Advanced Generalist Social Work Licensing Exam Free Sample Questions

12 free sample questions163 in the full practice test

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ASWB-ADVANCED-GENERALIST Sample Questions

  1. Question 1

    Advanced

    Values and Ethics · Legal and ethical issues regarding confidentiality, including limitations of confidentiality (e.g., HIPAA, PHI, privacy)

    Riverbend Community Health Center is an integrated primary care and behavioral health facility serving an urban, medically underserved population. The center provides primary care, outpatient substance use disorder treatment, and psychotherapy. The behavioral health division employs licensed clinical social workers, professional counselors, and psychiatric nurse practitioners.

    An advanced generalist social worker at the clinic receives a formal subpoena duces tecum signed by a private attorney representing the opposing party in a contentious personal injury lawsuit. The subpoena demands the immediate release of a psychotherapy client's complete clinical record, including intake assessments, psychiatric diagnoses, and detailed psychotherapy process notes. The client has neither signed an authorization to release protected health information nor responded to the attorney's document request.

    What should the advanced generalist social worker do FIRST in response to the attorney's subpoena?

    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    An attorney's subpoena is not a court order. The social worker must assert privilege to safeguard confidentiality until the client authorizes release or a judge orders disclosure.

  2. Question 2

    Intermediate

    Values and Ethics · Legal and ethical issues regarding confidentiality, including limitations of confidentiality (e.g., HIPAA, PHI, privacy)

    An advanced generalist social worker oversees clinical compliance at an outpatient addiction recovery program. A primary care physician contacts the facility requesting diagnostic and treatment summaries for an active patient to assist with medical management. Under federal confidentiality regulations (42 CFR Part 2), what document MUST be secured prior to disclosing these specialized substance use disorder records?

    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    42 CFR Part 2 mandates explicit, specific written client consent specifying the recipient, purpose, amount of information, and expiration date for substance use records.

  3. Question 3

    Beginner

    Values and Ethics · Legal and ethical issues regarding confidentiality, including limitations of confidentiality (e.g., HIPAA, PHI, privacy)

    A social worker at an adolescent community center considers using a free online consumer survey platform to gather anonymous feedback from clients regarding mental health support groups. According to technology standards in social work practice, what is the PRIMARY confidentiality risk associated with utilizing unvetted free digital tools?

    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    Free digital tools often log IP addresses, track metadata, and lack HIPAA-compliant Business Associate Agreements, creating severe privacy and confidentiality vulnerabilities.

  4. Question 4

    IntermediateMultiple answers

    Values and Ethics · Principles and processes of obtaining informed consent

    An advanced generalist social worker is developing an informed consent protocol for electronic social work services delivered via secure videoconferencing. According to the NASW, ASWB, CSWE, and CSWA Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice, which TWO elements must be explicitly reviewed with clients during the consent process? (Select TWO)

    Answer and explanation

    Correct answers: C, E

    Technology standards require practitioners to inform clients of technology failure contingencies and the inherent security risks and limits of confidentiality in digital delivery.

  5. Question 5

    Beginner

    Values and Ethics · Principles and processes of obtaining informed consent

    A social work researcher at a family preservation agency designs a program evaluation study analyzing archival case records from the previous decade to evaluate factors influencing housing retention. Under the ASWB Model Social Work Practice Act standards on research ethics, in which scenario is the social worker EXEMPT from obtaining formal informed consent from the former clients?

    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    Research using secondary data that cannot be linked to individual identities does not require informed consent because participant privacy and confidentiality are preserved.

  6. Question 6

    Intermediate

    Values and Ethics · Professional boundaries in the social worker-client/client system relationship (e.g., power differences, influence, privilege, conflicts of interest, self-disclosure, dual relationships)

    A newly licensed advanced generalist social worker opens an independent community macro consulting and counseling practice. To uphold professional boundaries in electronic communication, the social worker must maintain strict digital separation as illustrated in the model below. What action is MOST appropriate for the social worker to implement regarding electronic communications?

    flowchart TD Practice[Practice Operations] --> Separation{Channel Division} Separation -->|Professional| PublicPresence[Agency / Practice Platform] Separation -->|Personal| PrivatePresence[Personal Accounts Kept Private]
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    Social work standards require establishing distinct personal and professional digital accounts to prevent boundary confusion, dual relationships, and unauthorized disclosures.

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