LMSW
LMSW LICENSING EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS UPDATED (2024/2025)
(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
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 - ANS ✓D. Support
Rationale: The correct answer is (key D) because ventilation is one of the
techniques used in providing support.
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 - ANS ✓A. Identification with the abuser
1
LMSW LICENSING
,LMSW
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.
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 - ANS ✓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
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 - ANS ✓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.
2
LMSW LICENSING
,LMSW
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 - ANS ✓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).
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 -
ANS ✓D. Determine if the child can receive health care services near the home
3
LMSW LICENSING
, LMSW
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.
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
D. Ask about the meaning of the abortion to the client - ANS ✓D. Ask about
the meaning of the abortion to the client
Rationale: The social worker should start with the problem presented by
the client, which is depression. In assessing the depression, the worker
would ask the client to explain her feelings about the abortion (Key D).
Options A, B, & C may all be done later, but the FIRST action is to determine
the meaning of the abortion for the client.
An adoption social worker is involved in permanency planning for siblings
and wants to place them in the same home. One of the siblings is receiving
therapy and has severe behavioral problems that may make adoption
difficult. In conserving whether the siblings can be placed together, what
should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Plan for long-term placement based on the children's preference
B. Request a recommendation from the child's psychologist about
placement risks
C. Allow the children to remain in foster care until they can be adopted
together
4
LMSW LICENSING
LMSW LICENSING EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS UPDATED (2024/2025)
(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
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 - ANS ✓D. Support
Rationale: The correct answer is (key D) because ventilation is one of the
techniques used in providing support.
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 - ANS ✓A. Identification with the abuser
1
LMSW LICENSING
,LMSW
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.
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 - ANS ✓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
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 - ANS ✓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.
2
LMSW LICENSING
,LMSW
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 - ANS ✓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).
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 -
ANS ✓D. Determine if the child can receive health care services near the home
3
LMSW LICENSING
, LMSW
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.
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
D. Ask about the meaning of the abortion to the client - ANS ✓D. Ask about
the meaning of the abortion to the client
Rationale: The social worker should start with the problem presented by
the client, which is depression. In assessing the depression, the worker
would ask the client to explain her feelings about the abortion (Key D).
Options A, B, & C may all be done later, but the FIRST action is to determine
the meaning of the abortion for the client.
An adoption social worker is involved in permanency planning for siblings
and wants to place them in the same home. One of the siblings is receiving
therapy and has severe behavioral problems that may make adoption
difficult. In conserving whether the siblings can be placed together, what
should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Plan for long-term placement based on the children's preference
B. Request a recommendation from the child's psychologist about
placement risks
C. Allow the children to remain in foster care until they can be adopted
together
4
LMSW LICENSING
