LMSW Licensing Exam 2026 With
Questions And Correct Answers
1) A 35-year-old individual has recently experienced the death of a parent and the
loss of a job and has increased consumption of alcohol. Which of the following
areas should be assessed FIRST by the social worker?
A. Financial resource availability
B. Potential for suicidal behavior
C. Need for grief counseling
D. Extent of substance abuse - correct answer-B. Potential for suicidal
behavior
Rationale: FIRST, the social worker would act to determine the client's safety.
The only option that addresses the client's safety is (Key B.) Options a, C, & D
may be appropriate later, once the safety of the client has been addressed.
2) The ability to keep personal feelings and needs separate from work
relationships BEST represents which social work ethical standard?
A. Professional discretion
B. Responsibility to the profession
C. Professional Boundaries
D. Responsibility to colleagues - correct answer-C. Professional
Boundaries
,Rationale: This requires knowledge of the definition of professional boundaries
(key C). Since the question asks for the BEST response, the secondary
responsibilities in the other options are not correct.
3. A social worker has been treating a client for two months in an agency setting
and is experiencing intense sexual attraction toward the client. The social
worker's BEST response is to:
A. Consult with an agency supervisor about the case
B. Reveal the attraction to the client
C. Transfer the client to another agency worker
D. Work toward ending the client's services at the agency - correct answer-
A. Consult with an agency supervisor about the case
Rationale: Consulting with a supervisor (key A) is the BEST response because it
assists in helping to understand and address the situation. Options (B) & (D) are
clearly unethical. Transferring the client (C) may be done later, but it is unclear if
this action is required at this point and there is not enough information in the stem
to conclude this.
4. In a routine review of case records at a mental health center, a social worker
supervisor discovers that case managers routinely after all Native American/First
Nations clients to either Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon. In discussing this
practice with the case managers, the supervisor learns that the referrals are made
without obtaining information about the clients' use or abuse of substances. How
can the supervisor effectively address the practice?
A. Reprimand case managers about providing client services based on
stereotyping
B. Educate the staff about services provided by Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-
,Anon
C. Provide staff training in culturally competent social work practice.
D. Allow no referrals to be made without approval from the supervisor -
correct answer-C. Provide staff training about culturally competent social work
practice.
5. At an intake session, a client requests medication for sleep. Since
becoming unemployed, the client has used alcohol as a sedative. The client is
worried about finances and is afraid of being evicted. The social worker
should FIRST:
A. Refer the client for evaluation for sleep medication
B. Refer the client to public assistance
C. Obtain more information about the client's use of alcohol
D. Refer the client to the local unemployment office - correct answer-C.
Obtain more information about the client's use of alcohol
Rationale: While options A, B & D may all be appropriate actions for the social
worker to take, none would be the first. As a part of the assessment process, the
social worker needs to FIRST further explore the issue of alcohol use (key C).
6. A client with whom a social worker has worked for several years suddenly
dies. The social worker is very distressed by the death. During supervision, the
supervisor encourages expressional and ventilation of feelings. The supervisor
is providing:
A. Education
B. Consultation
, C. Therapy
D. Support - correct answer-D. Support
Rationale: The correct answer is (key D) because ventilation is one of the
techniques used in providing support.
7. A school-age boy is being beaten almost daily by his father, who has a drug
and alcohol problem for which he received no treatment. The boy solves his
school conflicts by punching and kicking younger children. The behavior is
BEST described as:
A. Identification with the abuser
B. Hostility toward peers
C. Conduct, disorder, childhood onset
D. Antisocial personality disorder - correct answer-A. Identification with the
abuser
Rationale: This item is a basic recall of cycle of abuse concepts and dynamics.
Option (D) is not reasonable given the information in the stem and is not
diagnosed until adulthood. He may be hostile toward peers (B), but it is because of
his identification with the abuser. Option (C) & (D) are not indicated and do not
BEST explain his behavior. (Key A) is the BEST descriptor of what is occurring.
