SWEAR 

Let's #StopASWB and Fix Maryland's Social Work Licensing Process

In August 2022, the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) released a report confirming what many in the field have long observed: the national licensing exams create uneven results that keep many skilled social workers from entering or advancing in the profession.

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Thousands of experienced and well-trained professionals with masters degrees from accredited universities — including those who are minoritized, multilingual, older, or deaf or hard of hearing — find themselves blocked from employment that matches their qualifications. Those seeking clinical licensure (after completing more than 3,000 hours of supervised practice) are often held in lower-paying positions, unable to fully use their expertise or mentor the next generation.

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This situation negatively affects the public as well. When qualified social workers can’t become licensed, communities wait longer for vital mental-health and family-support services, especially in areas already facing shortages. Maryland needs every capable professional it can get.

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We’re working to make the licensing system more effective, fair, and focused on real-world competence.

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Please explore our page to learn more about this effort, join our mailing list, and follow our social media channels (links on our contact page). Thanks for visiting!