Professional ethics is a foundational element of social work practice. This content area makes up approximately 15-18% of the ASWB Associate exam, focusing on the NASW Code of Ethics, ethical decision-making, professional boundaries, confidentiality, and ethical responsibilities.
Topics Covered in Ethics
The ASWB Associate exam tests various aspects of ethical knowledge, including:
- NASW Code of Ethics Principles
- Confidentiality and Privacy
- Informed Consent
- Professional Boundaries
- Ethical Decision-Making Models
- Mandatory Reporting Requirements
- Dual Relationships and Conflicts of Interest
Study Tips for Ethics Content
To effectively prepare for ethics questions:
- Review the NASW Code of Ethics – Understand the core values and ethical standards
- Learn ethical decision-making frameworks – Practice applying systematic approaches to ethical dilemmas
- Study confidentiality principles – Know exceptions to confidentiality and privacy regulations
- Understand professional boundaries – Recognize appropriate limits in client relationships
- Practice applying ethics to scenarios – Consider how ethical principles apply in various situations
Practice Test Instructions
- This practice test contains 30 multiple-choice questions
- Each question has one correct answer
- Read each question carefully before selecting your answer
- After completing the test, review the explanations for each correct answer
Ethics Practice Questions
Question 1
A social worker receives a call from a client’s family member requesting information about the client’s treatment progress. The client has not signed a release of information for this family member. What should the social worker do?
A) Share general information but not specific treatment details
B) Inform the family member that confidentiality prevents discussing the client’s treatment
C) Ask the family member to have the client call to give verbal permission
D) Share information since family involvement benefits treatment
Correct Answer: B) Inform the family member that confidentiality prevents discussing the client’s treatment
Explanation: The NASW Code of Ethics requires protecting client confidentiality. Without a signed release, the social worker cannot confirm or deny client involvement in services or share any treatment information.
Question 2
A social worker has been providing services to a client for several months. The client offers the social worker tickets to a concert as a thank you gift. According to ethical standards, the social worker should:
A) Accept the gift to avoid offending the client
B) Decline the gift but suggest a donation to the agency instead
C) Accept the gift only if its monetary value is minimal
D) Accept the gift but document it in the client’s record
Correct Answer: B) Decline the gift but suggest a donation to the agency instead
Explanation: The NASW Code of Ethics cautions about accepting gifts due to potential boundary issues. Concert tickets likely have significant monetary value, so declining while suggesting an alternative acknowledges the client’s gratitude while maintaining boundaries.
Question 3
A client discloses to a social worker that they have thoughts about harming their ex-spouse but has no specific plan. The MOST appropriate initial response would be to:
A) Immediately contact the ex-spouse to warn them
B) Break confidentiality and call the police immediately
C) Assess the seriousness of the threat and the client’s intent and capability
D) Tell the client that therapy cannot continue unless they promise not to act on these thoughts
Correct Answer: C) Assess the seriousness of the threat and the client’s intent and capability
Explanation: The duty to warn/protect requires assessing threats for specificity, imminence, and capability before breaching confidentiality. Since the client has thoughts but no specific plan, further assessment is needed to determine risk level.
Question 4
A social worker discovers that a client has been receiving similar services from another provider concurrently without informing either provider. The MOST appropriate action would be to:
A) Immediately terminate services with the client for being dishonest
B) Contact the other provider without the client’s knowledge to coordinate care
C) Discuss the situation with the client and address concerns about duplicate services
D) Continue services but document the client’s failure to disclose
Correct Answer: C) Discuss the situation with the client and address concerns about duplicate services
Explanation: Directly discussing the discovery with the client respects their autonomy while addressing the professional concern about potentially duplicative or conflicting services, allowing for informed decisions about coordination or continuation of services.
Question 5
A social worker is practicing in a small rural community and is invited to join a community board. The worker knows that several current clients are served by this organization. Which ethical consideration is MOST important in this situation?
A) Whether joining the board would enhance the social worker’s professional reputation
B) Whether the board position includes financial compensation
C) Whether the dual relationship might create conflicts of interest or exploitation
D) Whether other professionals in the community also serve on multiple boards
Correct Answer: C) Whether the dual relationship might create conflicts of interest or exploitation
Explanation: The NASW Code of Ethics emphasizes awareness of potential conflicts of interest in dual relationships. The primary consideration is whether board service affecting current clients could create conflicts, compromise professional judgment, or potentially exploit the relationship.
Question 6
A client tells a social worker about ongoing child abuse occurring in their neighbor’s home. According to ethical standards, the social worker should:
A) Maintain confidentiality since this information concerns a non-client
B) Report the suspected abuse to the appropriate child protective agency
C) Encourage the client to report the abuse but take no action themselves
D) Confront the alleged abuser directly
Correct Answer: B) Report the suspected abuse to the appropriate child protective agency
Explanation: Social workers have an ethical and typically legal obligation to report suspected child abuse regardless of whether the child is a client, as the duty to protect vulnerable populations overrides confidentiality concerns.