8. Client Feedback That Indicates A Social Worker's Interpretation Is On Target
Is BEST Displayed When The Client:
A. Argues With The Social Worker
B. Changes The Subject
Questions And Correct Answers
1) A 35-year-old individual has recently experienced the death of a parent and the
loss of a job and has increased consumption of alcohol. Which of the following
areas should be assessed FIRST by the social worker?
A. Financial resource availability
B. Potential for suicidal behavior
C. Need for grief counseling
D. Extent of substance abuse - correct answer-B. Potential for suicidal
behavior
Rationale: FIRST, the social worker would act to determine the client's safety.
The only option that addresses the client's safety is (Key B.) Options a, C, & D
may be appropriate later, once the safety of the client has been addressed.
2) The ability to keep personal feelings and needs separate from work
relationships BEST represents which social work ethical standard?
A. Professional discretion
B. Responsibility to the profession
C. Professional Boundaries
D. Responsibility to colleagues - correct answer-C. Professional
Boundaries
,Rationale: This requires knowledge of the definition of professional boundaries
(key C). Since the question asks for the BEST response, the secondary
responsibilities in the other options are not correct.
3. A social worker has been treating a client for two months in an agency setting
and is experiencing intense sexual attraction toward the client. The social
worker's BEST response is to:
A. Consult with an agency supervisor about the case
B. Reveal the attraction to the client
C. Transfer the client to another agency worker
D. Work toward ending the client's services at the agency - correct answer-
A. Consult with an agency supervisor about the case
Rationale: Consulting with a supervisor (key A) is the BEST response because it
assists in helping to understand and address the situation. Options (B) & (D) are
clearly unethical. Transferring the client (C) may be done later, but it is unclear if
this action is required at this point and there is not enough information in the stem
to conclude this.
4. In a routine review of case records at a mental health center, a social worker
supervisor discovers that case managers routinely after all Native American/First
Nations clients to either Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon. In discussing this
practice with the case managers, the supervisor learns that the referrals are made
without obtaining information about the clients' use or abuse of substances. How
can the supervisor effectively address the practice?
A. Reprimand case managers about providing client services based on
stereotyping
B. Educate the staff about services provided by Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-
,Anon
C. Provide staff training in culturally competent social work practice.
D. Allow no referrals to be made without approval from the supervisor -
correct answer-C. Provide staff training about culturally competent social work
practice.
5. At an intake session, a client requests medication for sleep. Since
becoming unemployed, the client has used alcohol as a sedative. The client is
worried about finances and is afraid of being evicted. The social worker
should FIRST:
A. Refer the client for evaluation for sleep medication
B. Refer the client to public assistance
C. Obtain more information about the client's use of alcohol
D. Refer the client to the local unemployment office - correct answer-C.
Obtain more information about the client's use of alcohol
Rationale: While options A, B & D may all be appropriate actions for the social
worker to take, none would be the first. As a part of the assessment process, the
social worker needs to FIRST further explore the issue of alcohol use (key C).
6. A client with whom a social worker has worked for several years suddenly
dies. The social worker is very distressed by the death. During supervision, the
supervisor encourages expressional and ventilation of feelings. The supervisor
is providing:
A. Education
B. Consultation
, C. Therapy
D. Support - correct answer-D. Support
Rationale: The correct answer is (key D) because ventilation is one of the
techniques used in providing support.
7. A school-age boy is being beaten almost daily by his father, who has a drug
and alcohol problem for which he received no treatment. The boy solves his
school conflicts by punching and kicking younger children. The behavior is
BEST described as:
A. Identification with the abuser
B. Hostility toward peers
C. Conduct, disorder, childhood onset
D. Antisocial personality disorder - correct answer-A. Identification with the
abuser
Rationale: This item is a basic recall of cycle of abuse concepts and dynamics.
Option (D) is not reasonable given the information in the stem and is not
diagnosed until adulthood. He may be hostile toward peers (B), but it is because of
his identification with the abuser. Option (C) & (D) are not indicated and do not
BEST explain his behavior. (Key A) is the BEST descriptor of what is occurring.
8. Client Feedback That Indicates A Social Worker's Interpretation Is On Target
Is BEST Displayed When The Client:
A. Argues With The Social Worker
B. Changes The Subject
