Frequently Asked Questions
Does the study guide contain all of the information I need to
prepare for the exam?
Yes. The Complete Guide to Social Work is a comprehensive study
guide. It contains chapters of study material for all areas identified
by ASWB as topics tested on the exam, as well as, many study questions
and answers.
How often are the study guides revised?
We understand that social work issues are constantly evolving and
changing. We therefore revise and update the study guide approximately
twice per year.
How many study questions does the study guide contain?
The study guide contains study questions at the end of each chapter
along with a full length practice exam with explanatory answers.
In total, there are over 250 questions contained in the study guide.
What is the difference between The Complete Guide to Social Work and the
study guide offered by ASWB?
Unlike the ASWB Study Guide, The Complete Guide to Social Work is
a comprehensive study tool. The ASWB study guide contains information
about the development and administration of the exam, a breakdown
of the topics tested on the Exam, 50 sample test questions, and
a bibliography. The Complete Guide to Social Work contains all of
this and more. It contains chapters of study material for all areas
identified by ASWB as topics tested on the exam, study questions
at the end of each chapter, and a full length practice exam. In
addition, the Complete Guide to Social Work contains useful reference
tools such as a DSM-IV-TR quick reference tool, a psychiatric pharmaceutical
guide, and various forms and documents used in practice. To purchase
the ASWB study guide, contact ASWB directly.
Does the study guide contain sample ASWB exam questions?
The study guide contains numerous questions to test your knowledge
and prepare you for the ASWB exam. The questions were designed to
simulate the actual questions on the ASWB exam, but are not actual
ASWB questions. The study guide is published by Independent Study,
Inc. We are not affiliated with ASWB or any other professional
organization.
What is your passing rate?
The passing rate cannot be determined with any accuracy and, therefore,
we are not comfortable publishing a “passing rate.” Each
study guide comes with a questionnaire that we ask individuals to
return to us after taking the exam. As you can imagine, only a portion
of the questionnaires are returned to us and, therefore, any passing
rate would be unreliable and inaccurate. We can say with confidence,
however, that the feedback that we receive is extremely positive,
and many individuals have prepared for the exam using our study
guide and have passed!
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept personal checks and money orders. For your convenience,
we also accept major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, and
American Express.
How do I order the study guide?
You can order the study guide over the internet through our secure
website, www.socialworkguide.com,
using a major credit card. Or, you can print the order form
from our website and send it to Independent Study, LLC, P.O.
Box 1986, Wilmington, NC 28402 or fax it to (910) 343-0543. Payment
must accompany your order in order to be fulfilled.
How long does it take to receive the study guide?
Orders are shipped on Mondays - Fridays (except major holidays)
through the United States Postal Service. Orders should be
delivered within 7-10 business days. For an additional charge,
orders can be sent via Priority Mail (2-3 business days) or Expedited
Delivery (1-2 business days). Expedited Delivery generally
arrives the next business day, but can take longer depending on
your state. Please note that next day delivery is not
available to all states, e.g., Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico and
may take up to 2 days to be delivered. Please also note that delivery
times are estimated and depend upon location being shipped and other
uncontrollable circumstances, including inclement weather.
About the Study Supplement – The Strategic Guide to the ASWB Exam
What is The Strategic Guide to the ASWB Exam?
The Strategic Guide to the ASWB Exam is a supplemental
study guide that focuses solely on multiple choice test strategy. The
supplement is specific to the ASWB social work exam. It provides
a step-by-step dissection of the process that should be used to
choose the correct answer along with hundreds of sample questions
to practice your new skills. Although the supplement relates
to social work material, it should not be used as your primary study
tool. The intent of this supplement is to help those test
takers who want to improve their scores. This supplement does
not contain the review material on the exam topics.
What is the difference between the Study Guide and the Study Supplement?
The Study Guide should be used as your primary resource for preparation
for the ASWB exam as it contains review summaries of all of the
material tested on the exam along with study questions and practice
exam questions to test your knowledge. The Study Supplement
focuses only on the multiple choice test taking strategy for the
ASWB exam. It was designed for those test takers who want
to improve their score and enhance their multiple choice taking
skills.
