LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Margaret Mahler's theory of separation-individuation describes the 'rapprochement' subphase as a period when the toddler:

First recognizes the mother as a separate person
Achieves full emotional object constancy
Begins symbiotic fusion with the caregiver
Returns to the mother after exploring, seeking reassurance (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Returns to the mother after exploring, seeking reassurance

During rapprochement (15–24 months), toddlers oscillate between independence and closeness, frequently returning to the mother for emotional refueling.

Question 2: A school social worker observes that a 10-year-old can now understand that 'a friend can be angry with you and still care about you.' This reflects development in:

Theory of mind
Perspective-taking (Correct answer)
Formal operations
Object permanence

Correct answer: Perspective-taking

Perspective-taking, which develops during middle childhood, is the ability to understand that others can hold different, complex, and simultaneous emotions.

Question 3: A client with major depressive disorder refuses medication and prefers talk therapy. The LMSW's FIRST step in treatment planning is to:

Consult supervision before engaging the client
Document the refusal and proceed with standard protocol
Collaborate with the client to identify goals and preferred interventions (Correct answer)
Refer immediately to a psychiatrist

Correct answer: Collaborate with the client to identify goals and preferred interventions

Person-centered treatment planning requires collaboration with the client to establish mutually agreed-upon goals and preferred modalities.

Question 4: In feminist social work practice, intersectionality refers to:

The integration of multiple theoretical frameworks into one model
The crossover point between problem identification and goal-setting
The intersection of individual and environmental factors in assessment
The overlapping systems of oppression (e.g., race, gender, class) that shape lived experience (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The overlapping systems of oppression (e.g., race, gender, class) that shape lived experience

Intersectionality recognizes that race, gender, class, sexuality, and other identities overlap to create compounding systems of privilege and oppression.

Question 5: Carl Jung's concept of the 'collective unconscious' refers to:

Repressed childhood memories unique to the individual
The ego's defense mechanisms against anxiety
The persona an individual presents to the outside world
Shared, universal symbols and archetypes inherited across generations (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Shared, universal symbols and archetypes inherited across generations

Jung proposed that the collective unconscious contains archetypes and primordial images common to all humanity, inherited rather than personally acquired.

Question 6: A social worker responds to a community disaster affecting hundreds of people. Which triage approach should guide resource allocation?

Provide identical services to all affected individuals
Prioritize based on chronological order of arrival
Treat individuals with the most severe psychological trauma first
Use a stepped-care model, matching intervention intensity to need level (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Use a stepped-care model, matching intervention intensity to need level

Stepped-care models ensure that limited resources in mass disasters are allocated by matching intervention intensity to assessed need, maximizing reach and efficiency.

Question 7: According to Kübler-Ross, which stage of grief involves the client making deals with a higher power or medical team to reverse the loss?

Denial
Depression
Bargaining (Correct answer)
Anger

Correct answer: Bargaining

Bargaining is the stage in which individuals seek to negotiate—often with God or fate—to undo or delay the loss.

Question 8: Before disclosing patient information, informed consent must be obtained. Which of the following claims about this matter is MOST TRUE?

You must obtain informed consent from your patient in most situations, but not in all situations. (Correct answer)
You must always have informed consent from your patient.
If a significant other requests information about your patient, you may release it without informed consent.
If you are going to consult with a colleague, you must have informed consent from your patient.

Correct answer: You must obtain informed consent from your patient in most situations, but not in all situations.

In healthcare contexts, gaining informed permission is typically a moral and legal necessity before sharing patient information. With fully informed consent, the patient has willingly accepted to the disclosure after receiving all necessary information about it, including the goal, potential risks, advantages, and alternatives. <br> To ascertain when informed consent is necessary and when exceptions apply, healthcare professionals must be knowledgeable of the applicable laws, regulations, and ethical principles in their particular country.

Question 9: Beck says that a depressed individual is unable to appreciate the advantages of his or her circumstances because:

Lack of support
Precipitating factors
A dysfunctional schema (Correct answer)
Lack of adaptive coping strategies

Correct answer: A dysfunctional schema

These harmful cognitive schemas were referred to by Beck as "dysfunctional schemas" or "negative fundamental beliefs." They stand for profoundly rooted thought patterns that affect how people see themselves, other people, and their surroundings. The negative schema makes it difficult for the person to recognize and value the positive features of their circumstances and contributes to a distorted perception of reality.

Question 10: A man is recommended by his primary care doctor and is diagnosed with hypochondriasis when he arrives. What is the very FIRST, most important step in treatment?

Establishment of trust and appreciation for the patient's problems (Correct answer)
History taking
Education about the link between stress, emotions and lifestyle and physical health
Treatment planning

Correct answer: Establishment of trust and appreciation for the patient's problems

The development of trust and understanding for the patient's issues is, in fact, the most important initial step in treating a patient with a diagnosis of hypochondriasis. <br> The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) now refers to hypochondriasis as illness anxiety disorder, which is defined by extreme fear and preoccupation with having a serious medical condition despite scant or no medical evidence to support the notion. This disease causes people to mistakenly perceive seemingly insignificant physical symptoms as indicators of serious illnesses, which increases anxiety and discomfort.

Question 11: The term 'cultural humility' differs from 'cultural competence' primarily in that cultural humility:

Applies only to practitioners from dominant cultural backgrounds
Emphasizes ongoing self-reflection, learning, and acknowledging that expertise about another's culture always rests with that person (Correct answer)
Focuses on learning a fixed set of cultural facts about specific groups
Is a one-time training module required for licensure

Correct answer: Emphasizes ongoing self-reflection, learning, and acknowledging that expertise about another's culture always rests with that person

Cultural humility, developed by Tervalon and Murray-García, stresses lifelong learning and critical self-reflection rather than achieving a static state of competence.

Question 12: In psychopharmacology relevant to social work, SSRIs are primarily prescribed to treat:

Depression and anxiety disorders (Correct answer)
Schizophrenia and psychosis
Bipolar I disorder as a first-line treatment
ADHD and conduct disorder

Correct answer: Depression and anxiety disorders

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are first-line pharmacological treatments for depression and anxiety disorders.

Question 13: A veteran reports recurrent intrusive memories, avoidance of war-related stimuli, negative alterations in cognition, and hypervigilance lasting 8 months post-combat. What is the most appropriate diagnosis?

Acute Stress Disorder
Adjustment Disorder with Anxious Mood
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
PTSD (Correct answer)

Correct answer: PTSD

PTSD requires symptoms from all four clusters (intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations, hyperarousal) lasting more than one month following a traumatic event.

Question 14: Social workers engaged in policy practice should base advocacy positions primarily on:

Media coverage of social problems
The preferences of agency administrators
Evidence from research combined with the lived experiences of affected populations (Correct answer)
Personal political beliefs and values

Correct answer: Evidence from research combined with the lived experiences of affected populations

Effective and ethical policy advocacy integrates empirical evidence with the perspectives of those directly affected, ensuring interventions are both evidence-based and centered on lived experience.