Question 7
A social worker is uncomfortable working with a client who has values that conflict with the social worker’s personal beliefs. The MOST ethical course of action would be to:
A) Tell the client that their values are wrong and should be changed
B) Refer the client to another provider without explanation
C) Attempt to impose the social worker’s values on the client
D) Examine personal biases and consult with a supervisor about providing effective services
Correct Answer: D) Examine personal biases and consult with a supervisor about providing effective services
Explanation: The NASW Code of Ethics requires social workers to be aware of personal values and their impact on practice, seeking supervision to prevent imposing personal values while ensuring competent, objective service delivery.
Question 8
A social worker inadvertently discloses confidential information about a client during a community meeting. According to ethical standards, the social worker should:
A) Ignore the error since it was unintentional
B) Acknowledge the error to those present, discuss its implications, and take steps to minimize harm
C) Deny making the disclosure if questioned about it
D) Terminate services with the client to avoid further complications
Correct Answer: B) Acknowledge the error to those present, discuss its implications, and take steps to minimize harm
Explanation: The NASW Code of Ethics emphasizes taking responsibility for one’s actions. When mistakes occur, social workers should acknowledge them, address the implications, and take corrective action to minimize possible harm.
Question 9
A social worker is providing services to a teenager who discloses that they are sexually active. The teenager’s parents demand to know all details of the therapy sessions. The MOST ethical response would be to:
A) Disclose all information since the client is a minor
B) Refuse to share any information with the parents
C) Explain limits of confidentiality while balancing the teen’s right to privacy with parental rights
D) Tell the parents only about the sexual activity disclosure
Correct Answer: C) Explain limits of confidentiality while balancing the teen’s right to privacy with parental rights
Explanation: With minors, social workers must balance the client’s right to privacy with parents’ legal rights to certain information, explaining these limits clearly while maintaining appropriate confidentiality to the extent possible.
Question 10
A social worker notices a colleague making derogatory comments about clients. The MOST appropriate initial action would be to:
A) Report the colleague to the state licensing board immediately
B) Discuss concerns directly with the colleague
C) Ignore the behavior to avoid workplace conflict
D) Tell clients to request a different social worker
Correct Answer: B) Discuss concerns directly with the colleague
Explanation: The NASW Code of Ethics recommends addressing concerns directly with colleagues when possible before taking additional steps, using the least intrusive means of addressing ethical issues first.
Question 11
A social worker is working with a client who discloses suicidal ideation with a specific plan and intent. The MOST ethical action would be to:
A) Respect the client’s confidentiality and take no action
B) Take necessary steps to arrange for appropriate protection including possible hospitalization
C) Have the client sign a no-suicide contract and continue outpatient treatment
D) Inform only the client’s family without taking additional protective measures
Correct Answer: B) Take necessary steps to arrange for appropriate protection including possible hospitalization
Explanation: When clients present imminent risk of serious harm to themselves, the ethical obligation to protect life overrides confidentiality, requiring appropriate protective measures that may include hospitalization.
Question 12
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, which of the following client relationships would be considered a dual relationship that should be avoided?
A) Providing therapy to a client and also supervising the client’s case manager
B) Providing therapy to a client and attending the same large community event
C) Providing therapy to a client and dating the client’s sibling
D) Providing therapy to a client and accepting the client as a friend on social media
Correct Answer: D) Providing therapy to a client and accepting the client as a friend on social media
Explanation: Accepting a client as a social media friend creates a dual relationship by establishing a personal connection outside the professional relationship, potentially blurring boundaries and creating conflicts of interest.
Question 13
A social worker who works for a community agency wants to refer a client to their private practice. According to ethical standards, this action would be:
A) Acceptable as long as the client agrees
B) A conflict of interest that should be avoided
C) Acceptable if the agency has no policy against it
D) Appropriate if the client needs specialized services
Correct Answer: B) A conflict of interest that should be avoided
Explanation: Self-referral from an agency position to one’s private practice represents a conflict of interest by potentially using the agency position for personal gain and possibly exploiting the established relationship with the client.
Question 14
A client asks a social worker about their religious beliefs. The MOST appropriate response would be to:
A) Share detailed information about personal religious practices
B) Refuse to answer and change the subject immediately
C) Briefly respond while redirecting focus to how this relates to the client’s concerns
D) Tell the client that such questions are inappropriate
Correct Answer: C) Briefly respond while redirecting focus to how this relates to the client’s concerns
Explanation: This response acknowledges the client’s question without inappropriate self-disclosure, maintaining focus on the client’s needs while exploring how the question relates to their therapeutic concerns.
