The ASWB passing score, and how results work

At a glance

Is the ASWB exam pass/fail?

Yes: “the Social Work Licensing Exams are pass/fail, with the determination based on a clearly defined passing standard.” And “All jurisdictions that use the exams recognize the same passing standard” (ASWB, exam scoring).

How many questions do you need to get right to pass?

• “The passing score generally ranges from 66 to 78 correct answers out of 110 scored questions” (ASWB, exam scoring)
• There is no single number: “Because each exam has multiple forms, there is no single correct number of questions that must be answered correctly to pass”
• Only scored questions count: “Each exam also includes 12 unscored pretest questions that do not affect the final score”

Why does the passing score change from one exam to the next?

ASWB uses several versions (forms) of each exam. “The passing score varies depending on the difficulty of the questions the form contains”, and “No candidate receives an advantage or disadvantage based on the exam form administered.” If you retake, you will usually get a different form (ASWB, exam scoring).

When do you get your ASWB results?

• At the test center: after a brief exit survey, “You will then receive your exam results on the testing computer” (Guidebook)
• Online: your unofficial score report is in your ASWBCentral dashboard “approximately 24 hours after your exam”
• To your board: your official results “will be forwarded to ASWB and the social work board” where you are applying; “It may take between two weeks and two months for the licensing board to process your score”
• “Examination scores cannot be altered by ASWB, Pearson, or a social work board”, though ASWB reserves the right to invalidate a score (Guidebook)

What's on the ASWB score report?

• The number of questions you needed to pass, and the number you answered correctly (Guidebook)
• If you don't pass, a breakdown by content area, which ASWB calls “a valuable resource for preparing to retake the exam”
• You can't review the exam itself
• “Your passing or failing score is valid in all states and provinces for the same examination category”

Retaking the ASWB exam

New York and New Jersey: how your score reaches the board

• New York: if you passed for licensure in another state, you must have ASWB send the score to NYSED directly; NYSED says “We will not accept examination scores from third-parties, including the candidate or other jurisdictions”
• New Jersey: if you tested in New Jersey, you upload your unofficial passing score report to your online profile; if you tested in another state, you ask ASWB to transfer your score (the Board's pages, as read on October 22, 2026)