ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) is a non-profit association of social work licensing boards in United States and Canada. ASWB owns and administers licensing examinations of social workers. Various social work regulatory boards use its services. However, these boards (or board of examiners, association, college, council, bureau, or department as what ever they are called in a state or province) are independent and have their own licensing requirements and procedures. ASWB itself is not a board, nor, it controls any board or regulatory body. Also, ASWB is not associated with National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and its chapters in United States.
ASWB was established in 1979 with an objective to monitor social workers and to facilitate an information resource of legal regulations pertaining to social work profession. It aims to protect consumers and ensure safe and effective practice of social work. It provides examination services to its member boards for purpose of licensing and regulation. These exams serve as one of the criteria of licensing in addition to other factors such as education and supervised experience. The licensing of social workers has helped in instituting social work as a distinguishable branch of mental health services. It has further enabled supervision of social workers and their practice.
These exams have been developed by examination committee of ASWB according to standards set by American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, and National Council on Measurement in Education. ASWB had conducted job analysis surveys in 1979, 1988, 1996, 2003 and 2010 for developing these tests.
There are five categories of ASWB exams-
Associate: – This exam has been developed for individuals who have completed an associate degree in social work and do not have any other post degree experience.
Bachelors: – This exam has been developed for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree in social work and do not have any other post degree experience.
Masters: – This exam has been developed for individuals who have completed a master’s degree in social work and do not have any other post degree experience.
Advanced Generalist: – This exam has been developed for individuals who have completed a master’s degree in social work and possess post degree experience of minimum two years in non-clinical settings.
Clinical: – This exam has been developed for individuals who have completed a master’s degree in social work and possess post degree experience of minimum two years in direct clinical practice settings.