See CSC Exam FAQ’s here for more information.
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Registration Calls
Registration over phone
ASWB Candidate Services this is _____. How may I help you?
Have you ever registered for an ASWB exam?
May I please have your date of birth?
What is the spelling of your last name, first name? What is your middle initial? (Middle initial is for internal reference only)
What state approved you to take the exam?
On the day of your exam, you’ll need to take 2 ID’s. One must be a government issued non-expired photo ID with a signature (like a driver’s license) and the other must be non-expired with a signature (like a credit card). Does your first and last name you have given today match both of your ID’s that you will take to the test center?
Which exam level have you been approved to take?
Have you been approved for any special testing arrangements? IF YES… Read back the ADA or ESL form to make sure everything listed is correct. Also check the fed-ex address for foreign dictionary delivery and add address to registration notes. Make sure they are aware that someone will need to be available to sign for the fed-ex. (CAN NOT FED-EX TO A PO BOX)
Your total today is ___ and this is a non-refundable fee. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover.
Are you the card holder? -What is your card #? -What is the expiration date? - What is the 3-digit security code on the back of the credit card? -What is the billing Zip Code for this card? -What is the best phone number to reach you? Is this your home #?
What is your mailing address?
What is your email address?
Do you an alternative phone number you would like to list?
Which gender do you identify with?
What is your race or ethnic background?
Are you currently working in the social work field?
What is your current job title?
Since receiving your highest social work degree how many years have you been in practice?
Are you a US citizen?
Is your first or primary language English?
Get all degree information…What degrees do you hold? This can include programs in which you are currently completing your last semester. Is the degree in social work? From what school? Year earned? (If the degree is in other, please check to see if there is a code, you will need to specifically ask about each degree for example Bachelors, Masters and PHD)
Are you currently completing your last semester for any other degree or program?
At this time, I am going to review your information.
(You will need to review social security number, name, birthdate, address, and email.)
I have that you are taking the ______ exam for licensure in the jurisdiction of -------. You are eligible to test on or any time after --------. Your expiration date to take the exam is _________. (add note to registration if less than 30 days between the dates)
Do you agree that the information that you have provided is true and accurate?
Please listen carefully I am going to explain testing procedures and you will have to verbally agree that you understand each statement.
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Do you understand this information?
· Once you schedule your exam, you may cancel or change your appointment without penalty by contacting Pearson VUE up to 24 hours before the appointment time. You may cancel or change your appointment by phone or online. Please be sure to read the information that has been provided to you and to cancel or change your appointment within the guidelines. Failure to do so will result in forfeiting your examination fee. When cancelling or changing online, print your receipt when your order is finished before signing out. When cancelling or changing an appointment by phone, keep a record of the date, time, and name of the representative you speak with. If you do not receive an email confirmation, your appointment has not been cancelled or rescheduled.
Do you understand this information?
· Examination fees are non-refundable. Cancellations will not result in a refund.
Do you understand this information?
· If you do not show up for your examination at the scheduled time and have not cancelled or rescheduled within the guidelines, you will forfeit your examination fee. You will not be permitted to schedule another examination date until you have reregistered with ASWB and paid for another examination. You will not be seated if you arrive late for your examination. Late arrivals will be treated as no-shows.
Do you understand this information?
· If you do not follow proper testing procedures or bring proper ID’s, you will not be allowed to test and you will forfeit your examination fee.
Do you understand this information?
Save and Authorize Registration
ASWB offers two products that are available to candidates.
Free to download is the ASWB Examination Guidebook.
The ASWB Examination Guidebook is designed to give you the tools you need to apply for your license and register for and schedule your exam. It will also help you understand exactly what to expect on your exam day. It gives you the single most comprehensive look at the exam, from knowing how the exams are developed and what content will be tested to getting your exam on the calendar and understanding the testing environment. You can download this guidebook on our website at Association of Social Work Boards .
ASWB also offers an online practice test for registered candidates.
The practice test is $85 and includes 170 questions and 4 hours to answer all the questions. You will have 30 days access to take the practice test one time, to review the questions, answers, and rationales. The practice test software emulates the test center software. There is only one version of the practice test.
Would you like to purchase the ASWB Online Practice test today?
(If a candidate is registering for an Associate Exam, make them aware that the Practice Test they will receive is the Bachelors. They are the same outline)
If more information is requested by candidate about browser compatibility:
For more information about browser compatibility visit our website at aswb.org
For best results access the online practice test using the following:
Windows 7 or higher
Mac OS X 10.9 or higher
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher
Apple Safari 7.0 or higher
Your registration is complete, do you have any questions?
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?