Question 15: When using an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach, a social worker's primary focus is on:

Securing external grant funding for new programs
Identifying service gaps and unmet needs
Mapping and mobilizing existing community strengths (Correct answer)
Documenting poverty rates and risk factors

Correct answer: Mapping and mobilizing existing community strengths

ABCD centers on identifying and leveraging the skills, associations, and institutions already present within a community rather than focusing on deficits.

Question 16: A social worker writes a treatment objective: 'Client will use diaphragmatic breathing when experiencing anxiety three times per week, as reported in session, within 60 days.' This objective is best described as:

Lacking a baseline measure
Unrealistic and too demanding
Vague and unmeasurable
Specific, measurable, and time-bound (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Specific, measurable, and time-bound

The objective specifies the behavior (diaphragmatic breathing), frequency (three times/week), measurement method (self-report), and timeline (60 days), meeting SMART criteria.

Question 17: A social worker uses the acronym OARS (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries) in sessions. This technique is central to which model?

Motivational Interviewing (Correct answer)
Psychosocial Model
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Correct answer: Motivational Interviewing

OARS represents the core communication skills in Motivational Interviewing, designed to build rapport and elicit change talk from the client.

Question 18: When preparing a client for termination of case management services, a social worker should FIRST:

Transfer the case to another agency without discussion
Abruptly end services to avoid dependency
Wait until the client requests termination
Begin planning termination from the start of services and gradually reduce contact (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Begin planning termination from the start of services and gradually reduce contact

Planned termination should be integrated into the service plan from the beginning, with gradual transition to promote client independence and prevent abandonment.

Question 19: The concept of 'epigenesis' in Erikson's theory means that:

Development stops after adolescence
Each stage builds on the previous and occurs in an invariant sequence (Correct answer)
Stages occur randomly based on environmental conditions
Biological factors entirely determine developmental outcomes

Correct answer: Each stage builds on the previous and occurs in an invariant sequence

Epigenesis holds that each psychosocial stage unfolds in a predetermined sequence, with earlier resolutions forming the foundation for later stages.

Question 20: The Social Security Act of 1935 originally established which two major social insurance programs?

Medicare and Medicaid
TANF and SNAP
Old-Age Insurance and Unemployment Compensation (Correct answer)
Workers' Compensation and Disability Insurance

Correct answer: Old-Age Insurance and Unemployment Compensation

The Social Security Act of 1935 created Old-Age Insurance (retirement benefits) and Unemployment Compensation as its two cornerstone social insurance programs.

Question 21: Which DSM-5 diagnosis would BEST apply to a client who experiences significant distress about their assigned gender, a strong desire to be treated as another gender, and conviction that their feelings are typical of another gender?

Gender Dysphoria (Correct answer)
Somatic Symptom Disorder
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Correct answer: Gender Dysphoria

Gender Dysphoria in DSM-5 describes a marked incongruence between one's experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender, accompanied by significant distress or functional impairment.

Question 22: According to Marcia's identity status theory, an adolescent who has committed to an identity without exploring alternatives (e.g., adopting parental beliefs unquestioningly) is in which status?

Identity foreclosure (Correct answer)
Identity diffusion
Identity moratorium
Identity achievement

Correct answer: Identity foreclosure

Identity foreclosure occurs when a person commits to an identity—often handed down by parents or authority figures—without undergoing personal exploration or crisis.

Question 23: According to Erikson's theory, the primary psychosocial task of young adulthood (ages 18–40) is:

Identity vs. Role Confusion
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Intimacy vs. Isolation (Correct answer)
Initiative vs. Guilt

Correct answer: Intimacy vs. Isolation

Intimacy vs. Isolation is Erikson's sixth stage, during which individuals strive to form deep, committed relationships or risk social and emotional isolation.

Question 24: When designing a community health education program, the principle of cultural humility requires the social worker to:

Recognize the limits of their own cultural knowledge and engage in ongoing learning with community members (Correct answer)
Apply DSM criteria uniformly regardless of cultural context
Hire translators to convert existing materials into other languages
Become an expert in every culture represented in the community

Correct answer: Recognize the limits of their own cultural knowledge and engage in ongoing learning with community members

Cultural humility emphasizes lifelong self-reflection and openness to learning from community members rather than claiming cultural competence as a fixed endpoint.

Question 25: The concept of 'White privilege' in social work practice refers to:

A belief that White people are superior
A form of reverse discrimination
Unearned advantages conferred to White individuals by systemic racism, often invisible to those who hold them (Correct answer)
Financial benefits given to White clients

Correct answer: Unearned advantages conferred to White individuals by systemic racism, often invisible to those who hold them

White privilege describes unearned systemic advantages that benefit White individuals without their necessarily being aware of them.

Question 26: A social worker using solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) asks: 'On a scale of 1–10, where 10 means the problem is fully solved, where would you rate things today?' This is an example of:

Exception-finding
Scaling questions (Correct answer)
The miracle question
Coping questions

Correct answer: Scaling questions

Scaling questions in SFBT help clients quantify progress, identify strengths, and set incremental goals toward change.

Question 27: Which term describes a social worker's obligation to keep client information private unless the client consents to disclosure or a legal exception applies?

Informed consent
Fiduciary duty
Confidentiality (Correct answer)
Privileged communication

Correct answer: Confidentiality

Confidentiality is the ethical duty of social workers to protect private client information from unauthorized disclosure.

Question 28: A social worker notes that a client's affect is incongruent with the content of their speech—laughing while describing a recent loss. This finding is BEST documented as:

Inappropriate affect (Correct answer)
Blunted affect
Labile affect
Flat affect

Correct answer: Inappropriate affect

Inappropriate affect describes an emotional response that is inconsistent or incongruent with the context or content of the client's communication.

Question 29: A client with schizophrenia has capacity to make decisions but is refusing medication that could prevent hospitalization. The social worker should:

Respect the client's right to refuse while exploring concerns and documenting (Correct answer)
Discontinue services since the client is non-compliant
Contact family members to pressure the client into accepting medication
Override the client's decision and arrange for involuntary treatment

Correct answer: Respect the client's right to refuse while exploring concerns and documenting

A client with decision-making capacity has the right to refuse treatment; the social worker should respect this while exploring barriers and ensuring the client understands consequences.

Question 30: A social worker is conducting a biopsychosocial assessment with a refugee client. Which of the following is most critical to incorporate?

Focus on the client's employment and housing deficits as primary presenting issues
A standardized DSM diagnostic interview administered in English
A referral to a psychiatrist before beginning any social work intervention
An exploration of the client's pre-migration history, cultural strengths, and trauma exposure (Correct answer)

Correct answer: An exploration of the client's pre-migration history, cultural strengths, and trauma exposure

Comprehensive assessment of refugee clients must include cultural context, pre- and post-migration experiences, and trauma history to be accurate and relevant.

Question 31: Which assessment tool is MOST appropriate for screening a client for alcohol use disorder during an initial clinical interview?

PHQ-9
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
CAGE Questionnaire (Correct answer)

Correct answer: CAGE Questionnaire

The CAGE Questionnaire is a widely validated four-question screening tool specifically designed to identify problematic alcohol use.

Question 32: Which of the following is an example of a secondary crisis precipitant?

