January 2026

As most CSWA members know, the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), which oversees the licensure examinations for social workers, has been working for the past three years to eliminate the disparities in pass rates to the exam (see ASWB Report, 2022). CSWA has been having quarterly meetings with ASWB leaders to share updates in the field, as well as to discuss the problems we have seen in the clinical examination.

ASWB has just released the first of several changes which will be made to improve the exams as follows:

Association of Social Work Boards Examination Changes

The exam will shift from four content areas to three to better reflect real-world social work practice.

The total number of questions will be reduced (specifically from 150 scored + 20 pretest to 110 scored + 12 pretest) while maintaining the 4-hour exam time.

There will be a stronger emphasis on problem-solving, reasoning, and application - not just recall.

The updated exam will feature a higher proportion of 3-option multiple-choice items to improve clarity and focus.

These changes are set to go live in August 2026. ASWB hopes these changes will lead to a more streamlined, relevant exam; content that mirrors current professional practice; and a greater emphasis on real-world skills. The other changes which CSWA hopes will be addressed will be the pass disparities which have been identified. ASWB’s information on the topic can be found at https://www.aswb.org/upcoming-changes-to-the-social-work-licensing-exams/.