Who is ASWB

Owned by Tracey Diaz
Oct 17, 2023

What is the Association of Social Work Boards?

The Association of Social Work Boards was formed in 1979 to help licensing boards carry out their public protection missions and promote common values, ethics, and practice standards. Its members are the social work regulatory boards in the United States and Canada.

The association’s mission is to provide support and services to the social work regulatory community to advance safe, competent, and ethical practices to strengthen public protection. ASWB’s vision is that all social workers are licensed in order to protect clients and client systems.

The licensing exams, developed on behalf of the association’s members, are one of ASWB’s primary services to its members. ASWB began offering social work licensing examinations nearly 40 years ago. Now, more than 65,000 ASWB social work licensing examinations are administered each year.

Why does social work licensing matter?

Licensing:

  • Identifies social workers as members of a professional occupation

  • Protects the title of social worker, those holding a license may call themselves social workers

  • Protects the public ensuring social workers demonstrated entry-level competence to practice

safely and ethically

  • Ensures social workers maintain their competence with requiring continuing education

  • Helps the public have recourse in cases where social workers do harm

  • Upholds social work as a professional occupation

Why is an exam needed?

An exam is an essential component of licensing decisions.

Taken together, these components allow the regulatory board to make a well-rounded and informed decision about whether to grant a license to practice.

Education

A degree from an accredited educational program indicates that the applicant has learned the

fundamental knowledge base for the profession.

Supervised experience

(When needed)- Experience gained under supervision shows postgraduate training preparing the applicant for practice.

Requisite character

Meeting state or provincial expectations for moral character may be required.

Examination

A passing score on a licensing exam