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Debate over social-work licensure: unions and social workers seek alternative paths; national board warns of risks

Joint Committee on Children and Families and Persons with Disabilities · November 18, 2025
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Summary

Supporters of H279 argued that exam pass‑rate disparities block diverse, bilingual social workers from serving communities; national exam developer ASWB warned that eliminating exams could jeopardize compact membership and public protection.

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.