Question 15
A social worker is asked to provide written documentation for a client’s disability accommodation request. The client pressures the worker to exaggerate symptoms to ensure approval. The MOST ethical response would be to:
A) Refuse to provide any documentation
B) Provide accurate documentation based on professional assessment, explaining to the client why exaggeration is unethical
C) Exaggerate symptoms as requested since it helps the client
D) Suggest the client find another provider who will write what they want
Correct Answer: B) Provide accurate documentation based on professional assessment, explaining to the client why exaggeration is unethical
Explanation: Social workers must maintain honesty and integrity in documentation while explaining to clients the ethical obligation to provide accurate information, even when faced with pressure to do otherwise.
Question 16
Which of the following is an appropriate use of social media by a social worker?
A) Researching client backgrounds without their knowledge
B) Accepting client friend requests for therapeutic rapport-building
C) Maintaining separate professional and personal accounts with appropriate privacy settings
D) Posting anonymized client success stories to promote services
Correct Answer: C) Maintaining separate professional and personal accounts with appropriate privacy settings
Explanation: Maintaining separate accounts with strong privacy settings helps establish appropriate boundaries between personal and professional life while preventing inadvertent disclosure of personal information to clients.
Question 17
A social worker is considering disclosing confidential information about a client who may pose a danger to others. According to ethical standards, the disclosure should be:
A) As detailed as possible to everyone in the community
B) Limited to what is necessary, relevant, and to appropriate individuals only
C) Avoided entirely regardless of the potential risks
D) Made only to law enforcement authorities
Correct Answer: B) Limited to what is necessary, relevant, and to appropriate individuals only
Explanation: When breaching confidentiality is necessary to protect others, disclosure should be limited to essential information, shared only with appropriate parties who need to know, maintaining as much privacy as possible.
Question 18
A social worker learns that a colleague has been involved in a sexual relationship with a former client who terminated services two months ago. According to the NASW Code of Ethics, the social worker should:
A) Take no action since the person is no longer a client
B) Report the colleague to the appropriate licensing board or professional organization
C) Mind their own business as this is a personal matter
D) Confront the former client about the relationship
Correct Answer: B) Report the colleague to the appropriate licensing board or professional organization
Explanation: The NASW Code of Ethics prohibits sexual relationships with former clients for at least two years after termination and requires social workers to take appropriate action when aware of colleagues’ unethical conduct.
Question 19
A social worker is providing services to a victim of domestic violence. The MOST ethical approach to informed consent in this situation would be to:
A) Obtain consent once at the beginning of service provision
B) Waive informed consent due to the crisis nature of the situation
C) Discuss informed consent as an ongoing process, including benefits, risks, and alternatives
D) Have a supervisor obtain informed consent to save time
Correct Answer: C) Discuss informed consent as an ongoing process, including benefits, risks, and alternatives
Explanation: Informed consent is an ongoing process rather than a one-time event, particularly in domestic violence cases where safety risks and options may change, requiring regular discussion of benefits, risks, and alternatives.
Question 20
A social worker learns that a client is engaged in insurance fraud. The MOST ethical course of action would be to:
A) Immediately report the client to the insurance company
B) Discuss concerns with the client, clarify legal obligations, and explore options
C) Ignore the situation since it doesn’t directly impact treatment
D) Terminate services immediately without explanation
Correct Answer: B) Discuss concerns with the client, clarify legal obligations, and explore options
Explanation: This approach balances respect for the client with ethical responsibilities, allowing discussion of concerns, clarification of the social worker’s legal and ethical obligations, and exploration of appropriate responses.
Question 21
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, when a social worker has a conflict with their employer’s policies, they should:
A) Always follow employer policies regardless of ethical concerns
B) Immediately resign from the position
C) Attempt to address the conflict through appropriate channels within the organization
D) Comply with ethics and ignore employer policies that conflict
Correct Answer: C) Attempt to address the conflict through appropriate channels within the organization
Explanation: When facing conflicts between employer policies and ethical obligations, social workers should attempt to resolve them through appropriate organizational channels before considering more drastic measures.
Question 22
A client asks a social worker to serve as a character witness in a child custody case. The MOST ethical response would be to:
A) Agree to testify about the client’s parenting abilities based on observations
B) Explain the professional role limitations and potential conflicts involved in serving as a character witness
C) Agree only if the client’s attorney prepares the social worker for testimony
D) Serve as a witness only if ordered by the court
Correct Answer: B) Explain the professional role limitations and potential conflicts involved in serving as a character witness
Explanation: Social workers should avoid serving as character witnesses as this can conflict with the professional role, potentially compromise objectivity, and create boundary issues, requiring clear explanation to clients about these role limitations.
