ASWB

Every ASWB licensing exam contains 122 questions and has a four-hour time limit. Of those 122, 110 are scored and 12 are unscored, so a few items you answer will not count toward your result. Questions are a mixture of three-option and four-option multiple choice.

Your state or provincial board decides which exam you must pass; ASWB lists four categories - Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist, and Clinical - plus an Associate fee tier. Confirm the required category with your board before registering, because the registration fee also differs between categories.

ASWB charges US$230 to register for the Associate, Bachelors, or Masters exam and US$260 for the Advanced Generalist or Clinical exam. Those are exam registration fees only; your board may assess separate application or license fees that ASWB's exam pages do not describe.

Apply for licensure with your state or provincial board first and wait for approval. Only then register with ASWB, schedule and sit for the exam at a Pearson test center, and receive results and your license. Registering with ASWB before board approval creates avoidable delay.

ASWB does not publish a fixed passing score on its exam overview; scoring is explained on its separate Exam scoring page, and pass rates are reported separately. Any specific number circulating in third-party study guides should be treated as unverified - check ASWB's scoring materials and your board.

ASWB maintains a dedicated "If you fail the exam" page covering next steps, but retake limits, waiting periods, and any additional fees are set by the licensing board rather than by the exam overview. Ask your board how many attempts are allowed and how soon you can reschedule.

Start with the ASWB Examination Guidebook and the content outlines, which describe the 2026 blueprint and question structure. Then take the Online Practice Test, which remains available for 30 days after your first login, and run the interactive software tutorial. Read the Candidate Rules Agreement and comfort-aid list last, so test-day logistics hold no surprises.

ASWB states that if you have a disability or other health condition, or if English is not your primary language, you may be eligible for nonstandard testing arrangements. Those are handled through a separate ASWB process rather than at the test center, so review the requirements well before your appointment.

Exams are administered throughout the year at secure test centers in the United States, Canada, and abroad. Scheduling happens at a Pearson test center after you register with ASWB, so complete registration as soon as your board approval comes through and then look for appointment availability near you.

ASWB says it is expanding its research-driven exam development process to update the licensing exams, promoted as "Exams for the future of social work," and the current exams are based on the 2026 blueprint. No revised specifications or implementation dates appear in the source material, so monitor ASWB's site for announcements.