health services, social work certification is only offered in Oregon, Washington states Behavioral Health Workforce (PDF, 502KB), CSWE accredits online and distance education programs, Alabama, supervised experience lasts two years (PDF, 292 KB), Arkansas requires completion of 4,000 clinical hours, role responsibilities such as assessment, diagnosis and providing treatment, New York requires LCSWs and LMSWs to complete 36 continuing education hours, Oregon, you must renew your CSWA license each year, National Association of Social Work (NASW) offers focused credentials to showcase their specialized training, requirements detailed on the NASW website, two types of certifications offered by the NASW, Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) website, Virtual field training to build skills and confidence. If you have passed a social work licensing exam and are applying to be licensed in a different jurisdiction, your Board may request for you to order a score transfer through ASWB. The ASWB Board of Directors introduced a five-year time frame in 2016 to bring all states and provinces that use the ASWB exams into compliance with the ASWB policy that exams are to be administered to individuals with two years or commensurate experience as defined by the jurisdiction. It permits you to begin working in the clinical field after graduating with a masters degree, as long as you have an approved plan of supervision. The online Master of Social Work program from Howard University School of Social Work prepares students for advanced direct or macro practice in culturally diverse communities. A certain factor is then applied, adjusting your raw score up or down. For California BBS exams, passing scores haven't been published since 2018. West Virginia candidates will be contacted by the West Virginia Board of Social Work within 30 days of passing the exam. Social work licenses are issued by the state and provincial boards. The masters ASWB exam was taken over 16,000 times in 2020, with a pass rate of 75.4%. The ASWB is the organization that administers and scores the social work licensing exams that all state licensing boards adhere to (with the one exception being the California LCSW Law and Ethics exam, which the BBS administers). programs we write about. We encourage you to perform your own independent Each state has licensing requirements to become a social worker. Application Action Steps: 1. The passing score for the LMSW exam (ASWB Masters) varies depending on which version of the exam you take. ASWB continues to refine its exam development processes and is taking actions that will enhance its already validated examination program, including: These actions, like this report, represent initial steps that reflect social work values and uphold ASWBs mission to protect the public from harm. Box 1508 Culpeper, VA 22701 to the attention Examination Services Coordinator. A social work license is a professional license that proves you have the knowledge and skills to safely practice in the field. We are publishing the findings as part of the associations commitment to participating in data-driven conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion. You typically need at least a masters degree to become a licensed social worker, but in some states, its possible to get an entry-level license with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. It issues three types of social worker licenses: The Alaska BCSWE may grant you a license to practice if youre a social worker from another state, provided your states social work licensure requirements were equivalent to, or more stringent than, Alaskas. The University of Denvers Online MSW Program is delivered by its top-ranked school of social work and offers two programs. Pass the ASWB Advanced Generalist Exam. A repository for credentials and a way to verify licenses for social work boards, Links for finding the status of a license on the state or provincial website, Materials for Educators (Path to Licensure), Tools to help educators prepare students to get licensed and live licensed, Quality continuing education for maintaining your license, Download a free compilation of regulation data, ASWB's model law offers regulators a guide to best practices in regulation, Explore a database of social work laws and regulations, ASWB committee meetings, trainings, and other events, Complete the committee interest form to volunteer with ASWB, Sending your exam results to another state or province, Getting licensed in another state or province, See a list of approved courses (Excel file), Licensing and regulatory enforcement resources, Colorado, Texas, and Utah administration portal. A repository for credentials and a way to verify licenses for social work boards, Links for finding the status of a license on the state or provincial website, Materials for Educators (Path to Licensure), Tools to help educators prepare students to get licensed and live licensed, Quality continuing education for maintaining your license, Download a free compilation of regulation data, ASWB's model law offers regulators a guide to best practices in regulation, Explore a database of social work laws and regulations, ASWB committee meetings, trainings, and other events, Complete the committee interest form to volunteer with ASWB, Learn more about pass rates for the social work exams, Send your exam results to another state or province, Sending your exam results to another state or province, Getting licensed in another state or province, See a list of approved courses (Excel file), Licensing and regulatory enforcement resources, Colorado, Texas, and Utah administration portal. 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