ASWB Clinical Practice Test: Free LCSW Social Work Exam Questions, 2026 Outline
635 practice questions for the ASWB Clinical social work licensing exam, the exam states use for the LCSW (or LICSW, LISW or LCSW-C), written to the new outline ASWB has used since August 3, 2026. The Clinical bank shares the core vignettes on ethics, assessment and intervention with our Masters guide and adds clinical-only questions: DSM-5-TR differential diagnosis, psychotherapy models (cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure, DBT, ACT, interpersonal therapy, emotionally focused and Gottman couples work), the duty to protect, confidentiality in couples, family and minor therapy, research ethics and clinical supervision. They follow the Clinical outline's weights: Values and Ethics (36%), Assessment and Planning (32%) and Intervention and Practice (32%). Each question is tagged to its outline code, so your score report shows exactly which knowledge statements you miss. Every answer explains why the best choice is best and names its source.
The real test: 122 multiple-choice questions (110 scored, 12 unscored pretest) in two 61-question sections, 2 hours each, at a Pearson VUE test center, $260. Pass or fail by a number of correct answers that ASWB adjusts for each version of the exam; there is no fixed percent. Our practice test is 110 scored questions plus 12 unscored, split 36/32/32 like the 2026 Clinical outline, passing at 70%.
Here: 635 questions. Our own practice questions, written from the NASW Code of Ethics (2021), the HIPAA Privacy Rule, 42 CFR Part 2, SAMHSA Treatment Improvement Protocols, the Child Welfare Information Gateway, CDC, NIMH and federal law, with every answer's source named. Topics are the three content areas of the 2026 ASWB Clinical exam outline. Not ASWB's test questions. Free.
"On the test" is the rough share of a 110-question test for each topic, following the exam's published weights.
10 sample questions
A client signed a release last month allowing the social worker to share updates with her primary care doctor. Today she says she wants to take it back. What should the social worker do?
A.Explain that a signed release cannot be undone once it is filed in the record
B.Honor the request in writing and stop sharing from now on
C.Keep sharing until the doctor confirms that he no longer needs any updates at all
D.Ask the doctor to return or destroy every update that was already sent to his office
Show answer
B. Honor the request in writing and stop sharing from now on
LCSW-1 · I. Values and Ethics
An adult client grew up with a parent in prison, a mother with depression and frequent moves, and now has diabetes and heart disease at 42. Which research finding helps explain the link?
A.Childhood stress affects mental health in adulthood, but it has no effect on physical health
B.Adverse childhood experiences are associated with higher rates of chronic disease in adulthood
C.Frequent moves in childhood protect against later illness by building early resilience to stress
D.Heart disease at a young age is almost always genetic and unrelated to the client's life history
Show answer
B. Adverse childhood experiences are associated with higher rates of chronic disease in adulthood
LCSW-226 · II. Assessment and Planning
A social worker who started a support group for single fathers gradually hands over planning and leading the meetings to the members. Which approach does this reflect?
A.Termination of the helping role
B.A purely educational group model
C.Empowerment through mutual aid
D.Avoidance of professional duties
Show answer
C. Empowerment through mutual aid
LCSW-428 · III. Intervention and Practice
The parents of a 9-year-old have signed consent for counseling. What else should the social worker seek from the child?
A.Nothing more, since a child that young has no role in decisions about his care
B.The child's assent, after explaining counseling in words he can understand
C.A signed consent form from the child, which is legally required at age nine
D.A promise from the child to tell his parents everything that is said in sessions
Show answer
B. The child's assent, after explaining counseling in words he can understand
LCSW-2 · I. Values and Ethics
An Indigenous elder describes grief, anger and substance use across three generations of his family, which he connects to the boarding schools his grandparents were forced to attend. This is best described as:
A.Acute stress disorder
B.Adjustment disorder
C.Complicated bereavement
D.Historical trauma
Show answer
D. Historical trauma
LCSW-227 · II. Assessment and Planning
A team describes a client as "noncompliant" because she skips medication appointments to keep her cleaning job. How would a strengths-based worker reframe this?
A.She is working hard to keep her job, and her schedule needs to fit that
B.She is resistant to treatment, so her case should be closed for now
C.She lacks insight into her illness and needs more education about it first
D.She does not care about her health, so the team should not push her
Show answer
A. She is working hard to keep her job, and her schedule needs to fit that
LCSW-429 · III. Intervention and Practice
At intake, a client asks whether counseling could have any downsides. What is the BEST answer?
A.Tell her counseling has no risks, since she should not be scared away from the help she clearly needs
B.Say that risks are only discussed with clients after the first few sessions have taken place
C.Explain that only medication carries any risk, which is why she should try counseling first
D.Be honest that talking about painful things can feel worse for a while, and describe other options
Show answer
D. Be honest that talking about painful things can feel worse for a while, and describe other options
LCSW-3 · I. Values and Ethics
SAMHSA describes individual trauma as resulting from an event, series of events or circumstances. What are the "three E's" in its concept of trauma?
A.Emotion, empathy and education
B.Event, experience and effects
C.Evaluation, engagement and exit
D.Exposure, escape and endurance
Show answer
B. Event, experience and effects
LCSW-228 · II. Assessment and Planning
In the middle of a session, a client says sharply, "You just don't get it." What is the social worker's BEST response?
A."Let's move on, since getting upset won't help us with your goals."
B."Help me understand what I'm missing. I'd like to get this right."
C."Maybe you would do better with a different social worker, then."
D."I have years of training, so I think I understand you quite well."
Show answer
B. "Help me understand what I'm missing. I'd like to get this right."
LCSW-430 · III. Intervention and Practice
A man arrives for an outpatient intake slurring his words and smelling strongly of alcohol, and he wants to sign the consent forms. What should the social worker do?
A.Have his friend in the waiting room sign the consent forms on his behalf instead
B.Have him sign right away, since he came in by choice and that shows he wants the services
C.Refuse to see him again, since arriving intoxicated breaks the agency's rules
D.Make sure he is safe, then put off the consent and intake until he is sober enough to understand
Show answer
D. Make sure he is safe, then put off the consent and intake until he is sober enough to understand