Free ASWB Practice Tests
Practice the ASWB social work licensing exams with original scenario questions written to the 2026 blueprint and a worked explanation for every answer. Each exam has free drills for all ten competencies and a full 122-question timed mock.
122 questions in two sections, 4 hours, scored on the 110 that count, with a score by content area and competency and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drill- 534 original questions with explanations
- 4 exams: Masters, Clinical, Bachelors and Advanced Generalist
- 2026 blueprint: 122 questions, three content areas
A hospitalized patient with chronic lung disease tells the social worker that he knows he should quit smoking but that cigarettes are the only thing that relaxes him. Which response is MOST consistent with motivational interviewing?
Choose your exam
The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) writes the licensing exams used by social work boards across the United States and Canada. Your board approves you for one of four categories: Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist or Clinical. Every category has the same format since August 3, 2026: 122 multiple-choice questions in two sections, 4 hours, three content areas.
ASWB Masters Social Work Licensing Exam
- Who takes it
- MSW graduates
- Fee
- US$230
- 2025 first-time pass rate
- 73.9%
A master’s degree in social work. The Masters exam is the one most MSW graduates take for their first license (LMSW, LSW and similar titles vary by state).
ASWB Clinical Social Work Licensing Exam
- Who takes it
- MSW + 2 years clinical
- Fee
- US$260
- 2025 first-time pass rate
- 75.7%
A master’s degree in social work plus two years of supervised clinical experience, or the equivalent your jurisdiction defines. The Clinical exam is the LCSW exam in most states.
ASWB Bachelors Social Work Licensing Exam
- Who takes it
- BSW graduates
- Fee
- US$230
- 2025 first-time pass rate
- 70.4%
A bachelor’s degree in social work. The Associate exam, for jurisdictions that license applicants without a social work degree, uses the same questions.
ASWB Advanced Generalist Social Work Licensing Exam
- Who takes it
- MSW + 2 years nonclinical
- Fee
- US$260
- 2025 first-time pass rate
- 65.0%
A master’s degree in social work plus two years of supervised experience in nonclinical settings, or the equivalent your jurisdiction defines.
Take a full ASWB Masters mock under the real 4-hour clock
122 questions in two sections, 4 hours, scored on the 110 that count, with a score by content area and competency and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillThe ASWB exam format in 2026
- Questions
- 122 multiple-choice questions in two sections of 61; 110 scored, 12 unscored pretest questions mixed in
- Time limit
- 4 hours at a Pearson test center
- Answer options
- Three or four options, one best answer
- Content areas
- Values and Ethics 35% (Clinical 36%), Assessment and Planning 33% (Clinical 32%), Intervention and Practice 32%
- Passing score
- Set per exam form, generally 66 to 78 correct of 110
- Fees
- US$230 Associate, Bachelors or Masters; US$260 Advanced Generalist or Clinical
- Retakes
- At least 90 days between attempts; waiver possible within 10 points of passing where allowed
- Blueprint
- The 2026 blueprint, from ASWB’s 2024 practice analysis, in use since August 3, 2026
What the exams test
Every ASWB exam uses the same three content areas and ten competencies. Each competency has its own free ten-question drill on every exam page.
I. Values and Ethics
35% of scored questions (Clinical 36%)
- IA. Ethical principles and responsibilities. Informed consent, confidentiality and its limits, ethical dilemmas, professional values, self-care and professional development.
- IB. Ethical service delivery. Boundaries and dual relationships, self-determination, mandatory reporting and duty to warn, documentation, billing, termination and electronic practice.
- IC. Diversity and social justice. Anti-oppressive practice, culture and identity, accessibility, privilege and bias, exploitation, immigration and refugee status.
II. Assessment and Planning
33% of scored questions (Clinical 32%)
- IIA. Assessment concepts. Trauma, family dynamics, abuse and neglect, mental illness indicators, substance use, development across the lifespan, defense mechanisms.
- IIB. Assessment methods and techniques. Interviewing, risk of harm to self and others, strengths and needs, sensitive information, readiness for change, the mental status examination.
- IIC. Assessment practices. Community resources, goal and treatment planning, choosing a modality, cultural considerations in planning, common medications, readiness for termination.
III. Intervention and Practice
32% of scored questions
- IIIA. Practice concepts. Strengths-based practice, the helping relationship, teams, end of life, parenting, policy and legislation, permanency planning, community organizing.
- IIIB. Intervention methods and techniques. Trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, evidence-based practices, motivational interviewing, group and family work, case management, harm reduction.
- IIIC. Practice evaluation and research. Evaluating progress and outcomes, program evaluation, research design, reliability and validity.
- IIID. Supervision and administration. The supervisee role, supervision models, transference in supervision, risk-reducing policies, organizational structure and fiscal management.
Common questions
What is the format of the ASWB exam in 2026?
122 multiple-choice questions in two sections of 61, with 4 hours for the whole exam. Twelve questions are unscored pretest questions, so 110 count. Questions have three or four options and one best answer. The three content areas are Values and Ethics (35%; 36% on the Clinical exam), Assessment and Planning (33%; 32% Clinical) and Intervention and Practice (32%).
Which ASWB exam do I take?
Your state or provincial board decides and tells ASWB. In general: Bachelors with a BSW; Masters with an MSW; Clinical with an MSW plus two years of supervised clinical experience; Advanced Generalist with an MSW plus two years of nonclinical experience. The Associate exam, for jurisdictions that license people without a social work degree, uses the Bachelors questions.
How much does the ASWB exam cost?
US$230 for the Associate, Bachelors or Masters exam and US$260 for the Advanced Generalist or Clinical exam, paid to ASWB when you register. Fees are nonrefundable. ASWB also sells its own online practice test for US$85.
What changed in the ASWB exams in August 2026?
The 2026 blueprint replaced the 2018 one on August 3, 2026: three content areas instead of four, 110 scored questions instead of 150, 12 pretest questions instead of 20, more three-option questions and more reasoning questions. The 4-hour limit stayed. Everything here follows the 2026 outline.
Are these official ASWB questions?
No. ASWB does not release its questions. These are original practice questions written to the published 2026 content outlines, in the same scenario style, with an explanation and source for every answer.
Does one pass cover every ASWB exam?
Yes. The ASWB pass unlocks every full timed mock exam and unlimited drills for the Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist and Clinical exams.
Ready for exam day?
122 questions in two sections, 4 hours, scored on the 110 that count, with a score by content area and competency and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillExam format, fees, scoring and pass rates checked November 2026: ASWB Examination Guidebook (08/2026) · ASWB: The social work licensing exams · ASWB: Exam scoring · ASWB: 2025 exam pass rates · ASWB: Content outlines · ASWB: New social work licensing exam begins August 3 (2026) · ASWB: Upcoming changes to the social work licensing exams.
Original independent practice questions. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).