“Since then I’ve been working in the addiction treatment space … where we treat co-occurring mental illness and addiction,” she told CBS12 News.

Along with her advanced degree, she has years of experience and multiple professional licenses. But the one thing Silverstein-Knee doesn’t have is a clinical social worker license. This accreditation would allow her to move into her own facility, provide outpatient care, or even set up a private practice.

The problem is that he can’t pass the exam.

“How much time and money did you invest to get this certification?” CBS12 News Reporter Stefany Valderrama asked.

“A few thousand dollars,” Silverstein-Knee replied. “Time? A lot. I’ve been trying to pass this for almost 4 years. You can take it every 90 days, but every time I take it and don’t pass, it just sets me back emotionally.”

Her story is not unusual.

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In 2022, the Association of Social Assistance Councils created a extensive analysis of data collected over a decade. All of the information is self-reported by test takers, so it’s not perfect, but it gives a picture of who passes the test and who doesn’t.

Between 2011 and 2021, the number of people taking the test, which has different versions for Clinical, Master’s, Bachelor’s and Associate’s levels, has steadily increased. It is a positive sign that people from all backgrounds and age groups want to join the field.

The analysis also found that more women pass than men, young people pass at a higher rate than older people, as do native English speakers, and black people pass the test at a higher rate than most other groups.

That led National Association of Black Social Workers to call for changes to address the disparity in pass rates and remove the institutional barrier that he said is not the fault of the test takers, but the testing process.

Here is the full statement posted on his website:

National Association of Black Social Workers, Inc. (NABSW) is composed of people of African descent. We are committed to improving the quality of life and empowering people of African descent through advocacy, human service delivery and research. NABSW therefore feels it is necessary to formally respond to the demographic data published by the Association of Social Work Councils (ASWB).

NABSW works to create a world in which people of African descent will live free from racial domination, economic exploitation and cultural oppression. Unfortunately, the demographic data published by the ASWB lacks information to provide the necessary data relevant to causation or correlation. Therefore, we cannot accept the data and reported results that have resulted in multiple failed attempts and millions of dollars spent by African American professionals.

African Americans have been practicing social work professionally for over 100 years. The institutional barriers thousands of practitioners face to receiving the highest level of licensure are not a failure of the test takers, but a failure of the testing process. We must recognize the historical background of information and discriminatory practices prevalent systemically in Social Work education and licensure.

NABSW remains steadfast in our collaboration with national, international and other appropriate groups that take responsibility for protecting the rights of black people and black communities. Collectively, we must address the deep injustices and historical practices embedded in the fabric of truth in disclosure.

ASWB’s data demonstrates that racial discrimination is prevalent in ensuring fair licensing opportunities warrants immediate action. NABSW believes that ASWB claims to “provide support and services to the social care regulatory community to promote safe, competent and ethical practice to strengthen public protection.

To ensure the missions of both NABSW and ASWB, we respectfully request the following:

• Additional data to be released to include differentiation and scoring process data.
• Alternative pathways to licensure are implemented, including modular testing and exam conditioning.
• ASWB to document support to the state social work licensure passing board of those who failed by 10 points or less
• ASWB to provide free testing for those who have failed three or more times
• ASWB to contract with professional social work organizations and practitioners to provide culturally appropriate support

NABSW believes that immediate action is needed to help those affected. We are willing to work with ASWB and other professional social work organizations to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion for all practitioners.

Stacey Hardy-Chandler is the CEO Association of Social Assistance Councilsor ASWB, which administers the exam.

“Certainly, problems that are affected by systemic factors need systemic solutions,” she told CBS12 News.

“Is anything being done to help certain groups succeed and pass this test?” CBS12 News reporter Stefany Valderrama asked.

“First and foremost, working with educators, on the other end of the spectrum, working with the advocacy component of the social work profession,” Hardy-Chandler told CBS12 News. “We need to work across the profession to be able to see any difference in these disparities.”

Hardy-Chandler tells CBS12 News the data collected from Analysis 2022 they have identified issues that will ultimately help test takers and improve the exam. She adds that ASWB has a number of study guides and other initiatives to help test takers. Still, she stresses that the test is rigorous because it should be.

“The items are designed to test critical thinking and decision making,” Hardy-Chandler explained. “Examination is about here is a general situation … getting into practice. What you should know on your first day as an LCSW. Here’s a situation, based on the information you have, which of these options is best under these circumstances.”

Every 5-7 years, the exam is renewed.

A new version will be available in 2026, based on data collected from more than 26,000 clinical social workers in the US and Canada.

Silverstein-Knee hired tutors, made study guides, and got to work. Now she has shelled out thousands of dollars and spent emotionally trying to get that license.

I feel like because this is my second career, it’s been a little more challenging. At some point… how many times will someone keep walking.

“I feel like because this is my second career, it’s been a little bit more challenging,” she told CBS12 News. “At some point…how many times will one keep walking.”

This exam is for the highest level of licensure in this field, with the highest level of responsibility for patient treatment and prescriptions.

As Hardy-Chandler says, failure doesn’t mean you can’t get a job.

“Can you practice without it?” CBS12 News reporter Stefany Valderrama asked.

“Right, yes,” said Silverstein-Knee. “You can practice without it, because if you work for a unit, you’re under the unit license.”

In addition to obtaining a degree in this field, you must complete supervised clinical hours before you can take the exam. This can be another challenge when trying to pass this exam.

Silverstein-Knee tells CBS12 News if she could offer one suggestion, it would be to let students know what they did wrong when they fail. She believes the only thing that could improve pass rates.

In a statement, an ASWB spokesperson told CBS12 News that is not currently the case, but it may be something they consider in the future.

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