Leader O’Day and union representatives urged the committee to approve H279 to create alternative pathways to social-work licensure, citing demographic disparities in exam pass rates and the loss of experienced bilingual social workers.

Union leaders and frontline DCF social workers described instances where social workers who met education and field-experience requirements nonetheless lost careers after failing the ASWB exam, leaving a gap in culturally and linguistically appropriate services. "We need an alternative path to licensure because... many social workers have lost their career not because they weren't competent, but because they couldn't pass a flawed test," said a DCF regional leader.

Opponents, including the Association of Social Work Boards, argued that national exam standards protect the public and that eliminating the exam could prevent Massachusetts practitioners from participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact, reducing multi‑state mobility and potentially complicating care delivery.

Committee members heard both sides and asked about alternative credentialing models and implications for the proposed licensure compact; no vote was taken.