Please stay on the line while I transfer you to a 2-question customer service survey
No approval
I am not showing that ASWB has an approval from your jurisdiction to take an ASWB examination. Please follow up with your board and have them submit your approval to ASWB so that you can register. if you give me your state/province I will be happy to provide you with the phone number to contact your board.
Address change concerns
Your mailing address will not be verified when you go to the testing center. ASWB will not be mailing you any information regarding your test or results. After you have taken your exam and received your results, you are welcome to contact ASWB so we can update your address.
Name Issues
Contact your board and ask them to send a name correction to ASWB. I would be happy to provide you with the phone number to contact your board. Once we have the name correction, you will be able to register. As a reminder: Please wait until the name correction has been sent to ASWB before you attempt to register online for the examination.
Middle name concerns
Your middle name is not verified at the testing center. They will only be verifying the names in the first name and last name fields.
Candidate is asking about an extension for their Approval.
Your Registration Expiration Date is directly tied to the approval to test expiration date you received from your state/province. In this case, ASWB will need a new approval/authorization from your state/province to extend your Authorization to Test. If you have an appointment scheduled with Pearson VUE please remember to cancel it 24 hours before your appointment, so you do not forfeit your exam fee. You must contact your state/province for a new approval. If you give me your state/province I would be happy to provide you with the phone number to contact your board.
Candidate is asking about an extension for their Registration
** If candidate approval is still valid...
If you would like to request an extension on your registration, please fill out our online extension form.
Authorization to Test expiration date extension - Association of Social Work Boards
If you have an appointment scheduled with Pearson Vue please remember to cancel it 24 hours before your appointment, so you do not forfeit your fee. It can take up to 2 weeks to receive a response to your request.
Scoring
Score Verification Script
Reporting accurate scores is essential to ASWB’s mission. ASWB contracts with Pearson VUE to administer exams and score them electronically. Because of a series of quality checks that ensures the accuracy of electronic scoring, recounting correct and incorrect answers does not alter the result. Consequently, scoring verification for individual exams is unnecessary, and ASWB does not offer this service.
Has there ever been an error on scoring?
Not to my knowledge. The exam is scored with a high degree of accuracy and is verified multiple times before being put into production.
If a candidate is questioning the validity of the exam.
ASWB exams are a high-stakes test, and ensuring validity and reliability is critical. ASWB ensures validity through the way the exam is constructed, from the practice analysis through the analysis of pretest questions. Reliability is established through statistical monitoring of individual test question performance, as well as psychometric techniques used to generate the passing scores and equate different forms.
If a candidate is asking about reviewing their exam
ASWB does not allow candidates to conduct a review of their examination because of concerns about exam security. Exam questions must be protected from being used for purposes other than testing knowledge. For example, examination review could create a security breach and provide the opportunity for the questions to be memorized and sold to test prep companies, something that has actually happened in other high stakes testing programs.
Further, reviewing the questions you missed is unlikely to help you do better if you decide to retest. When you retest, you are given a different version of the examination. While the content being tested by each of the exam’s versions remains the same, the questions are different.
If a candidate is questioning the exam development
You may email examdev@aswb.org and that team will respond to your concerns.
Multiple Choice Question Change
A combination of three- and four-option multiple-choice questions will offer a better test-taking experience by reducing time pressure and ensuring a focus on social work knowledge. The exam and practice exam will gradually include more three-option questions going forward, with the goal of completing the transition by 2025.
Why do I have to wait 90 days between exams?
The waiting period exists for exam security reasons. It also benefits you because it sets aside time to prepare for your next attempt.
Why is the exam so expensive?
To respond to your concerns about the cost of the examination, the social work licensing examination fee is established primarily to support the ASWB social work licensing examination program. ASWB’s fees are separate from any fees payable to your jurisdiction’s licensing board which could vary from state to state.
Score transfers
Score Transfer Script
Go to the Examinations tab.
May I have your Date of Birth?
May I have your name?
What state did you originally test for?
If there is a “Y” on the candidate ID line under Reg: Transfer to Registry.
Name Change – Candidate will need to send documentation of the name change before the score transfer can be processed. See Name Change guidelines on page 2. (If they are going back to a previous name that they have tested under prior, documentation is not required)
· Must be submitted through ST on website
· Emailed into Specialist@aswb.org
Which exam are you sending? (If fail, cannot send to board) (If candidate states the board still wants the failed score, ask a Specialist II to confirm with the Board that they do want it and if so, you can call the candidate back to process it)
*If exam date is 1997 or before you will need to check ASI data.
*NY & CO – cannot transfer score if they tested with ELL accommodations.
What state or jurisdiction is it going to? (Check jurisdiction page to confirm the state excepts the level they want to transfer.)
