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Social Work Licensing Exam — Masters category
Find the current format, timing, scoring, fees, eligibility, and testing options for ASWB Masters Exam, with direct links to official sources.
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Questions122 multiple-choice questions (110 scored operational + 12 unscored pretest, mixed together), in a mixture of three- and four-option items
Testing time4 hours total, split into two sections of 61 questions with two hours per section; optional scheduled 10-minute break between sections (clock stopped)
ScoringPass/fail against a single passing standard recognized by all jurisdictions; the required number of correct answers varies by exam form (psychometrically equated) and generally ranges from 66 to 78 correct out of 110 scored questions
Exam feeUS$230 ASWB exam registration fee for the Masters category (US$260 for Advanced Generalist or Clinical); fee due at registration with ASWB, before scheduling with Pearson VUE
Prep options
Study resources for ASWB Masters Exam
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- ASWB
- Category
- Social Work
- Current version
- 2026 exam format / blueprint (effective August 3, 2026), published in the 2026 ASWB Examination Guidebook
- Where it applies
- International / multi-country
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- Pass/fail reported with the number of questions needed to pass and the number answered correctly (no numeric scaled score published)
- Testing provider
- Pearson VUE (administration and development; ASWB returned to Pearson VUE in March 2025)
- Format
- Computer-based at Pearson VUE test centers worldwide; online proctoring (Pearson OnVUE) available only to select pilot-eligible candidates
- Availability
- Year-round by appointment at secure test centers worldwide (testing occurs year-round; schedule with Pearson VUE after receiving the Authorization to Test email)
- Results
- Pass/fail result shown on the testing computer at completion; unofficial score report on the ASWBCentral dashboard approximately 24 hours after the exam; boards may take two weeks to two months to process the official score
- Score validity
- A passing (or failing) score is valid in all states and provinces for the same examination category (score portability across jurisdictions; no expiry stated)
- Remote testing
- Varies by jurisdiction
Exam structure
Two 61-question multiple-choice sections (two hours each, optional 10-minute scheduled break between) covering three content areas for the Masters category: I. Values and Ethics (35%), II. Assessment and Planning (33%), III. Intervention and Practice (32%); items are a mixture of three- and four-option multiple choice emphasizing applied knowledge
Where rules vary
Used by social work regulatory boards in all 50 U.S. states, U.S. territories, and all 10 Canadian provinces; the same passing standard applies in every jurisdiction
Eligibility
Must hold a master's degree in social work and must first apply for a social work license and be preapproved by the candidate's state or provincial board before registering with ASWB
Retake policy
90-day wait between attempts (wait 7-10 days after the exam before re-registering; new US$230 fee per attempt); waiver possible if the score was within 10 points of passing and the jurisdiction allows waivers