The Association of Social Work Boards Advanced Generalist Exam, formerly known as the ASWB Advanced exam, is a licensure examination designed by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) and administered by the American College Testing Program (ACT) that is used to determine whether or not an individual has an advanced knowledge of the social work field.
This exam is one of four ASWB tests that are commonly used by local licensing authorities to determine which individuals should become licensed social workers. However, which of the four tests are required to obtain a social work license is dependent upon the particular type of social work that you are interested in pursuing and the jurisdiction in which you intend to practice.
The ASWB Advanced Generalist Exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions, 150 of which are scored and 20 that are not scored, that are broken down into 11 sections. The 11 sections of the ASWB Advanced Generalist Test include:
- Human Development and Behavior (10%)
- Issues of Diversity (5%)
- Assessment, Diagnosis, and Intervention Planning (24%)
- Direct and Indirect Practice (16%)
- Communication (7%)
- Relationship Issues (5%)
- Professional Values and Ethics (12%)
- Supervision and Professional Development (3%)
- Practice Evaluation and the Application of Research (4%)
- Service Delivery (11%)
- Administration (3%)
The ASWB Advanced Generalist Exam is scored based on the percentage of questions answered correctly. The exam-taker will receive a final scaled percentage score that will be considered as passing or failing depending on the standards set by the jurisdiction in which the individual applied for licensure. The exam-taker will have four hours to complete the ASWB Advanced Generalist Test.
To register for the exam, you must have at least a master’s degree from an accredited social work program, two years of supervised social work experience since you received your master’s degree, and register for the exam with your local licensing authority. Once you have registered for the exam, you will receive a letter with information on how to schedule a testing date at an ACT center. The registration fee for the ASWB exam is $175; however, there may be additional fees and requirements for licensure depending on local regulations.