LCSW Examination Pass Rates: Implications for Social Work Education

Abstract

State licensure pass rates are a commonly used indicator of professional academic program quality. To date, social work education has largely ignored the existence of the crucial LCSW examination and of its importance to MSW graduates seeking careers in clinical practice. This information should become more transparent and carefully considered by MSW faculty and administrators when evaluating the effectiveness of one's program in preparing its graduates for careers in clinical practice. Three years worth of LCSW examination pass rate data are provided for MSW programs within the state of Florida, illustrating the value of this heretofore hidden information. The implications of providing this data to the public are discussed.

Racial Disparity in Social Work Licensure Exam Pass Rates

“…Researchers resorted to collecting data through convenience samples (Albright & Thyer, 2010; Randall & Thyer, 1994; Senreich & Dale, 2021) or examining study guides and practice exams (Albright & Thyer, 2010; Castex et al, 2019; Randall & Thyer, 1994) to try and obtain some sense of the various exam impacts. Thyer (2011) went so far as to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Florida Department of Professional Regulation just to obtain the pass rates on the Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) exam of students from MSW programs across Florida. What he found were significant discrepancies in pass rates of social workers depending on the university attended; and called on ASWB to provide relevant exam passage rate data by demographics.…”

“…Efforts to defy Abraham Flexner's claims that social work is not a profession (Flexner, 2001), have fixated on establishing regulation structures to protect the public but have failed to adequately examine the ways in which the existing regulatory frameworks are perpetuating racist policies. Social work licensing exams are intended to determine whether social workers have the minimum knowledge required to practice safely and competently (Thyer, 2011). Achieving equity is not just about addressing individual behavior but must also involve dissecting and analyzing the systems for the presence of racist policies, or “any measure that produces or sustains racial inequity between two groups” (Kendi, 2019, p. 18).…”

Abuses and Mysteries at the Association of Social Work Boards

“…Fortunately, Thyer (2011) found an exception. Under the sunshine laws of his state of Florida, it was possible to request LCSW pass rates from all Florida MSW programs for the previous several years.…”

“…In this regard, Thyer (2011) offered a contrast between social work and law. In the legal profession, he pointed out, the bar exam pass rates achieved by graduates of various schools are openly compared against one another.…”

China Social Work Professional Level Examination Pass Rates: Chronological Change and Regional Difference

“…Additionally, the licensure examination pass rates could be important indicators of the effectiveness of social work education (Thyer, 2011). Both the licensing exams and professional-level assessment examinations are implemented to ensure and demonstrate the professional competence, which is also a presumed outcome of social work education (Marson, DeAngelis, & Mittal, 2009; MCA, 2006a).…”