LMSW LICENSING EXAM QUESTIONS
AND 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 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
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
C. Expresses anger at the social worker
D. Discusses related material –
D. Discusses related material
Rationale: The effectiveness of a response can be accessed through client reaction.
Continuing to stay on target in the discussion (Key D) indicates a good progression
9) A social worker administrator is responsible for record keeping at a large agency.
Which approach is MOST appropriate for maintaining client records?
A. Maintain all records for seven years following termination
B. Keep records indefinitely to assure their availability
C. Seek permission from clients for destruction of their records
D. Store records for the number of years required by law –
D. Store records for the number of years required by law
Rationale: Social workers are required to follow the laws of the jurisdictions in which
they practice. Such statutes vary in their requirements. Hence, the only option that is
correct is to maintain files for the length of time required by law (key D). Options A, B &
C might not apply in all locations.
, 10) A school social worker meets with a teenager who is increasingly frustrated and
disengaged in school. The student appears to be bright but unmotivated and does not
submit completed homework assignments. Meetings with the student have not resulted
in changes in the teen's behaviors. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Consider an alternative educational program for the student
B. Arrange for individual tutoring sessions for the teen
C. Refer the teen for evaluation by an educational psychologist
D. Create a behavioral self-monitoring plan with a student –
C. Refer the teen for evaluation by an educational psychologist
Rationale: This is an un-scored question. The fact that the student is noted as bright but
unmotivated may indicate a learning problem. Of the choices listed, (key C) is the
correct answer because the social worker has not been successful in the helping the
teen, and the problem may be more than behavioral (D).
11. A doctor notifies a hospital social work that a child with a chronic illness has not kept
any appointments in the past year and must be evaluated four times a year. The doctor
states that if the child does not come for the appointments, it will be considered medical
neglect by the parents. The social worker learns the mother has a physical disability and
lives over an hour away from the medical center. The mother asks if the child can be
treated at a local medical center instead. What is the MOST appropriate action for the
social worker to take?
A. Insist that the child go to at least four medical visits per year
B. Explore an alternative treatment schedule with the doctor
C. Empathize with the mother about limitations of her physical disability
D. Determine if the child can receive health care services near the home –
D. Determine if the child can receive health care services near the home
Rationale: The goal is to find a feasible way for the child to receive medical treatment.
Hence, A, B, & C are incorrect because none of them would remove the barriers to the
child's medical treatment. Finding health care services near the child's home (key D)
could potentially remove one of the perceived barriers.
12. A client is referred to a social worker regarding depression that began eight months
earlier. The client reports irritability, sleep problems, and loss of appetite. In exploring
the onset of the depression, the social worker learns that the client had an abortion nine
months ago. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Complete a comprehensive eating disorder assessment
B. Offer relations strategies to address sleep problems
C. Refer the client to a grief and bereavement group
AND 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 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
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
C. Expresses anger at the social worker
D. Discusses related material –
D. Discusses related material
Rationale: The effectiveness of a response can be accessed through client reaction.
Continuing to stay on target in the discussion (Key D) indicates a good progression
9) A social worker administrator is responsible for record keeping at a large agency.
Which approach is MOST appropriate for maintaining client records?
A. Maintain all records for seven years following termination
B. Keep records indefinitely to assure their availability
C. Seek permission from clients for destruction of their records
D. Store records for the number of years required by law –
D. Store records for the number of years required by law
Rationale: Social workers are required to follow the laws of the jurisdictions in which
they practice. Such statutes vary in their requirements. Hence, the only option that is
correct is to maintain files for the length of time required by law (key D). Options A, B &
C might not apply in all locations.
, 10) A school social worker meets with a teenager who is increasingly frustrated and
disengaged in school. The student appears to be bright but unmotivated and does not
submit completed homework assignments. Meetings with the student have not resulted
in changes in the teen's behaviors. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Consider an alternative educational program for the student
B. Arrange for individual tutoring sessions for the teen
C. Refer the teen for evaluation by an educational psychologist
D. Create a behavioral self-monitoring plan with a student –
C. Refer the teen for evaluation by an educational psychologist
Rationale: This is an un-scored question. The fact that the student is noted as bright but
unmotivated may indicate a learning problem. Of the choices listed, (key C) is the
correct answer because the social worker has not been successful in the helping the
teen, and the problem may be more than behavioral (D).
11. A doctor notifies a hospital social work that a child with a chronic illness has not kept
any appointments in the past year and must be evaluated four times a year. The doctor
states that if the child does not come for the appointments, it will be considered medical
neglect by the parents. The social worker learns the mother has a physical disability and
lives over an hour away from the medical center. The mother asks if the child can be
treated at a local medical center instead. What is the MOST appropriate action for the
social worker to take?
A. Insist that the child go to at least four medical visits per year
B. Explore an alternative treatment schedule with the doctor
C. Empathize with the mother about limitations of her physical disability
D. Determine if the child can receive health care services near the home –
D. Determine if the child can receive health care services near the home
Rationale: The goal is to find a feasible way for the child to receive medical treatment.
Hence, A, B, & C are incorrect because none of them would remove the barriers to the
child's medical treatment. Finding health care services near the child's home (key D)
could potentially remove one of the perceived barriers.
12. A client is referred to a social worker regarding depression that began eight months
earlier. The client reports irritability, sleep problems, and loss of appetite. In exploring
the onset of the depression, the social worker learns that the client had an abortion nine
months ago. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Complete a comprehensive eating disorder assessment
B. Offer relations strategies to address sleep problems
C. Refer the client to a grief and bereavement group