A violent assault experienced by the client
A natural disaster that destroys a client's home
A sudden medical diagnosis received by the client
Financial hardship that emerges following a job loss that triggered the initial crisis (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Financial hardship that emerges following a job loss that triggered the initial crisis

A secondary crisis precipitant is a downstream stressor (e.g., financial hardship following job loss) that compounds the original crisis, increasing overall vulnerability.

Question 33: A 72-year-old client in a life-review group expresses a sense of peace and satisfaction with his life, his accomplishments, and the relationships he has built. He feels he has made a meaningful contribution to his family and community. According to Erikson, this client is successfully resolving which developmental crisis?

Trust vs. Mistrust
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Correct answer)
Generativity vs. Stagnation

Correct answer: Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Erikson's final stage, Ego Integrity vs. Despair, occurs in late adulthood (65+). Successful resolution of this stage involves reflecting on one's life and feeling a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment (integrity). The client's feelings of peace and meaning indicate a positive outcome for this stage.

Question 34: Which concept describes the psychological impact on marginalized individuals who internalize oppressive messages about their own group?

Lateral violence
Horizontal hostility
Internalized oppression (Correct answer)
External oppression

Correct answer: Internalized oppression

Internalized oppression occurs when members of marginalized groups accept and adopt negative societal messages about their own group as truth.

Question 35: Which scenario BEST illustrates a conflict of interest for a social worker?

Disagreeing with a client's financial decisions
Providing services to a client from a different cultural background
Treating a close friend's spouse as a clinical client (Correct answer)
Using evidence-based practices not personally preferred

Correct answer: Treating a close friend's spouse as a clinical client

Treating a close friend's spouse creates a dual relationship that impairs objectivity and constitutes a conflict of interest.

Question 36: Which developmental theorist proposed that infants are born with innate schemas that are modified through assimilation and accommodation?

Erik Erikson
John Bowlby
Jean Piaget (Correct answer)
Lev Vygotsky

Correct answer: Jean Piaget

Piaget's cognitive-developmental theory posits that children use assimilation (fitting new info into existing schemas) and accommodation (changing schemas) to adapt.

Question 37: A client who has been stable for two years wants to terminate therapy. The social worker believes the client still needs treatment. Ethically, the social worker should:

Refuse to terminate until clinical goals are fully met
Respect the client's right to self-determination and collaboratively plan the termination (Correct answer)
Consult a psychiatrist to override the client's decision
Discharge the client without any termination planning

Correct answer: Respect the client's right to self-determination and collaboratively plan the termination

Client self-determination is a core NASW value; social workers must respect a client's right to end services while ensuring a planned, collaborative termination process.

Question 38: What is the PRIMARY purpose of a psychosocial assessment in social work practice?

To assess whether the client needs medication management
To diagnose the client's mental health disorder
To determine the client's eligibility for services
To gather comprehensive information to inform treatment planning (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To gather comprehensive information to inform treatment planning

A psychosocial assessment gathers biopsychosocial information about the client's history, functioning, and strengths to guide individualized treatment planning.

Question 39: Which of the following is an example of a tertiary prevention intervention in social work treatment planning?

Public awareness campaigns about addiction
Relapse prevention planning for a client in recovery (Correct answer)
Universal mental health screening in schools
Psychoeducation for at-risk youth

Correct answer: Relapse prevention planning for a client in recovery

Tertiary prevention addresses existing conditions to minimize relapse or deterioration, such as relapse prevention in substance use recovery.

Question 40: Which crisis intervention model emphasizes assessing lethality, ensuring safety, and providing immediate stabilization?

Narrative Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model (Correct answer)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Correct answer: Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model

Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model is widely used in crisis work and includes lethality assessment as a core early step.

Question 41: A client shares information during a session that suggests they may have committed tax fraud years ago. How should the social worker respond?

Immediately report the client to the IRS
Terminate services to avoid legal liability
Maintain confidentiality, as past tax fraud is not a mandated reporting situation (Correct answer)
Confront the client and demand they turn themselves in

Correct answer: Maintain confidentiality, as past tax fraud is not a mandated reporting situation

Past financial crimes by a client do not fall under mandated reporting requirements, so the social worker must maintain confidentiality per ethical and legal standards.

Question 42: A social worker notes that a 9-year-old child can sort objects by size, classify them by multiple attributes, and understand that operations can be reversed. This child is in Piaget's:

Preoperational stage
Concrete operational stage (Correct answer)
Formal operational stage
Sensorimotor stage

Correct answer: Concrete operational stage

Concrete operational thinking (ages 7–11) is characterized by logical operations applied to concrete objects, including classification, seriation, and reversibility.

Question 43: An anti-oppressive practice framework requires social workers to PRIMARILY:

Recognize and address power imbalances, privilege, and systemic inequities in practice (Correct answer)
Apply evidence-based protocols uniformly across all client populations
Maintain strict professional distance to preserve objectivity
Focus exclusively on individual pathology and symptom reduction

Correct answer: Recognize and address power imbalances, privilege, and systemic inequities in practice

Anti-oppressive practice demands critical self-reflection and active work to challenge structural inequalities that affect clients' lives.

Question 44: An LMSW working in a hospital is asked by a patient's employer for information about the patient's condition. The social worker should:

Provide general information without disclosing the specific diagnosis
Release information only if the employer can demonstrate a legitimate need
Decline to release any information without the patient's written consent (Correct answer)
Consult with the hospital's legal team before responding

Correct answer: Decline to release any information without the patient's written consent

HIPAA and professional ethics require written client authorization before disclosing any protected health information to third parties, including employers.

Question 45: An African American client tells her social worker that she experiences microaggressions at work daily but fears being labeled 'oversensitive' if she speaks up. The social worker's most appropriate response is to:

Explore whether the client may be misinterpreting the interactions
Focus the session on coping strategies to help the client tolerate the workplace
Advise the client to document incidents and file a formal HR complaint
Validate the client's experiences and explore the impact of microaggressions on her well-being (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Validate the client's experiences and explore the impact of microaggressions on her well-being

Validating clients' experiences of microaggressions is essential to building trust and practicing in a culturally affirming manner.

Question 46: In motivational interviewing, what does the acronym OARS stand for?

Outcomes, Accountability, Resilience, Strengths
Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries (Correct answer)
Openness, Acceptance, Reframing, Skills
Observations, Assessments, Referrals, Support

Correct answer: Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries

OARS are the core communication skills in motivational interviewing: Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and Summaries.

Question 47: A client of a different cultural background declines a recommended mental health referral, citing cultural stigma around mental illness. The ethical response is to:

Respect the client's autonomy while exploring culturally congruent alternatives (Correct answer)
Document the refusal and take no further action
Consult with a supervisor to override the client's decision
Insist the client accept the referral for their own good

Correct answer: Respect the client's autonomy while exploring culturally congruent alternatives

Culturally competent practice requires social workers to honor client self-determination and explore alternatives that align with the client's cultural values and preferences.

Question 48: Which of the following describes 'countertransference' in clinical social work?

