Examining State Policy Responses to Racial Disparities in Social Work Licensure Exams
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18060/28617Keywords:
ASWB, NASW, Licensure, Exams, Racial Disparity, Policy, AdvocacyAbstract
This study explored how states responded to the release of the 2022 ASWB Exam Pass Rate Analysis, which revealed significant disparities in pass rates between Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) test takers and their White counterparts on the Association of Social Work Boards’ social work licensure exams. Using the conceptual framework of policy advocacy developed by Gen and Conley Wright (2013) to assess the inputs, activities, and outcomes associated with these state-level initiatives, National Association of Social Workers’ state Chapter Directors were interviewed to better understand how different states worked to rectify inequities in licensure outcomes. Findings showed the political landscape, resources and stakeholder investment were key to progress on expressed outcomes. While the policy advocacy framework helped to elucidate the different inputs and activities between states, it was not found to be predictive of the expected outcomes associated with those identified variables.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mary Nienow , Dawn Apgar, Alex Fink, Juan Quiñonez
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