ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate (2025): 73.9% First-Time, and What It Means for You
In 2025, 73.9% of the 20,636 ASWB Masters exams taken by first-time test-takers were passed (ASWB). Repeat test-takers passed 30.2% of the time, according to the U.S. and Canada comparison in ASWB's 2025 school reports.
| ASWB exam (2025, first-time) | Exams | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Masters (LMSW in most states) | 20,636 | 73.9% |
| Clinical | 26,439 | 75.7% |
| Bachelors | 2,741 | 70.4% |
| Associate | 407 | 71.5% |
| Advanced Generalist | 117 | 65.0% |
Source: ASWB 2025 summary report, all member jurisdictions. ASWB notes that rates are most representative for groups of more than 200 candidates.
The ASWB Masters exam pass rate is a fair first question when you prepare for the LMSW. The short answer: about three in four pass on the first try. The more useful answer: the LMSW exam pass rate drops sharply for retakers, varies a lot by state and school, and says little about your own odds until you know where you stand.
This guide uses only figures ASWB has published and explains what "passing" means and what the August 2026 format change may mean.
ASWB pass rates 2025 by exam category
The Masters exam had the second-highest first-time pass rate of ASWB's five exams in 2025, behind Clinical. The Advanced Generalist figure rests on only 117 exams, below ASWB's 200-candidate threshold, so read it loosely.
Bars run on a 0 to 100% scale. *117 exams only. Source: ASWB exam pass rates.
First-time vs repeat test-takers: the gap that matters most
ASWB's summary page shows first-time results only. Its 2025 school pass-rate summary reports, published in May 2026 and downloadable from the same page, include a United States and Canada comparison column that splits first-time and repeat results:
| 2025, United States and Canada | First-time | Repeat | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters | 73.9% | 30.2% | 57.9% |
| Clinical | 75.7% | 34.8% | 61.1% |
| Bachelors | 70.4% | 41.0% | 62.0% |
Source: national comparison rows in ASWB's 2025 school pass rate summary reports. ASWB notes that unsuccessful test-takers may repeat the exam more than once, so these rows count exams, not people.
Repeat takers passed less than half as often as first-time takers. The practical point: your first attempt is your best statistical shot, so don't treat it as a trial run.
There is good news in the longer view. ASWB's 2022 Exam Pass Rate Analysis found that 85.9% of Masters test-takers from 2011 to 2021 eventually passed, counting every attempt.
Is the Masters pass rate rising or falling?
Fairly flat, with a small rise since 2022:
| Year | First-time Masters pass rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 75.5% | 2022 ASWB Exam Pass Rate Analysis, Table C1 |
| 2019 | 74.0% | |
| 2020 | 75.3% | |
| 2021 | 73.0% | |
| 2022 | 72.1% (20,724 exams) | ASWB 2022 summary (archived) |
| 2023 | 72.5% (21,551 exams) | ASWB 2023 summary (archived) |
| 2024 | 73.0% (20,566 exams) | ASWB 2024 summary (archived) |
| 2025 | 73.9% (20,636 exams) | ASWB 2025 summary |
The 2018 to 2021 figures count each test-taker's first attempt; the 2022 to 2025 summaries count exams taken by first-time test-takers. They are close enough to show the direction, not to compare to the decimal.
The bigger shift came earlier: from 2011 to 2017, rates ran 80.4% to 83.3%. The 2022 analysis attributes the drop in 2018 most likely to that year's new blueprint.
How pass rates vary by state and school
The national number hides wide spreads. A study presented at the 2026 SSWR conference, using ASWB's 2018 to 2021 data for 294 MSW programs, found Masters pass rates varied by up to 47% across states and up to 72% across programs. ASWB's own state and province map shows rates were generally higher in the Northeast and Midwest over 2011 to 2021.
How to look up your school or state
- Go to ASWB's exam pass rates page.
- For a state, province or territory, pick the jurisdiction to download its PDF (2022 to 2025 data).
