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Studying Tips for the Social Work License Exam
Social work involves providing care for individuals in your community who may need support with mental health, behavioral needs or family dynamics. Because of this scope of practice, all states require clinical social workers to be licensed, and some states require even non-clinical social workers to obtain licensure as well.
Being a credentialed social worker can improve professional opportunities, and it starts with studying for the social work licensing exam. Where necessary, aspiring social workers seeking licensure take the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s or clinical level, depending on the type of work they want to practice in their state. ASWB also offers an advanced generalist exam for individuals with advanced knowledge in the field and a desire to work in social work administration and community practice.
The following tips apply to all levels of the social work license exam but do not guarantee passing the exam or gaining licensure.
University of Denver • Denver, CO
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 12 months
Credits
54-81 graduate-level credits
Concentrations
Mental Health and Trauma, Health, Equity and Wellness
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to be considered for admission
- Minimum undergraduate GPA is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree
- Official transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Career goals statement
Syracuse University • Syracuse, NY
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 24 months
Credits
36-60
Concentrations
Advanced Integrated Practice, Advanced Clinical Practice
Admission Requirements
- Minimum 3.0 GPA is preferred
- Transcripts
- Resume
- Essays
- Prerequisite coursework
- Letters of recommendation
Simmons University • Boston, MA
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Accelerated and Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 9 months
Credits
37-65
Concentrations
Mental Health Practice Optional Certificate, Trauma Practice Optional Certificate, Clinical Practice with Active Service Members, Veterans, and Families
Admission Requirements
- Resume
- Transcripts
- Recommendation forms
- Statement of professional and educational intent
Howard University • Washington, DC
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 12 months
Credits
45+
Concentrations
Direct Practice, Community, Administration and Policy (CAP) Practice
Admission Requirements
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- College transcripts
- A personal statement
- An application essay
- A resume
- Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution, award within four years of first term start date
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all social work foundation and undergraduate coursework
Hawaii Pacific University • Honolulu, HI
Master of Social Work
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
12-36 months
Credits
30-57
Concentrations
Military and Veterans Affairs, Child or Adult Protective Services, Health Care, Mental Health, Individual and Families, Social Agency Administration
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with at least 30 credits in Liberal Arts from an accredited four-year institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA, but applicants below that will be considered for provisional admission
- Completed courses in Statistics and Research Methods
- Applicants must have completed each course with a grade of a "C" or higher
- Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited program within the past five years
- Minimum 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale in social work courses
- Online application
Discover Your Studying Style
Think back to previous exams or courses you’ve taken: How did you study for tests? What made you feel successful? Maybe pacing yourself through the study material, or working with others to help each other learn more effectively, did it for you.
For aspiring social workers who benefit from a lot of structure, study guides can help clarify what to expect from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the national body that administers the social work licensing exam. Study guides may include strategies for prioritizing learning and studying for each section of the exam, as well as examples of questions that might be asked during the test. If you’re wondering where to start, consider the ASWB study guide, which is published by the organization and available as an e-book or print edition.
To learn more about where the exam fits into your career path, familiarize yourself with the steps to become a social worker.
Join an ASWB Study Group
You don’t have to study for the social work exam alone. Joining a study group can help aspiring clinicians with social work test prep by allowing them to share strategies and support one another.
When working with a study group, take note of the type of social work licensure that other members of your group might have or are hoping to obtain because they may be able to help with understanding different levels of the exam or different experiences as a practitioner.
Practice Taking the ASWB Test
Practice exams can be a helpful way to prepare for the real test, including learning how to pace yourself on each question and tracking your progress against individual learning objectives.
Exams typically take four hours and have 170 questions. ASWB offers an official Online Practice Test for the Associate, Bachelors, Masters, and Clinical exam levels (not Advanced Generalist). The practice exam costs $85, and each practice test can only be taken once per purchase, and remains available for 30 days after you launch it, so you can review questions, answers, and rationales.
Manage Exam Anxiety
Some aspiring social workers take the licensing exam while juggling a day job, family life and other mentally and physically demanding responsibilities. It’s important to prioritize mental and emotional health during social work exam prep — not only to ensure the mental capacity that is necessary to pass the exam, but also to help prevent burnout once you’ve gained licensure and begun practicing.
Self-care during social work exam prep may include scheduling breaks for rest, exercise and other health-focused activities.
Bring the Essentials
Before taking the ASWB exam, find out what items are necessary to have with you at the testing center, such as forms of identification or writing utensils. Check for any food and water limitations, bag restrictions, parking validation or other information about what you are allowed to bring inside.
If you can, pack ahead for the day of the test, including a snack, a beverage or other necessities that may help you stay focused and alert during the exam.
Resources for Social Work License Exam Prep
The resources below may be helpful when preparing for the exam but do not guarantee passing the test or gaining licensure.
- Free ASWB Practice Exams, Test Guide: breakdown of what to expect from ASWB exams, including registration and scoring methods.
- Free Practice Tests, Social Work Test Prep: free practice questions, study materials and strategies for social work license exams.
- Free ASWB Practice Tests, Varsity Tutors: free practice exams and quizzes organized by concept and difficulty level.
- ASWB Clinical Practice Test, Mometrix Test Preparation: free information about test preparation and practice exams.
- Take an ASWB Practice Test, Study.com: free practice tests at the clinical, associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels.
Aspiring social workers taking their first state-level licensure exam may have concerns about using an ASWB exam study guide. Social Work License Map answers frequently asked questions below:
Social Work License Exam FAQs
After you apply to your state/provincial social work board and ASWB receives your board approval, you can register and pay the exam fee through your ASWB account (ASWB Central). Once ASWB has your board approval and you register/pay, ASWB sends an Authorization to Test (ATT) email. You’ll use the ATT to schedule your exam with Pearson VUE.
ASWB offers nonstandard testing arrangements for candidates with disabilities, health conditions, or other qualifying needs, but you must request and receive approval before you register for the exam.
Exam | Total number of exams administered | 2024 pass rate |
|---|---|---|
Associate | 415 | 66.7% |
Bachelors | 3,080 | 67.2% |
Masters | 20,566 | 73.0% |
Advanced Generalist | 84 | 50.0% |
If you don’t get the score you were hoping for or you don’t pass the ASWB exam, you may be able to take the test again. In most cases, ASWB requires a 90-day waiting period between exam attempts. Some candidates may also be eligible to request a waiver of the waiting period, depending on their jurisdiction and how close their score was to the passing standard. Afterward, use your score report to pinpoint weaker content areas, then adjust your plan before you retest, revisit study guides, join a study group, and focus extra time on the topics that were most challenging the first time around.
Information last updated: February 2026