The process of transferring a client to another provider
The client projecting past relationship patterns onto the social worker
The social worker's emotional reactions to the client based on the social worker's own unresolved issues (Correct answer)
A technique used in cognitive behavioral therapy to challenge distorted thoughts

Correct answer: The social worker's emotional reactions to the client based on the social worker's own unresolved issues

Countertransference refers to the social worker's unconscious emotional responses to the client that stem from the worker's own personal history or conflicts.

Question 49: Which factor is MOST associated with increased lethality in a suicidal crisis?

History of previous suicide attempts (Correct answer)
Lack of social support
Expressing feelings of sadness
Recent loss of employment

Correct answer: History of previous suicide attempts

A history of prior suicide attempts is the single strongest predictor of future attempt and completed suicide.

Question 50: Under DSM-5, Borderline Personality Disorder requires pervasive instability in multiple areas. Which of the following is NOT a core diagnostic criterion?

Persistent auditory hallucinations (Correct answer)
Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
Recurrent suicidal behavior or self-mutilation
Chronic feelings of emptiness

Correct answer: Persistent auditory hallucinations

Persistent auditory hallucinations are not a DSM-5 criterion for BPD; BPD may include transient paranoia or dissociation under stress but not sustained psychosis.

Question 51: A social worker using Roberts' Seven-Stage model has just established rapport with a crisis client. What is the NEXT step?

Identify major problems and precipitating events (Correct answer)
Explore feelings and emotions
Implement an action plan
Restore cognitive functioning

Correct answer: Identify major problems and precipitating events

After establishing rapport (Stage 2), Roberts' model calls for identifying the major problems or precipitating events (Stage 3).

Question 52: A social worker is preparing to conduct an assessment with a recent immigrant who has a different cultural background and speaks limited English. To ensure a culturally competent assessment, which of the following is the MOST important initial step?

Immediately referring the client to a practitioner from the same cultural background.
Exploring the client's understanding of their problem using the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) framework. (Correct answer)
Using a standardized assessment tool translated into the client's native language.
Providing the client with psychoeducation on Western concepts of mental illness.

Correct answer: Exploring the client's understanding of their problem using the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) framework.

The most important initial step is to understand the client's own perspective and cultural context. The DSM-5-TR's Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) provides a structured framework for clinicians to explore the client's cultural definition of the problem, perceptions of cause, and help-seeking behaviors. This person-centered approach is foundational to a culturally competent assessment. Referring out may not be necessary or desired, translated tools can have validity issues without proper adaptation, and imposing Western concepts at the outset is not culturally sensitive.

Question 53: The concept of 'cultural humility' in social work ethics differs from 'cultural competence' primarily because it:

Emphasizes ongoing self-reflection and acknowledgment of power imbalances (Correct answer)
Requires fluency in the client's native language
Centers on matching clients with workers from their same cultural background
Focuses on learning about specific cultural groups through education

Correct answer: Emphasizes ongoing self-reflection and acknowledgment of power imbalances

Cultural humility is a lifelong process of self-reflection, acknowledging one's own cultural biases and the power differentials between worker and client, rather than mastering knowledge of specific cultures.

Question 54: During a session focused on alcohol use, a social worker asks, 'What would need to change in your life for you to feel ready to cut back on drinking?' This question BEST illustrates which Motivational Interviewing strategy?

Expressing empathy through reflective listening
Rolling with resistance
Developing discrepancy (Correct answer)
Affirmation of client strengths

Correct answer: Developing discrepancy

Developing discrepancy is a core MI strategy in which the practitioner helps the client recognize the gap between their current behavior and their own stated goals or values. Highlighting this gap, without confrontation, increases intrinsic motivation to change.

Question 55: When conducting a crisis intervention with a client who is culturally different from the social worker, the MOST important consideration is:

Referring the client to a same-culture provider immediately
Avoiding discussion of culture to remain neutral
Using standardized Western crisis models without modification
Exploring how the client's cultural framework shapes their experience of and response to crisis (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Exploring how the client's cultural framework shapes their experience of and response to crisis

Cultural humility requires exploring the client's own cultural lens on crisis, coping, help-seeking, and meaning before applying any model.

Question 56: A social worker is treating a veteran with PTSD who avoids driving due to a combat-related IED incident. Which intervention directly targets avoidance behavior?

Systematic desensitization or prolonged exposure (Correct answer)
Mindfulness-based stress reduction alone
Psychodynamic exploration of childhood attachment
Supportive listening and validation

Correct answer: Systematic desensitization or prolonged exposure

Systematic desensitization and prolonged exposure directly address avoidance by gradually confronting feared stimuli, reducing PTSD symptoms.

Question 57: The concept of 'telegraphic speech' in language development refers to:

An infant's babbling sounds
Full sentences spoken very rapidly
Non-verbal communication through gestures
Two-word utterances that convey essential meaning (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Two-word utterances that convey essential meaning

Telegraphic speech consists of two-word phrases (e.g., 'Daddy go') that include only the most meaningful words, typically emerging around 18–24 months.

Question 58: Which statement BEST reflects the strengths-based approach to treatment planning?

Identify and build upon client's existing resources and capabilities (Correct answer)
Set goals the clinician believes are achievable
Focus primarily on diagnosing and reducing pathology
Prioritize medication management above psychosocial interventions

Correct answer: Identify and build upon client's existing resources and capabilities

A strengths-based approach centers the client's own resources, resilience, and competencies as the foundation for change.

Question 59: A researcher reports a p-value of 0.03 with α set at 0.05. What is the correct interpretation?

Reject the null hypothesis (Correct answer)
Fail to reject the null hypothesis
The effect size is large
The study is inconclusive

Correct answer: Reject the null hypothesis

When p < α, the result is statistically significant and the null hypothesis is rejected.

Question 60: A social worker supervisor is helping a new worker understand the agency's policies, documentation requirements, and service delivery procedures. This function of supervision is BEST described as:

Supportive supervision
Clinical supervision
Peer consultation
Administrative supervision (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Administrative supervision

Kadushin's three functions of supervision are administrative (organizational policies, procedures, accountability), educational/clinical (skill development, case conceptualization), and supportive (emotional support, managing burnout). Policy and documentation fall squarely under administrative supervision.

Question 61: When designing a new community-based youth mentoring program, a social worker develops a tool that visually links the program's inputs (e.g., funding, staff), activities (e.g., mentoring sessions), outputs (e.g., number of youth served), and long-term outcomes (e.g., improved graduation rates). What is this planning tool called?

A Logic Model (Correct answer)
A Gantt Chart
A SWOT Analysis
A Needs Assessment

Correct answer: A Logic Model

A logic model is a graphic representation showing the logical relationships between the resources (inputs), activities, direct products (outputs), and the desired short-term and long-term results (outcomes) of a program. It is a core tool in program planning and evaluation.

Question 62: Which practice model would a social worker MOST likely use when a client presents with a specific phobia and wants a structured, short-term intervention?

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (Correct answer)
Psychoanalytic Model
Structural Family Therapy
Narrative Therapy

Correct answer: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is the evidence-based first-line treatment for specific phobias, using techniques like cognitive restructuring and exposure therapy.

Question 63: Role theory would best help a social worker understand which of the following client situations?