- For a school, pick the state, then the program. School reports show first-time, repeat and total results, plus jurisdiction and national comparison columns.
- Check the number of exams before you read the percentage. Small groups swing a lot from year to year.
A school report counts exams taken that year by people who attended the school, not a whole graduating class. The ASWB Examination Guidebook points out that degree programs and licensing exams have overlapping but separate goals, so graduating from an accredited program does not guarantee a pass.
The 2022 ASWB Exam Pass Rate Analysis: race, age and language
In August 2022, ASWB released its first in-depth analysis of exam pass rates by self-reported demographics. The psychometric firm HumRRO analyzed 2011 to 2021 data, with a focus on 2018 to 2021, when the previous blueprint was in use. For the Masters exam, the report found:
| Masters exam, 2018 to 2021 | First-time pass rate (average) | Eventual pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| White | 85.8% | 90.8% |
| Multiracial | 80% | 85.1% |
| Asian | 71% | 75.5% |
| Native American/Indigenous peoples | 64.4% | 72.2% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 63% | 71.2% |
| Black | 44.5% | 51.9% |
Source: 2022 ASWB Exam Pass Rate Analysis, Masters exam findings. Test-takers who chose not to report or wrote in their own identifiers were excluded.
The report found the same kind of pattern by age and language. Average first-time Masters pass rates were 77.2% for test-takers aged 18 to 29, 73.4% for 30 to 39, 67.4% for 40 to 49 and 65.8% for those 50 and older. Test-takers whose primary language was English passed at 75.1% on the first attempt, compared with 57.2% for those whose primary language was not English. Women and men were close (74.1% and 73.5%).
What the report said about causes
The report notes that similar gaps appear on other licensing exams, including nursing, pharmacy and law. It points to systemic factors outside the exam, such as unequal access to preparation resources, study time and money for fees, along with stereotype threat. On age, it suggests recent graduates may benefit from recent exam-focused instruction. It calls for more research rather than firm conclusions.
What ASWB has done since
- 2022: ASWB said it would review how exam questions are developed, offer free resources to educators and bring more voices into exam creation.
- 2024: ASWB published Pass rates in context, a three-part research series with Rutgers University researchers on factors behind the disparities.
- 2026: The new exams are built on blueprints from a practice analysis that drew on feedback from more than 25,000 social workers, and the new passing standard was set with a panel of more than 75 practicing social workers (ASWB 2026 blueprints). ASWB's exams for the future page commits to continuing to analyze pass rates.
Per the guidebook, every question gets sensitivity reviews and statistical analysis, and questions showing potential race or gender bias are deleted.
What "passing score" means on the ASWB Masters exam
ASWB does not publish a passing percentage, so any "you need 70%" figure is not official. Here is what the guidebook says:
- Results are pass/fail. Your score report shows the number of questions you needed to answer correctly and the number you got right.
- The cut point moves slightly by form. Exam versions differ a little in difficulty, so ASWB adjusts the number needed to pass (statistical equating). No one is advantaged by their form.
- Only scored questions count. From August 3, 2026, the exam has 122 questions, of which 110 are scored and 12 are unscored pretest questions mixed in. You can't tell which are which.
- The 2026 standard is new. A panel of more than 75 practitioners helped set the passing standard for the new exams.
- Your result travels. A passing or failing score is valid in all states and provinces for the same exam category.
Will the 2026 exam change the pass rate?
Nobody knows yet. The new format started on August 3, 2026, and as of this update ASWB has published no pass rates for it. Every number in this article comes from the old format: 170 questions, four content areas and four answer options per question.
The new Masters exam has 122 questions in two 61-question sections, three content areas instead of four, three- and four-option questions, and Values and Ethics as the largest area at 35%. Our 2026 exam changes guide walks through each change.
The only ASWB-documented precedent is 2018, when first-time Masters pass rates fell about 6 percent after a new blueprint. That is history, not a forecast. With a new outline and a newly set passing standard, we won't guess at a number.
