As is the case in many professions, social workers must obtain a license in order to practice their craft. In most states, social workers planning to become licensed take one of the ASWB exams. Many new social workers want to get an idea of what they will need to pay to take the ASWB exam after finishing their education. We’ll go over the cost of taking the ASWB exam in this post.
Studying for the ASWB Exam
You can greatly improve your chances of passing the ASWB Exam by studying for it. There are some study materials one can access at no charge on the internet, but the most up-to-date study questions and packages are worth the investment for pre-licensed social workers. Investing in the best study materials will often save test takers money as those test takers will likely need to take the exam fewer times.
Taking the ASWB Exam
The cost of the ASWB Exam depends on which exam you’re taking. The fee to take the Associate, Bachelors, or Masters exams is $230. The cost for the Advanced Generalist or Clinical exams is $260. The exam fees go toward continuing to ensure the exam is fair and clinically accurate. The organization works hard to keep fees for test takers as low as possible while ensuring they have the funds to maintain strong testing practices.
While some licensure candidates may wonder if there are scholarships available to help defray the cost of testing, the ASWB has never offered any special funds. If obtaining licensure is an essential part of your social work job, see if your workplace will cover some or all of the cost. Many agencies will cover various professional costs for their social workers such as licensure fees and continuing education.
Retaking the ASWB Exam: How Much Do You Pay?
Not every candidate passes the social work licensure exam on the first try; the good news is you can keep retaking the test until you pass it. There is a 90 day waiting period between exam attempts. The exam fee for those re-taking the exam is the same amount paid for the first exam attempt - $230 or $260 depending on the ASWB exam level. Retake candidates go through the identical registration and test-taking process they went through the first time including paying the same fee.
If you’re retaking the ASWB exam, the ASWB offers additional study material at no cost. This is called the Score Report. The report will tell you how many questions you answered correctly as well as how many you answered incorrectly in each portion of the exam. When you study for your retake, you’ll want to focus on the areas of the exam where you had the most incorrect questions.
While taking the ASWB exam can seem expensive upfront, getting your social work license is a solid financial investment. Obtaining licensure will allow you to work in a greater number of positions in the field, many of which come with pay increases.
AATBS is here to support you on the journey to getting your license. If you have any questions about our ASWB study materials, contact our Test Prep Experts.