A client who is grieving the death of a parent
A client experiencing conflict between her responsibilities as a primary caregiver and her career expectations (Correct answer)
A client with symptoms of major depressive disorder
A client whose neighborhood lacks adequate housing resources

Correct answer: A client experiencing conflict between her responsibilities as a primary caregiver and her career expectations

Role theory examines the social roles individuals occupy and the expectations attached to those roles. Role conflict — when two roles make incompatible demands — is directly illustrated by competing caregiver and career obligations.

Question 64: In Motivational Interviewing (MI), the acronym OARS refers to which set of techniques?

Observation, Assessment, Reflection, Summary
Orientation, Ambivalence, Readiness, Support
Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, Summaries (Correct answer)
Outcomes, Agreements, Resistance, Strategies

Correct answer: Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, Summaries

OARS—Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summaries—are the core communication techniques in Motivational Interviewing.

Question 65: During which Freudian psychosexual stage does the Oedipus complex emerge?

Latency stage
Anal stage
Phallic stage (Correct answer)
Oral stage

Correct answer: Phallic stage

The Oedipus complex, in which a child develops unconscious desires for the opposite-sex parent, emerges during the phallic stage (ages 3–6).

Question 66: During a family therapy session, a teenager discloses to the social worker that they have been using marijuana recreationally but asks the social worker not to tell their parents. The teenager does not appear to be in danger. What is the MOST appropriate response?

Dismiss the teenager's concerns and redirect the family session to other topics
End the session and file a report with child protective services
Immediately disclose the information to the parents to ensure the teenager's safety
Honor the teenager's confidentiality and explore the behavior further within the session (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Honor the teenager's confidentiality and explore the behavior further within the session

Recreational marijuana use by a teenager, while concerning, does not constitute imminent danger and does not automatically trigger a duty to breach confidentiality. The social worker should explore the behavior further while respecting the client's privacy within the bounds of applicable law.

Question 67: A social worker is offered an expensive gift from a grateful client who recently completed treatment. The MOST ethical response is to:

Accept the gift if its value is under $25
Accept the gift to avoid hurting the client's feelings
Accept only non-monetary gifts as a compromise
Decline the gift and explain the professional boundary regarding gifts (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Decline the gift and explain the professional boundary regarding gifts

NASW ethical standards caution against accepting gifts from clients as they can create boundary violations and dual relationships that compromise professional objectivity.

Question 68: A social worker who has been treating a client for depression for two years begins to feel romantic attraction toward the client. What is the FIRST action the social worker should take?

Immediately terminate the professional relationship
Seek personal therapy or clinical supervision to address the countertransference (Correct answer)
Refer the client to another provider without explanation
Disclose the feelings to the client to maintain transparency

Correct answer: Seek personal therapy or clinical supervision to address the countertransference

Seeking supervision or personal therapy is the appropriate first step to address countertransference while protecting the client's welfare and continuing appropriate care.

Question 69: A client has a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affect, along with impulsivity and recurrent self-harming behavior. She describes intense fear of abandonment and reports alternately idealizing and then devaluing her close relationships. These features BEST align with which personality disorder?

Antisocial Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (Correct answer)
Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Correct answer: Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is defined by unstable relationships, self-image, and affect, combined with impulsivity, self-harm, and frantic efforts to avoid abandonment. The hallmark features — splitting (idealization/devaluation), self-harm, and abandonment fears — distinguish it from other Cluster B disorders.

Question 70: Which of the following BEST describes the role of 'triangulation' in Bowen's Family Systems Theory?

The process of identifying three core family subsystems
A method for assessing the family's communication patterns
A technique for drawing genograms across three generations
The involvement of a third person to reduce tension between two people (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The involvement of a third person to reduce tension between two people

Triangulation occurs when anxiety between two people is reduced by pulling in a third person, diffusing the tension but perpetuating the underlying dysfunction.

Question 71: A social worker helping a client with anger management chooses to use a cognitive-behavioral intervention. Which technique is most consistent with this approach?

Identifying triggers, automatic thoughts, and replacing them with adaptive responses (Correct answer)
Reiki and mindfulness-only practices
Cathartic expression through expressive arts therapy
Free association to explore unconscious roots of anger

Correct answer: Identifying triggers, automatic thoughts, and replacing them with adaptive responses

CBT for anger management focuses on identifying triggering situations, automatic thoughts, and developing more adaptive cognitive and behavioral responses.

Question 72: Which of the following best describes 'colorblindness' as a problematic racial ideology in social work?

Claiming not to see race as a way of denying the impact of racism and racial identity (Correct answer)
Deliberately avoiding eye contact with clients of different races
Treating all clients with identical interventions regardless of cultural background
Using race-neutral language in all clinical documentation

Correct answer: Claiming not to see race as a way of denying the impact of racism and racial identity

Color-blind ideology ignores the reality of racial disparities and structural racism, undermining culturally competent and anti-racist practice.

Question 73: Which of the following BEST describes the role of homework assignments in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?

They replace in-session therapy for clients with busy schedules
They reinforce skills practiced in session and promote generalization to real-world situations (Correct answer)
They are used to test whether the client is compliant with treatment
They are optional tasks used only with motivated clients

Correct answer: They reinforce skills practiced in session and promote generalization to real-world situations

CBT homework assignments help clients practice new skills between sessions, reinforcing learning and promoting generalization to daily life.

Question 74: A social worker is writing a policy brief to advocate for expanded mental health parity. The MOST important element to include for persuading legislators is:

Historical background on mental health legislation
A detailed literature review
A comparison to international mental health systems
Evidence of cost-effectiveness alongside personal narratives (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Evidence of cost-effectiveness alongside personal narratives

Effective policy briefs combine data on cost-effectiveness with personal narratives to appeal to both the logic and values of decision-makers.

Question 75: A mother visits a social worker because she is worried about her child's cognitive development. The child performs academically far worse than her peers. This youngster is recommended by a social worker for diagnostic testing. Which of the following evaluations will the child most likely receive in light of the mother's worries?

The Thematic Apperception Test
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
The Wechsler Intelligence Scale (Correct answer)
The Myer-Briggs Type Indicator

Correct answer: The Wechsler Intelligence Scale

A personality test for the evaluation of psychopathology is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is an effort to group people according to four theoretically separate dimensions that describe personality traits. In order to comprehend a subject's current needs, motives, emotions, and conflicts—both conscious and unconscious—thematic perception testing gives information on a client's perceptions and imagination.

Question 76: In the context of human development, 'heteronomy' as described by Piaget refers to:

The tendency to judge actions by intentions rather than consequences
Moral reasoning governed by external rules and authority figures (Correct answer)
A child's ability to consider multiple perspectives simultaneously
Moral reasoning based on one's own internal values and principles

Correct answer: Moral reasoning governed by external rules and authority figures

Heteronomous morality, seen in younger children, involves viewing rules as fixed and absolute, set by authority, and judging actions primarily by their outcomes rather than intentions.

Question 77: An LMSW conducts an intake assessment and determines that a client does not meet criteria for any DSM-5 diagnosis but is clearly struggling. The MOST appropriate documentation is:

Defer diagnosis pending further evaluation
Assign the closest matching diagnosis to facilitate insurance billing
Close the case as the client does not meet treatment criteria
Document 'No Diagnosis' and describe presenting concerns thoroughly (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Document 'No Diagnosis' and describe presenting concerns thoroughly

Documenting 'No Diagnosis' with a thorough clinical description is accurate, ethical, and allows treatment planning without misrepresenting the client's condition.

