A social work licensing exam that people of color fail more often is under scrutiny in Kansas

Sep 21, 2026

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The article examines a social work licensing exam facing scrutiny in Kansas due to racial disparities in first-time pass rates. It reports that White test takers pass substantially more often than people of color and that older applicants also struggle. The Association of Social Work Boards test is criticized as potentially discriminatory and as a barrier to recruiting social workers who resemble their clients. The piece reviews theories on cultural preparation, standardized-testing effects, and cost-related obstacles, while noting the real cause remains unclear.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time58 min

AccessFree to download

Racial disparities in first-time pass rates

Exam structure and restrictions

Theories behind the gaps and potential barriers

6/1/23, 3:38 PM A social work licensing exam that people of color fail more often is under scrutiny in Kansas | KCUR-Kansas City news and NPR A social work licensing exam that people of color fail more often is under scrutiny in Kansas KCUR | By Blaise Mesa LISTEN • 4:27 Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service Some have called the social worker licensing exam racist because of the racial disparities seen in ﬁrst-time pass rates. White test takers are far more likely to pass the licensing exam than people of color or older test takers. TOPEKA, Kansas — The test to become a licensed social worker is hard. It takes years of schooling, test prep — and depending on the exam — hundreds of hours of working in the ¦eld. KCUR fourth candidate the of ook the All Things Considered [https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-08/a-social-work-licensing-exam-that-people-of-color-fail-more-often-is-under-scrutiny-in-kansas](https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-08/a-social-work-licensing-exam-that-people-of-color-fail-more-often-is-under-scrutiny-in-kansas) 1/13 6/1/23, 3:38 PM A social work licensing exam that people of color fail more often is under scrutiny in Kansas | KCUR-Kansas City news and NPR prepared. “There are questions that I thought if I could sit down with the person who wrote the questions, I could explain to them why I was right, and they were wrong,” she said Diaz is no slouch, she won national academic scholarships and passed the test by a comfortable margin. She isn’t alone in her criticisms. The Association of Social Work Boards exam faces calls from across the country to pause the one test all social workers in the U.S. take to become licensed. It’s been called §at-out racist and a barrier to getting people in social work who look more like many of their clients. Older test takers and Kansans of color fail the test more often than white applicants. In Kansas, the test comes in three different forms for bachelor’s, master’s and clinical certi¦cation. In most cases, white test takers passed 20% more often on their ¦rst try when compared to people of color or older Kansans. Bachelors level ¦ rst time pass rates from 2011-2021: White – 78. 5% Black – 55.3% Hispanic/Latino – 46.7% 50 and older – 59. 6% Non-English speakers – 30.9% Masters level ¦ rst time pass rates from 2011-2021: White – 88.9% Black – 59. 1% Hispanic/Latino 70.4% 50 and older – 77.7% Non-English speakers – 55.2% Clinical level ¦ rst time pass rates from 2011-2021: White – 88% Black – 56. 1% Hispanic/Latino – 75 6% KCUR All Things Considered [https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-08/a-social-work-licensing-exam-that-people-of-color-fail-more-often-is-under-scrutiny-in-kansas](https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-08/a-social-work-licensing-exam-that-people-of-color-fail-more-often-is-under-scrutiny-in-kansas) 2/13 6/1/23, 3:38 PM A social work licensing exam that people of color fail more often is under scrutiny in Kansas | KCUR-Kansas City news and NPR 50 and older – 72. 6% Non-English speakers – 47. 1% The test can leave even people who’ve been studying, training and watching pros in the ¦eld in action intimidated. “For people who are trying to pass the exam, I would just tell them don't think about the what-ifs,” Diaz said. Test takers aren’t allowed to share questions from the exam. Doing so would give other people an unfair advantage. But Diaz said some questions might ask what a social worker should do ¦ rst. In reality, the answers were all things that should be done anyway, making the correct answer debatable. The questions are multiple-choice, but she says some are better suited for short-answer responses. Why the disparities? The Kansas News Service spoke with multiple social work students, teachers, national and local advocacy groups. They were all puzzled by the disparities. Even though they agreed it produced problematic results — a better test would show little correlation between race, fo

FAQs

What problem does the article highlight about the social work licensing exam in Kansas?

It highlights racial disparities in first-time pass rates, with White test takers passing far more often than people of color, and older applicants also failing more frequently.

How is the exam administered for different credentials in Kansas?

In Kansas, the test is offered in three forms for bachelor’s, master’s, and clinical certification.

Why do critics say the exam may be racist or discriminatory?

The article notes calls to pause the exam because of racial disparities and describes concerns that some questions may be rooted in how material is taught, with outcomes potentially shaped by unequal preparation and barriers.

Sep 21, 2026

Upload by Stanley