If you don't pass: score report, 90-day wait and 10-point waiver
The guidebook notes that most social workers pass on their first try and that later attempts can succeed. Here is what to expect:
- Your score report is a study plan. If you fail, the unofficial report in ASWBCentral, available about 24 hours after the exam, shows how many questions you got right out of the total in each content area.
- You can't review the exam, and your next attempt will be a different form.
- Wait at least 90 days before retaking.
- The 10-point waiver: if your score was within 10 points of passing and your jurisdiction allows waivers, you can ask ASWB to waive the waiting period. You must wait 24 hours after the exam before requesting it.
- Check with your board. Some boards need to approve a retake, and some limit the number of attempts. You pay the exam fee again ($230 for the Masters exam).
- No partial credit across attempts. You must pass the whole exam in one sitting; content-area scores can't be combined.
How to raise your own odds
A national average is a backdrop, not a prediction. Three steps matter more:
- Start with a diagnostic. Take a short timed set before you build a plan, so you know which content area is weakest. Our free 10-question LMSW quick start works as a quick first check.
- Study by weight. On the 2026 Masters exam, Values and Ethics is 35%, Assessment and Planning 33% and Intervention and Practice 32%. Practice each area directly: Values and Ethics, Assessment and Planning and Intervention and Practice.
- Practice under time. Each 61-question section gets two hours, so you have nearly two minutes per question. Work timed sets, then read the explanation for every option.
For a week-by-week version, see our LMSW study plan. For last-minute review, the free LMSW cheat sheet puts the key facts on one page.
Find out where you stand before exam day.
FlashGenius has 600 LMSW practice questions, each with an explanation for every option. Start free with sample questions and the 10-question quick start. Premium unlocks the full bank and a timed 122-question simulation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass rate for the ASWB Masters exam?
In 2025, 73.9% of the 20,636 Masters exams taken by first-time test-takers were passed, according to ASWB. That figure covers all ASWB member jurisdictions. The Masters exam is the one most states use for the LMSW or an equivalent master's-level license.
What percentage of people pass the LMSW exam on the first try?
About three in four. ASWB reports a 73.9% first-time pass rate on the Masters exam for 2025. Your own chances depend on your preparation, not on the average, and rates vary by state and school.
What is the pass rate for repeat test-takers?
Much lower. ASWB's 2025 school reports list a United States and Canada repeat pass rate of 30.2% for the Masters exam, compared with 73.9% for first-time test-takers. That is why it pays to prepare well for the first attempt.
What score do you need to pass the ASWB Masters exam?
ASWB does not publish a fixed percentage. Scores are reported as pass or fail, and your score report shows the number of questions you needed to answer correctly and the number you did. That number shifts slightly from one exam form to another because of statistical equating.
How soon can I retake the ASWB Masters exam?
You must wait at least 90 days. If your score was within 10 points of passing and your jurisdiction allows it, you can request a waiver of the waiting period, but only 24 hours or more after your exam. Some boards also limit how many times you can retake.
Are pass rates for the new 2026 ASWB exam available?
Not yet. The new 122-question exams started on August 3, 2026, and as of October 2026 ASWB has only published 2025 figures, which come from the previous format. Treat any 2026 pass rate you see elsewhere with caution until ASWB publishes one.
Do ASWB pass rates differ by race and age?
Yes. ASWB's 2022 Exam Pass Rate Analysis found that, for 2018 to 2021, first-time Masters pass rates ranged from 85.8% for white test-takers to 44.5% for Black test-takers, and were higher for younger test-takers than older ones. The report points to systemic factors outside the exam, and ASWB has since published further research.
Related reading
- ASWB exam changes 2026: what's different on the new Masters exam
- How to pass the LMSW exam: a study plan for the 2026 format
- LMSW vs LCSW: license, exam and career differences
- ASWB exams: the 2026 guide to licensure
- LSW and LMSW license guide · LCSW (Clinical) practice tests
FlashGenius is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). ASWB is the source of the pass-rate data cited here. FlashGenius practice questions are original and are not ASWB exam items. License titles and requirements vary by state; confirm details with your state board.