Question 78: Which qualitative research method involves a researcher living within a community to understand its culture and practices from an insider perspective?

Case study
Grounded theory
Phenomenology
Ethnography (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ethnography

Ethnography involves immersive, long-term observation within a community to understand cultural norms, behaviors, and meanings from the participants' viewpoint.

Question 79: Which statistical test is most appropriate for comparing the means of two independent groups?

Pearson correlation
One-way ANOVA
Independent samples t-test (Correct answer)
Chi-square test

Correct answer: Independent samples t-test

The independent samples t-test is used to determine whether the means of two separate, unrelated groups differ significantly from each other.

Question 80: Ecological systems theory, developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner, describes which environmental layer as the system of relationships between the microsystems surrounding a person?

Macrosystem
Chronosystem
Exosystem
Mesosystem (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Mesosystem

The mesosystem represents the interactions and relationships among the various microsystems (e.g., how family and school influence each other).

Question 81: Which research approach is BEST suited for exploring the lived experience of LMSW clients who have recovered from trauma?

Single-subject design
Survey research
Phenomenological study (Correct answer)
Randomized controlled trial

Correct answer: Phenomenological study

Phenomenological research focuses on capturing and interpreting the subjective, lived experiences of participants in depth.

Question 82: The BEST method of treatment for depression in older individuals is:

Treatment of elder adults is similar to other adults, so no significant alterations are needed.
Coordination between medical and mental health due to the influence of medical conditions on psychiatric symptomatology. (Correct answer)
Cognitive behavioral therapy coupled with family interventions.
Significant reliance on psychiatry because medication management is most important.

Correct answer: Coordination between medical and mental health due to the influence of medical conditions on psychiatric symptomatology.

The most effective way to manage elderly depression is to coordinate care between medical and mental health specialists. This is due to the fact that in older persons, physical illnesses and psychiatric symptomatology frequently have a reciprocal relationship, and treating both is essential for effective treatment.

Question 83: A social worker is assessing a 10-year-old child who exhibits a pattern of arguing with adults, deliberately annoying others, and being spiteful for the past seven months. The MOST likely diagnosis is:

Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (Correct answer)
Conduct Disorder

Correct answer: Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Oppositional Defiant Disorder is characterized by a persistent pattern of angry/irritable mood and argumentative/defiant behavior lasting at least six months.

Question 84: An adolescent client avoids school due to fear of embarrassment but has no difficulty with other social or performance situations. This pattern most closely aligns with:

School Refusal secondary to Separation Anxiety Disorder
Specific Phobia, situational type
Social Anxiety Disorder, performance only specifier (Correct answer)
Agoraphobia

Correct answer: Social Anxiety Disorder, performance only specifier

When social anxiety is confined to performance situations like speaking or performing in front of others, DSM-5 allows for a 'performance only' specifier.

Question 85: A social worker accepts a small gift (a homemade card and cookies) from a client at the end of a successful treatment. According to ethical guidelines, this is:

Generally acceptable if the gift is of nominal value and refusal would be culturally insensitive or harmful to the relationship (Correct answer)
Prohibited because it creates a financial conflict of interest
Always prohibited as a boundary violation
Acceptable only if documented in the client's file

Correct answer: Generally acceptable if the gift is of nominal value and refusal would be culturally insensitive or harmful to the relationship

The NASW Code acknowledges that small, culturally meaningful tokens of appreciation may be acceptable when refusal would be clinically harmful, provided the gift has nominal value.

Question 86: Which statement BEST describes the role of the social worker in the Empowerment Model?

Interpreting unconscious material to promote insight
Providing directive advice and concrete resources
Collaborating with clients to build on their strengths and challenge oppressive structures (Correct answer)
Acting as a neutral expert who diagnoses and treats pathology

Correct answer: Collaborating with clients to build on their strengths and challenge oppressive structures

The Empowerment Model positions the social worker as a collaborator who helps clients recognize their strengths and addresses systemic and structural barriers.

Question 87: A client from a collectivist cultural background resists a treatment plan focused on individual autonomy. The LMSW should:

Insist on the autonomy-focused plan as clinically indicated
Dismiss cultural concerns as resistance
Adapt the plan to incorporate family involvement and collective values (Correct answer)
Terminate services if the client won't comply

Correct answer: Adapt the plan to incorporate family involvement and collective values

Culturally competent practice requires adapting treatment plans to align with the client's cultural values and worldview.

Question 88: A social worker notices that their agency's intake forms only offer binary gender options. What is the most appropriate anti-oppressive response?

Tell clients to choose whichever option feels closest
Accept the forms as standard practice
Refer all transgender clients to a different agency
Advocate internally to add inclusive gender options such as non-binary and self-describe (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Advocate internally to add inclusive gender options such as non-binary and self-describe

Advocating for inclusive intake forms is an anti-oppressive practice that affirms the identities of gender-diverse clients.

Question 89: An LMSW working with Indigenous clients should prioritize which approach to cultural competence?

Acknowledging tribal sovereignty and consulting with tribal community members (Correct answer)
Treating Indigenous clients identically to non-Indigenous clients
Applying mainstream therapeutic models with sensitivity adjustments
Learning a standardized set of Indigenous customs that apply universally

Correct answer: Acknowledging tribal sovereignty and consulting with tribal community members

Indigenous communities are sovereign nations with distinct cultures; competent practice requires acknowledging this sovereignty and partnering with tribal communities.

Question 90: When using Motivational Interviewing (MI) with an ambivalent client, the technique of 'rolling with resistance' means the social worker should:

Acknowledge and reflect the client's ambivalence without arguing or confronting (Correct answer)
Firmly redirect the client toward behavior change goals
Provide psychoeducation to overcome the client's objections
Postpone the session until the client is ready to engage

Correct answer: Acknowledge and reflect the client's ambivalence without arguing or confronting

Rolling with resistance in MI involves reflecting ambivalence back without confrontation, preserving the therapeutic relationship and the client's autonomy.

Question 91: A 70-year-old client reflects on life with a sense of fulfillment and peace. According to Erikson, this person has successfully resolved which stage?

Generativity vs. Stagnation
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Initiative vs. Guilt
Integrity vs. Despair (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Integrity vs. Despair

Ego Integrity vs. Despair is Erikson's final stage (late adulthood), resolved successfully when one accepts life as meaningful.

Question 92: A client in recovery from alcohol use disorder reports urges to drink when passing a bar near work. The MOST effective cognitive-behavioral intervention is:

Prescribe benzodiazepines to reduce craving anxiety
Use paradoxical intention to encourage controlled drinking
Advise the client to find a new job immediately
Urge surfing and identifying and challenging high-risk cognitions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Urge surfing and identifying and challenging high-risk cognitions

Urge surfing teaches clients to observe cravings without acting on them, while cognitive restructuring addresses automatic thoughts that precede relapse.