Have you already sent in your licensure application?
If no, “We recommend that you mail in your application first and let your board start a file for you. The score transfer is a single page document that we send electronically to the state board. (The score transfers are emailed to the Boards every Tuesday)
If yes, continue:
“Before we process your score transfer, I would like to make sure we have your current information on file.”
Update mailing address, email, phone” Repeat info back to candidate. SAVE
Click on Order Scores
Ordered Via “Telephone”
Click Official Score Transfer
Select State
Add NOTE (Score transfer to ____, info same or updated _____________. (Add verified with ASI data if needed)
“The score transfer is $40, it’s non-refundable and we take Visa, Mastercard, and Discover” “Is the card in your name?”
Enter same or cardholder’s name
Select Credit Card in Payment info
Press Charge Credit Card (Make sure auth.net is full screen so that the CC # is not recorded)
Get cc info, charge card, cut and paste authorization code. & Click Place Order
We are sending your ____ level exam score, originally taken for _______ to the ________ state board. It will be electronically sent to the Board next Tuesday and may take a few weeks for the board to process and update their system.
Do you have any questions?
Please stay on the line to participate in a 2-question customer service survey
NAME CHANGES
No name changes are done without change documentation.
Name Change Documentation
Marriage Certificate
Divorce Decree
Court Ordered Document
Drivers License
Submit Info – Must provide Previous Name, Current Name and DOB
E-mail - candidateservices@aswb.org
Fax – 540-829-0142
Mail – Candidate Services
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ONLY EXCEPTION - Name change is not required if candidate is changing name back to name already tested under. I/e - Candidate took exam originally in 1997 as Hannah Smith and then was married and changed to Hannah Jones. If Hannah states she is now back to Smith, since this was an already established name for candidate, there is no documentation required. |
How long is my exam score good for?
Examination scores are good with ASWB forever. However, if you are transferring to other states, they will determine if they accept the score transfer for licensure by endorsement.
Pearson Vue & Scheduling
Making an appointment to take an ASWB social work examination at a Pearson VUE test center.
Reservations may be made online* at http://pearsonvue.com/aswb 24 hours a day or by phone through the call center at 877.884.9537. Call center hours are 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time Sunday.
*Candidates with nonstandard testing arrangements must schedule by phone. Call 800.466.0450 during call center hours of 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday. Please inform the representative that you are calling to schedule an ASWB social work exam.
When you make an appointment, be prepared to supply:
Your FIRST and LAST name as it appears on the ASWB Authorization to Test
Your Candidate ID Number from the Authorization to Test
Your address at the time of registration
Your date of birth
The exam listed on the Authorization to Test—ASWB Associate, Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical
Scheduling an appointment online with Pearson VUE
When you schedule a testing appointment online, you will need to provide an email address in order to receive confirmation of your test date. Print your receipt when your order is finished before signing out. Pearson VUE will email a confirmation of your testing appointment with the testing information and directions to the test center. It is your responsibility to look for this email. You are responsible for locating the test center and arriving on time on the scheduled date. If you must cancel or reschedule an appointment, it is your responsibility to do so within the cancellation guidelines. Please note: Candidates with nonstandard testing arrangements must schedule by phone.
Scheduling an appointment by phone with Pearson VUE
When you schedule a testing appointment by phone, the date, time, and test center city will be provided during the call. If you provide Pearson VUE with an email address, you will be sent an email confirmation of your testing appointment with the testing information and directions to the test center. It is your responsibility to look for this email. If you do not have an email address, Pearson VUE will send you a confirmation by mail. You are responsible for locating the test center and arriving on time on the scheduled date. If you must cancel or reschedule an appointment, it is your responsibility to do so within the cancellation guidelines. Write down the date, time, and name of the representative helping you.
Candidates questioning if they can test in a different state than they were approved to test.
ASWB has contracted with Pearson VUE for exam administration. There are no set times or dates for taking an ASWB exam. You may choose an available time and location that works for you, your score will still go back to the state you registered for with ASWB.
Cancelling/Changing an appointment
You may cancel or change your appointment without penalty by contacting Pearson VUE up to 24 hours before the appointment time. Cancellations and changes may be made online at http://pearsonvue.com/aswb or by calling 877.884.9537 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday.
*Please note: Candidates with nonstandard testing arrangements must cancel/change an appointment by calling 800.466.0450 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Monday thru Friday. If you are scheduled to test on a Monday or Tuesday, you must call before 7:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Friday before your appointment. If your testing arrangements include assistive personnel (reader, scribe, or sign language interpreter) we request that you provide two business days’ notice.