Do I need both the Study Guide and the Study Supplement?
You do not need both the Study Guide and the Study Supplement. The
Study Guide is the only resource that you should need to prepare
for the exam. Many individuals, however, need extra help with
multiple choice test taking strategy and are looking for ways to
increase their scores.
Can I purchase just the Study Supplement?
If you already have the Study Guide, you can purchase just the
Study Supplement. The Study Supplement was not intended to
be used as the primary source for preparing for the exam. It
does not cover all of the information that is tested on the exam
and was designed solely to address test taking strategy for the
ASWB exam.
About the Exam
Which level of exam should I take?
ASWB offers 4 levels of exam: Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist,
and Clinical. The level of exam that you are eligible to take
is based upon your level of education and work experience.
| Associate/Bachelors | Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) |
| Masters | MSW/Ph.D. + no post-degree experience |
| Advanced Generalist | MSW/Ph.D. + 2 years of post-degree experience |
| Clinical | MSW/Ph.D. + 2 years post-degree clinical experience |
The level of exam that is offered varies on a state-by-state basis.
You should check with your state’s licensing office to determine
the appropriate level of exam.
Do I have to have a degree in Social Work?
Yes. You must have at least a Bachelor’s degree in Social
Work. Although there are other related degrees, the degree
must actually be in Social Work. For more information about
licensing qualifications, check with your state’s social work
board or ASWB.
Who administers the exam?
The exam is administered by the Association of Social Work Boards
(ASWB).
How many questions are on the exam?
The Exam contains 170 standard multiple choice format (4 answers)
questions designed to measure minimum competencies at the four levels.
Of these 170 questions, only 150 are actually scored; the remaining
20 questions are "pretest" items, which are included to
measure their effectiveness as items on future examinations. These
pretest items are randomly scattered throughout the Exam and are
not identified as “pretest” questions. You should, therefore,
answer each question as though it were a graded question.
How is the exam scored?
The exam is scored on a scaled basis. Adjustments are made to account
for the level of difficulty of the actual items on your exam. There
is no penalty for wrong answers. Therefore, if you come across a
question you do not know – guess!
What score do I need to pass the exam?
The score that you need to pass the exam depends on your state.
Most states require a scaled score of either 70 or 75. The number
of questions needed to pass the exam varies exam to exam based upon
the difficulty of the questions presented.
Is the exam the same in every state?
Yes. Exams of the same level are identical in each state that used
the ASWB exam. There may be multiple versions of each level of exam.
In addition, be aware that not all states offer all four levels
of the exam.
Do all states require you to take the ASWB exam?
Most states require you to take the ASWB exam. There are 4 levels
of the exam. Not all states, however, offer all four levels. To
determine which level of exam you are required to take, please check
with your state’s licensing office. In addition, be aware
that California does not offer any level of the ASWB exam. It has
its own licensing exam and requirements.
When is the exam offered?
The exam is given almost daily at numerous testing centers across
the country. Check with ASWB to determine where the most convenient
testing center for you is.
How is the exam administered?
The exam is administered electronically on a computer. If you don’t
know how to use a computer, don’t worry. The computer will
be set up for you by the testing center and detailed instructions
on how to take the exam and use the computer will be given to you.
You will even have time to familiarize yourself and practice using
the computer before you begin the exam.
If I fail the exam, can I retake it?
Most states allow you to retake the exam if you fail. The number
of times and the waiting period in between exams depend on the state.
Most states require you to wait at least 90 days prior to retaking
the exam. Check with your state licensing office for specific information
on this topic.
About Licensing
If I am licensed in another state, do I need to take the exam?
The exam score is transferable state to state. If you are licensed
in another state, you may be able to apply for comity with your
new state. You would need to check with your new state’s
licensing office to determine which level of exam is needed and
whether you meet the other state requirements for licensure.
What are the requirements for licensure?
The requirements for licensure vary state to state. All states require
you to hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work.
Check with your state’s licensing office for the exact requirements
and procedures for obtaining your license.