PRACTICE UPDATE. What's Next for Michigan Social Work Licensure?

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Updated 5/17/2023.

Social Work Colleagues,

As you are aware, the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) released the 2022 ASWB Exam Pass Rate Analysis,1 last fall, which highlighted what many social workers and test takers, particularly social workers of color and older social workers, knew to be true—that significant disparities in the pass/fail rate among social workers exist. The disparity highlights a significant flaw in the exam and creates significant barriers for many that want to enter the field.

Last year, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs collaborated with Michigan’s schools of social work to provide ten years worth of data ,2 about passing scores. This was done in part because for decades schools and organizations were told outright by ASWB that pass rate data by age and race did not exist and that the only way to obtain demographic information was at the state level. That has proven to be false.

Our Michigan schools performed an independent data analysis, which corroborates the disparities highlighted by ASWB this fall. 

NASW standards assert that all social work institutions, programs, schools, and licensing boards are called to address systemic racism and bias in our profession. We are called to ask challenging questions, including whether standardized testing is the best method to equitably evaluate a profession’s competency. In light of the data released, we are called to act.

NASW-Michigan convened several statewide listening sessions where social workers came together to share stories of their experiences with the licensure process and exam, and to provide forums for solutions. What was echoed over and over is that many licensure candidates have sat for the exam multiple times, frustrated by the lack of real world application of the questions, out-of-date language, language that perpetuates stereotypes and bias about vulnerable populations in the questions, and many failing by one or two points. Test takers we heard from have attempted the exam numerous times, at significant financial cost, some upward of 15 times (at $230 or $260 per attempt). Social workers have lost employment, missed promotional opportunities, and experienced financially quantifiable harm due to an inability to pass this exam. These stories are consistent with other experiences social workers have shared in the last several years.

We also heard from organizations and practice owners who shared that they continue to experience excessive wait periods for their clients due to staffing shortages. Some of these shortages are attributed to an inability for some of their staff to pass the exam (not due to professional competency). 

Additionally, NASW-Michigan has met with the Deans and Directors of the Michigan social work programs, other social work organizations, LARA, various legislators, and has participated in nearly 100 state and national meetings around the licensing exam, other licensing/regulatory barriers, and potential solutions. Through these conversations and coalitions, a set of recommendations has been drafted and approved by the NASW-Michigan Board of Directors. 

We propose the following updated licensure levels:

• Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW): successful completion of a bachelors degree from a CSWE accredited institution
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW): successful completion of a masters degree from a CSWE accredited institution (This level would replace the current limited license at the Masters level, and incorporate the Advanced Generalist option)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): successful completion of a masters degree from a CSWE accredited institution, and completion of 4,000 supervised post-graduate hours under a Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Continuing education standards should remain in place for all levels of licensure.

A letter was sent to the Michigan Board of Social Work on January 19, 2023 outlining these requests. Furthermore, w e encourage the Michigan Board of Social Work to engage in advocacy with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) around more immediate advocacy and support for test takers. We urge the Michigan Board of Social Work to request the following on behalf of Michigan social workers:

• That the ASWB waive or significantly reduce all retesting fees for social workers who wish/need to retest
• Immediately make the ASWB practice exam available for free to all social workers. (Currently $85) (https://www.aswb.org/exam/getting-ready-for-the-exam/online- practice-test/)
• Immediately remove the requirement that work hours be completed before candidates are eligible to sit for the exam
• That the ASWB release Michigan-specific de-identified data for all questions so that the board may conduct an independent evaluation of the data for Michigan.
• That the ASWB review passing score and look at expanding the pass range by several additional questions

Over the upcoming months, NASW-Michigan will work with the Michigan Board of Social Work, LARA, and our legislative partners in advocating for necessary changes to our licensure process. We will additionally continue to research best practices in social work supervision across the country as well as options for expanding reciprocity. Michigan has had licensure for just under twenty years, and this will be the first major effort to reflect and make updates. 

We hope to have a draft bill by the end of June with legislative action ready by the Fall. 

We invite the larger Michigan social work community to be a part of these change efforts as we move forward. To learn more about our efforts please consider attending our joining the chapter Legislative and Social Policy Committee (LSP), which meets the third Friday of each month from 12-1pm. If you are interested in working with us around licensing advocacy or joining LSP, please email NASW-Michigan Director of Policy and Advocacy, Melina Brann, at mbrann.naswmi@socialworkers.org.

Together we will continue to build a stronger social work community in Michigan,

Duane Breijak, LMSW-Macro 

Executive Director. National Association of Social Workers - Michigan Chapter

1. ASWB Exam Pass Rate Analysis https://www.aswb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-ASWB-Exam-Pass-Rate-Analysis.pdf

2. Nienow, M., Sogabe, E., & Husain, A. (2023). Racial Disparity in Social Work Licensure Exam Pass Rates. Research on Social Work Practice, 33(1), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315221125885

Attending a Michigan Board of Social Work Meeting - What You Need to Know

One way for social workers to be involved in our rule-making and regulatory processes for the profession is through our state’s official licensing Board. The Michigan Social Work Board meetings are open to the public! That's right, you can attend these meetings and let your voice be heard! 

NASW is present at all meetings representing our membership, but we would love to see more social work participation. At the January 24, 2023 meeting NASW-Michigan will be presenting with our schools of social work on the impacts of the ASWB exam, state and national conversations, and legislative/regulatory potential solutions. ASWB has also been invited to present at this meeting.

The current Board consists of six social workers and three public members appointed by the Governor to three year terms. The current Board members are:

• Julian Diaz, Birmingham
• Jasmine Calhoun, Saginaw 
• Danielle M. Hoover, Milan
• Janet M. Joiner, Ph.D., Southfield
• Maria Petrides, Northville
• Petra Alsoofy, Melvindale
• Maxine Thome, Lansing
• Victor Weipert, Jr., East Lansing
• Rochelle Vrsek, Dexter

Learn more about the Michigan Board of Social Work at https://bit.ly/3AjUkJ4 . 

Here's what you need to know about attending a future meeting:

2023 Scheduled Meeting Dates:

• 01/24/2023 Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Ottawa Building UL - Room 4
• 03/21/2023 Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Ottawa Building UL - Room 4
• 05/23/2023 Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Ottawa Building UL - Room 4
• 07/25/2023 Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Ottawa Building UL - Room 4
• 09/26/2023 Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Ottawa Building UL - Room 4
• 11/28/2023 Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Ottawa Building UL - Room 4

Getting Ready for the meeting:

• If you plan on attending, please contact Kerry Przybylo at przybylok@michigan.gov or 517-241-7500 to let them know that you will be in attendance to ensure room space
• If you need any accommodations please requests those at 1-517-241-7500 at least one week before the meeting you plan to attend
• The day of the meeting please check the website to make sure that the meeting has not been canceled.
• Individuals attending the meetings are requested to refrain from using heavily scented personal care products

On the Meeting Day:

• You will enter the Ottawa Building (611 W Ottawa St, Lansing, MI 48933) at the South entrance. You will check in with the security desk, (bring your ID) and they will have someone come and escort you to the meeting room UL4.
• Parking is available at street meters around the building or for a fee in the visitor lot in front of the Hall of Justice, which is located just west of the Ottawa Building
• Once in the meeting room you will have to sign in and may pick up a copy of the agenda and fill out the public comment card if you plan on making a public comment.
• At the end of the meeting the Board chair will ask if there are any public comments. If you have a comment, please raise your hand. You may comment once they call on you. 
• Please note that the Board cannot respond to public comments, they can only listen. Also, this is not the time or place to lodge a complaint about licensure and the licensing requirements.