It is your responsibility to cancel or change your appointment within these guidelines. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of your examination fee and Authorization to Test. When cancelling/changing online, print your receipt when your order is finished before signing out. When cancelling or changing an appointment by phone, keep a record of the date, time, and name of the representative you speak with. It is also your responsibility to keep the email you receive from Pearson VUE. Be aware that while your Authorization to Test may be valid for one year, it may contain an earlier expiration date as required by a particular jurisdiction. If your Authorization to Test contains a board-imposed expiration date, you may not take an examination after this expiration date without first contacting your jurisdictional board and ASWB.
Excused Absences
If you would like to see if you would qualify for the excused absence due to extenuating circumstances, please visit our website to apply for the excused absence for the Project Coordinators for review.
https://www.aswb.org/exam/exam-appointments/request-excused-absence/
If candidate is planning to apply for the excused absence, let them know to not register at this time
No Show/Late arrival Script
If you do not arrive for your examination at the scheduled time and have not cancelled or rescheduled within the guidelines you will forfeit your examination fee and Authorization to Test. You will not be permitted to schedule another testing appointment until you reregister with ASWB and pay for another examination.
*Candidates are not seated if they arrive late for the examination. Late arrivals are treated as no-shows.
If they want to dispute the no show
Did you receive your cancellation email from Pearson VUE?
Please fill out the excused absence form on our website located herehttps://www.aswb.org/exam/exam-appointments/request-excused-absence/ :
You will receive a response to your email within 2 business days.
Inclement weather, natural disasters
Test centers may be closed or may experience delays during severe weather, natural disasters, or other emergencies. For information on test center closings, please call Pearson VUE at 877.884.9537. Examination appointments that the test center cancels in such circumstances may be rescheduled at no cost. Contact ASWB for rescheduling information. If the test center is open and you do not arrive on time for your appointment, your exam fee will be forfeited.
If a candidate continues to disagree with the no show policy
Please fill out the excused absence form on our website located here: https://www.aswb.org/exam/exam-appointments/request-excused-absence/
You will receive a response to your email within 2 business days. .
Examination Day
On test day
Please arrive at the test center 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow time for check-in and security procedures. Your picture will be taken and your palms will be scanned for identification purposes. You will be required to read and sign the Candidate Rules Agreement. You may preview all of this information at http://aswb.org/exam/getting-ready-for-the-exam/on-exam-day . When you arrive at the test center, you must present two original IDs to test—one from the primary list and one from the secondary list. The first and last names on both IDs must match the name on the Authorization to Test from ASWB. Middle names and initials are not verified at the test center
Note: If your name has changed, you must present the original marriage certificate, divorce decree, or state/local government documents showing the name change.
If you do not bring proper IDs to the test center on test day and do not arrive on time, you will not be allowed to test and you will forfeit the examination fee.
Access to locker for water & snack during the exam
Candidates are now able to bring a water and a snack to store in locker. Candidates must bring their own bottled water in a spill proof container, water and snacks can be consumed in the waiting room. Candidates may access their locker at their discretion, the exam timer will not be stopped for a break.
Locker Storage
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You will have a total of 4 hours (240 minutes) to complete your exam. Appointment times include an additional 30 minutes to allow for check-in at the test center, the tutorial (which you may spend up to 20 minutes reviewing), and completion of a survey at the end of your exam. The clock on the bottom right corner of the computer screen is the official timekeeper of the examination. After you finish the tutorial, and begin the exam you will need to click on the clock icon to display the clock. The clock displays the time remaining on the exam. You may take breaks may be taken at your discretion, but testing time does not stop for breaks. You may not leave the monitored area of the test center except for short bathroom breaks.
Candidate did not receive an unofficial score report after testing
You will need to complete an incident report with ASWB so that an unofficial score report can be sent to you. The incident form can be found on ASWB’s website here: Examination incident report - Association of Social Work Boards (aswb.org).
GA only
Veterans Points
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International Degrees
International candidates who want their degree evaluated
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has a program to evaluate international degree programs. They are better equipped to answer your questions. You contact them at: 703-683-8099.
Refunds & Escalations
Refunds
Thank you for reaching out to the Association of Social Work Boards and sharing your situation. In your correspondence to ASWB, you stated that you would like to receive a refund for your examination fee. Exam fees are non-refundable, which is stated in the terms and conditions that you agreed to when you registered.
Candidate continues to push for a refund.
Please provide a letter requesting the refund along with supporting documentation. This can be emailed to specialists@aswb.org. A manager will review the information and the candidate will receive a response within 2 weeks.
Escalation issues
If there is a candidate who is demanding to speak w/ someone in special arrangements, those calls can be transferred to extension 3250. If no one is available to take the call the candidate can leave a message.
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