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ASWB REPORTS DISPARITIES IN PASS-FAIL RATES -

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    ASWB REPORT 2022 ASWB EXAM PASS RATE ANALYSIS
Disparities In Pass Rates Of Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color

The entire social work professional community is disturbed by the ASWB report 2022 ASWB Exam Pass Rate Analysis that shows a long history of alarming disparities in pass rates of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) first time test takers of the ASWB Clinical Exam.  

There are LCSWs calling for the elimination of the ASWB clinical Examination.  While the intensity of emotion is justified there is also a need for caution to protect the ability of the nearly 8000 Virginia LCSWs that depend on their license to earn a living.    

I ask that LCSWs to keep in mind 3 things:  

A.                In order to practice independently, LCSWs need to substantiate they have sufficient expertise to practice psychotherapy independently. At this point in time the ASWB clinical examination is a primary means of assessing   that ability.

B.                 The  current VBSW regulations specify that the examination for the LCSW is the ASWB Clinical Exam.  

18VAC140-20-70.

Examination requirement. 

A. An applicant for licensure by the board as an LBSW, an LMSW, or clinical social worker shall pass a written examination prescribed by the board. 

1. The examination

prescribed for licensure as a clinical social worker shall be the licensing examination of the Association of Social Work Boards at the clinical level.

 

Just to put the regulatory change process into context the timeline might look like:

The Virginia Board of Social Work at their September 23, 2022, Board meeting included on the agenda a need to vote on a change to remove a fee from the regulations. That change was a “Fast-Track” action that was initiated on September 24, 2019.  This very simple change has taken 3 years to get to the Board’s agenda today.  Any changes to the exam will very likely take a few years. 

 

 3.    The Social Work Compact, currently in development, which would allow LCSWs  more flexibility to work in states with a multi-state license, will require LCSWs to pass a national examination. 

 I believe it is in the best interest of the social work profession in Virginia, for the VBSW delegates to ASWB, at the next ASWB meeting they attend, demand that ASWB  take swift corrective actions to address the discrepancies in  Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)   first time test takers of the ASWB Clinical Exam. 

 


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