Question 93: Intersectionality, as theorized by Kimberlé Crenshaw, is best described as:

A method for prioritizing which oppressed group receives services first
The overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination affecting individuals with multiple marginalized identities (Correct answer)
The intersection of individual pathology and social environment
The study of racial and gender statistics in social services

Correct answer: The overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination affecting individuals with multiple marginalized identities

Intersectionality examines how race, gender, class, and other identities overlap to create unique compounded experiences of oppression.

Question 94: A social worker is treating a client who struggles with forming secure and lasting adult relationships. The therapy sessions frequently explore the client's relationship with their primary caregivers during infancy and childhood, focusing on how these early attachment experiences created an 'internal working model' that now unconsciously influences their current patterns of relating to others. This therapeutic approach is most characteristic of which practice model?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Psychodynamic Therapy (Correct answer)
Narrative Therapy
Task-Centered Practice

Correct answer: Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy, heavily influenced by attachment theory, focuses on how past experiences, particularly early childhood relationships, shape current behaviors and relationships. The goal is to bring unconscious thoughts and feelings into conscious awareness, allowing the client to gain insight into how their past is influencing their present difficulties, especially in interpersonal dynamics.

Question 95: A social worker's supervisor instructs them to overstate a client's diagnostic severity on an insurance claim to secure reimbursement the agency needs. The social worker should FIRST:

Report the supervisor directly to law enforcement before taking any internal steps
Consult the client about the situation before deciding how to respond
Comply with the directive to protect their employment
Refuse to falsify the documentation and address the concern through appropriate internal or professional channels (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Refuse to falsify the documentation and address the concern through appropriate internal or professional channels

The NASW Code of Ethics requires honesty, integrity, and accurate record-keeping. A social worker must refuse to participate in fraud and should escalate the concern through appropriate channels — such as agency administration, an ethics committee, or the state licensing board — rather than immediately involving law enforcement or the client.

Question 96: When a social worker and client collaboratively develop a treatment plan, which of the following represents the BEST-written, measurable objective?

The client will attend at least three out of four scheduled weekly support group meetings for the next month. (Correct answer)
The client will feel happier and more engaged in life.
The client will improve their relationship with their spouse.
The client will learn better communication skills.

Correct answer: The client will attend at least three out of four scheduled weekly support group meetings for the next month.

This objective is the best example because it is SMART: Specific (attend support group meetings), Measurable (three out of four), Achievable (a reasonable attendance goal), Relevant (presumably to the client's goals), and Time-bound (for the next month). The other options are vague and not easily measured.

Question 97: A school social worker develops an intervention plan for a student with ADHD who struggles in the classroom. Which intervention falls within the school social worker's scope?

Collaborating with teachers to implement a behavior management plan with structured routines (Correct answer)
Conducting a neuropsychological evaluation
Prescribing stimulant medication
Performing an EEG to rule out seizure disorder

Correct answer: Collaborating with teachers to implement a behavior management plan with structured routines

School social workers coordinate behavioral and environmental supports, including collaborating with educators on structured classroom strategies.

Question 98: When a social worker suspects impairment in a colleague due to substance use that may be affecting client care, the worker should FIRST:

Document observations and take no action unless a client is harmed
Report anonymously to the agency's ethics committee immediately
Talk with the colleague directly and encourage them to seek help, then escalate if the problem continues (Correct answer)
Report directly to the state licensing board

Correct answer: Talk with the colleague directly and encourage them to seek help, then escalate if the problem continues

The NASW Code of Ethics recommends first speaking with the colleague when feasible, then escalating through supervisory or regulatory channels if the concern is not resolved.

Question 99: Which crisis intervention model focuses on restoring the client to at least their pre-crisis level of functioning?

Equilibrium Model (Correct answer)
Psychosocial Transition Model
Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model
Cognitive Model of Crisis

Correct answer: Equilibrium Model

The Equilibrium Model, developed by Caplan, aims to restore homeostasis and return the individual to their pre-crisis state of functioning.

Question 100: A client discloses they are experiencing auditory hallucinations telling them to harm their neighbor. The social worker has a duty to warn under Tarasoff if:

The client has a history of violence only
The client expresses any violent ideation regardless of specificity
The client refuses medication that could control symptoms
There is a specific, identifiable, and imminent threat to an identified person (Correct answer)

Correct answer: There is a specific, identifiable, and imminent threat to an identified person

The Tarasoff duty to warn applies when there is a serious, imminent, and specific threat to an identifiable third party.

Question 101: In Bowen Family Systems Theory, 'differentiation of self' refers to:

The ability to function independently of family roles
The development of distinct subsystems within a family
The process of separating from one's family of origin permanently
The capacity to maintain a clear sense of self while staying emotionally connected to others (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The capacity to maintain a clear sense of self while staying emotionally connected to others

Differentiation of self in Bowen theory means balancing autonomy and emotional connection—neither fused with nor cut off from the family system.

Question 102: A 14-year-old has shown a pattern of lying, bullying, truancy, and cruelty to animals for 14 months. Which diagnosis is most consistent with DSM-5 criteria?

Conduct Disorder (Correct answer)
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder

Correct answer: Conduct Disorder

Conduct Disorder requires a repetitive pattern violating the rights of others or societal norms across at least three of fifteen criteria lasting 12+ months, and is diagnosed in those under 18.

Question 103: A social worker learns that a colleague is billing Medicaid for services that were never rendered. What is the social worker's ethical obligation?

Discuss the issue with the colleague privately and encourage them to stop
Ignore the situation because it does not directly involve the social worker's clients
Take action through appropriate channels, such as reporting to a supervisor or ethics board (Correct answer)
Document the behavior but wait to see if it continues before taking action

Correct answer: Take action through appropriate channels, such as reporting to a supervisor or ethics board

The NASW Code of Ethics requires social workers to take action when they become aware of colleagues' unethical conduct. Medicaid fraud harms clients and the public; reporting through appropriate channels — supervisor, licensing board, or ethics committee — fulfills this professional duty.

Question 104: Which of the following best describes 'resilience' in human development?

The capacity to adapt positively despite significant adversity (Correct answer)
The absence of any adverse childhood experiences
Rapid recovery from physical illness
Genetic immunity to mental health conditions

Correct answer: The capacity to adapt positively despite significant adversity

Resilience is the dynamic process through which individuals demonstrate positive adaptation in the context of significant risk or adversity.

Question 105: A social worker is evaluating a community-based violence interruption program. Which outcome measure MOST directly assesses the program's community-level impact?

Staff satisfaction with program implementation
Rate of violent incidents in the target neighborhood over time (Correct answer)
Participants' self-reported attitude change scores
Number of clients who completed the curriculum

Correct answer: Rate of violent incidents in the target neighborhood over time

A neighborhood-level incident rate is the most direct measure of whether the program is achieving its community-level goal of reducing violence.

Question 106: A client informs their social worker that they intend to seriously harm an identifiable former coworker. What is the social worker's PRIMARY obligation under the duty-to-protect principle?