Question 23
When maintaining client records, a social worker should:
A) Include detailed subjective impressions and personal opinions
B) Store records in a publicly accessible location for transparency
C) Document objectively with relevant information and secure records appropriately
D) Destroy records immediately after termination of services
Correct Answer: C) Document objectively with relevant information and secure records appropriately
Explanation: Ethical record-keeping involves objective documentation of relevant information, avoiding excessive personal opinions, and maintaining appropriate security measures to protect confidentiality while retaining records for required periods.
Question 24
A social worker is asked to provide services outside their area of competence. The MOST ethical action would be to:
A) Accept the case but read a book on the subject first
B) Decline and refer to a qualified professional
C) Accept the case but charge a lower fee
D) Accept the case only if the client signs a waiver
Correct Answer: B) Decline and refer to a qualified professional
Explanation: Social workers should practice within their areas of competence and refer clients to other professionals when the client’s needs fall outside their expertise, ensuring clients receive appropriate, competent services.
Question 25
A social worker notices that a community program is discriminating against certain ethnic groups. According to the NASW Code of Ethics, the social worker should:
A) Ignore the situation since it doesn’t directly involve their clients
B) Privately express concern to colleagues but take no formal action
C) Work to eliminate the discriminatory practices through appropriate channels
D) Advise clients to avoid the program without explaining why
Correct Answer: C) Work to eliminate the discriminatory practices through appropriate channels
Explanation: Social workers have an ethical obligation to challenge social injustice, including discrimination, by working through appropriate channels to address and eliminate discriminatory practices in programs and institutions.
Question 26
According to ethical standards, technology-based social work services (like telehealth) require:
A) The same ethical standards as face-to-face services, with additional attention to privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent
B) Lower expectations for confidentiality since technology is inherently less secure
C) No special ethical considerations beyond those for traditional services
D) Avoiding discussion of sensitive topics that might be compromised
Correct Answer: A) The same ethical standards as face-to-face services, with additional attention to privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent
Explanation: Technology-based services are subject to the same ethical standards as traditional services, plus additional considerations for technology-specific privacy risks, security measures, and informed consent about these potential issues.
Question 27
A social worker strongly disagrees with a client’s decision that appears legal but potentially harmful. The MOST ethical approach would be to:
A) Refuse to continue working with the client
B) Explore the decision with the client, express concerns, provide information, and respect autonomy
C) Contact the client’s family to intervene
D) Make the decision for the client based on professional judgment
Correct Answer: B) Explore the decision with the client, express concerns, provide information, and respect autonomy
Explanation: This approach balances respect for client self-determination with professional responsibility, allowing the social worker to provide information and express concerns while ultimately respecting the client’s right to make their own legal decisions.
Question 28
A social worker’s personal values conflict with the professional value of client self-determination in a specific case. The MOST ethical response would be to:
A) Impose personal values since they reflect moral truth
B) Seek supervision, examine biases, and focus on professional values and ethics
C) Avoid discussing the issue where values conflict
D) Refer the client immediately without explaining why
Correct Answer: B) Seek supervision, examine biases, and focus on professional values and ethics
Explanation: When personal values conflict with professional values, social workers should seek supervision, examine their biases, and prioritize professional ethical obligations and values to ensure effective, objective service.
Question 29
A client asks a social worker for advice about whether to divorce their spouse. The MOST ethical response would be to:
A) Tell the client what the social worker would do in that situation
B) Provide a direct yes or no recommendation based on case details
C) Help the client explore options, potential consequences, and their own values
D) Refuse to discuss the topic since it involves legal matters
Correct Answer: C) Help the client explore options, potential consequences, and their own values
Explanation: Rather than making decisions for clients, social workers should help them explore options, potential consequences, and their own values to make informed decisions aligned with their goals and circumstances.
Question 30
A social worker discovers a colleague is impaired due to substance use, affecting their work with clients. The MOST ethical initial action would be to:
A) Report the colleague anonymously to the licensing board
B) Discuss concerns directly with the colleague and encourage them to seek help
C) Tell the colleague’s clients about the impairment
D) Ignore the situation to maintain workplace harmony
Correct Answer: B) Discuss concerns directly with the colleague and encourage them to seek help
Explanation: The NASW Code of Ethics recommends addressing concerns directly with colleagues when possible, while encouraging them to seek help. If this doesn’t resolve the issue or clients are at risk, further steps may be necessary.
Next Steps
Now that you’ve completed the Ethics practice test, continue your ASWB Associate exam preparation by:
- Reviewing the explanations for any questions you missed
- Studying the NASW Code of Ethics and ethical decision-making models
- Exploring our other content area practice tests: