Date of Graduation

1996

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

The study explored the knowledge and perceptions of faculty of masters level schools of social work about social work licensure and the licensing examination and the interactions of social work faculty with boards of social work examiners. A questionnaire was mailed to 989 Council on Social Work Education members which queried their knowledge about licensure and the licensure examination and about their interaction with boards of social work examiners. 493 questionnaires were returned. Respondents thought licensure was important to the standing of social work as a profession, that licensure will have a long term impact on the profession and that social work licensure protected clients. African American respondents were much less likely to believe licensure protects clients than were Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian American or Native American respondents. The respondents did not believe that licensure had improved the quality of social work education. The respondents thought students were concerned about the licensure examination. Most knew little about the content of the licensure exam. They believed that the examination was a partially accurate indicator of social work competence. Respondents had little involvement with the board of social work examiners. The faculty studied believed that although schools of social work and boards of social work examiners have had little to do with each other, they should explore issues of mutual interest and find ways to work together.

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