Refer the client to a psychiatrist and take no further action
Take reasonable steps to protect the potential victim, which may include warning them and/or notifying law enforcement (Correct answer)
Immediately terminate the therapeutic relationship
Maintain strict confidentiality to preserve the therapeutic alliance

Correct answer: Take reasonable steps to protect the potential victim, which may include warning them and/or notifying law enforcement

The duty to protect, grounded in the Tarasoff ruling, requires social workers to breach confidentiality when a client poses a credible, serious threat to an identifiable third party. Reasonable steps typically include warning the potential victim and notifying authorities.

Question 107: A mandated reporter social worker learns of suspected child abuse from a third party, not directly from the client. The social worker's obligation is to:

Report the suspicion to child protective services as required by law (Correct answer)
Wait to hear the information directly from the client before reporting
Investigate the abuse independently before making a report
Consult with the alleged abuser before filing a report

Correct answer: Report the suspicion to child protective services as required by law

Mandated reporter laws require social workers to report reasonable suspicions of child abuse regardless of the source of information, superseding confidentiality in this situation.

Question 108: A cisgender social worker is assigned to work with a transgender client. What is the most important initial step?

Use the client's stated name and pronouns and follow the client's lead on disclosure (Correct answer)
Refer the client to a transgender-identified therapist
Ask about the client's surgical history to understand their transition
Research transgender issues extensively before the first session and share learnings

Correct answer: Use the client's stated name and pronouns and follow the client's lead on disclosure

Respecting a client's self-identified name and pronouns is a fundamental affirmative practice that establishes safety and respect.

Question 109: Which stage of Prochaska and DiClemente's Transtheoretical Model best describes a client who says, 'I know I drink too much, and I'm planning to cut back starting next month'?

Contemplation
Action
Precontemplation
Preparation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Preparation

The preparation stage is characterized by the intention to change in the near future and beginning to make small steps toward change.

Question 110: A client's treatment plan includes 'increase social support.' To make this an effective intervention goal, the LMSW should:

Add specific, measurable steps such as 'client will attend one community group per week' (Correct answer)
Remove social goals from clinical treatment plans
Leave it as written since it is self-explanatory
Consult with a psychiatrist before including social goals

Correct answer: Add specific, measurable steps such as 'client will attend one community group per week'

Operationalizing vague goals into specific, measurable actions makes them clinically useful and trackable.

Question 111: When a social worker suspects a colleague is impaired by alcohol during working hours, the first ethical step is to:

Notify clients who may be affected by the colleague's impairment
Document the observations and wait to see if the situation continues
Consult with the colleague directly and offer assistance resources (Correct answer)
Report the colleague to their state licensing board immediately

Correct answer: Consult with the colleague directly and offer assistance resources

The NASW Code of Ethics recommends first consulting with the colleague and offering assistance when possible before pursuing formal reporting channels.

Question 112: In Saul Alinsky's model of community organizing, power is BEST understood as:

The financial resources controlled by nonprofit organizations
The organized capacity of people acting collectively (Correct answer)
The expertise held by credentialed professionals
The authority granted by government to legitimate representatives

Correct answer: The organized capacity of people acting collectively

Alinsky defined power as organized people and organized money acting together, emphasizing collective action over individual credentials or formal authority.

Question 113: Which theorist proposed that moral development progresses through stages from preconventional to conventional to postconventional reasoning?

Carol Gilligan
Lawrence Kohlberg (Correct answer)
Erik Erikson
Jean Piaget

Correct answer: Lawrence Kohlberg

Lawrence Kohlberg proposed a six-stage theory of moral development organized into three levels: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional.

Question 114: A social worker uses a genogram with a client but only includes heterosexual family structures in the template. This omission reflects:

Appropriate simplification of a complex tool
Client-centered customization
Standard genogram practice
Heteronormativity embedded in clinical tools (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Heteronormativity embedded in clinical tools

When clinical tools assume heterosexual family structures as default, they embed heteronormativity and can alienate LGBTQ+ clients and families.

Question 115: When developing a treatment plan for a client experiencing complicated grief, which element distinguishes it from major depressive disorder treatment?

Psychopharmacology referral should always be made first
Cognitive restructuring alone is sufficient
Treatment plans for grief do not require measurable goals
Grief-specific interventions focus on meaning-making and continuing bonds (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Grief-specific interventions focus on meaning-making and continuing bonds

Complicated grief treatment focuses on meaning-making, processing the loss, and maintaining a healthy connection to the deceased, which differs from standard depression protocols.

Question 116: When using a strengths-based perspective, a social worker should PRIMARILY focus on:

Diagnosing and treating the client's pathology
Examining how past trauma contributes to current problems
Challenging the client's irrational thoughts
Identifying what the client does well and building on existing resources (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Identifying what the client does well and building on existing resources

The strengths-based perspective emphasizes identifying and amplifying client strengths, resources, and resilience rather than focusing on deficits.

Question 117: Which of the following is a key characteristic that distinguishes a crisis from general stress?

Crisis is characterized by a person's perception that usual coping methods are insufficient (Correct answer)
Crisis always involves suicidal ideation
Crisis exclusively results from external traumatic events
Crisis only occurs in individuals with pre-existing mental health diagnoses

Correct answer: Crisis is characterized by a person's perception that usual coping methods are insufficient

A crisis is defined by the subjective experience that one's usual coping strategies are overwhelmed, not by the objective severity of the event alone.

Question 118: A social worker is planning a family therapy intervention for a child exhibiting behavioral problems at school. Which systemic framework would guide examining the roles and communication patterns within the family?

Cognitive restructuring
Behavioral modification
Structural family therapy (Correct answer)
Psychoanalytic theory

Correct answer: Structural family therapy

Structural family therapy examines and seeks to reorganize the hierarchies, subsystems, and boundaries that govern family interaction and behavior.

Question 119: When working with clients who have disabilities, the social model of disability suggests that practitioners should:

Encourage acceptance of limitations as permanent
Refer clients primarily to medical professionals for needs assessment
Focus on curing or rehabilitating the individual's impairment
Address societal barriers and structures that disable people rather than the person's condition (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Address societal barriers and structures that disable people rather than the person's condition

The social model locates disability in societal barriers—physical, attitudinal, and systemic—rather than in the individual's body or mind.

Question 120: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded Medicaid eligibility to adults up to what percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) in states that adopted expansion?

250%
200%
100%
133% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 133%

The ACA expanded Medicaid to cover adults with incomes up to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level in states that chose to adopt expansion.

Question 121: Which statistical measure describes the spread of scores around the mean?

Standard deviation (Correct answer)
Mode
Median
Frequency

Correct answer: Standard deviation

Standard deviation quantifies how much individual scores vary from the mean of a dataset.

Question 122: A client with intellectual disability and depression is being assessed for treatment. The LMSW should:

Exclude the client from the planning process due to cognitive limitations
Rely solely on caregiver report for treatment planning
Refer only to a psychiatrist for medication management
Adapt assessment tools and involve the client in planning to the fullest extent possible (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Adapt assessment tools and involve the client in planning to the fullest extent possible

Clients with intellectual disabilities have the right to participate in their own care; tools and language should be adapted to maximize their meaningful involvement.

LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) Exam

The LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) Exam exam validates essential knowledge and skills required for certification or licensure in this field.

122

Questions

240 min

Time Limit

70%

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