Racial Disparities in Social Workers’ Licensing Rates

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed at examining how racial disparities in social workers’ licensing rates are explained by the major sources of the disparities: racial differences in educational eligibilities, the field of practice, and demographic vulnerabilities of social workers. Methods Drawing a nationally representative sample of 3990 social workers from the Current Population Survey, this study tested how the probabilities of their licensing were explained by the major sources of racial disparities. Results For master’s level social workers, African American–White differences in the field of practice and the type of employers explained away the disparity in required licensing rates. The Hispanic–White and other race–White disparities were largely due to non-White social workers’ limited educational eligibilities and the states of residence that might have imposed varying occupational regulations. Conclusions As licensing disparities reflect socioeconomic injustice that confronts many non-White social workers, they call for more purposeful research and interventions within the profession.

Editorial: Does Racial Bias Exist in the ASWB Social Work Exams?

“…As illustrated in the baseball cartoon, BSW and MSW programs strike out and the ASWB exams follow the only possible path -striking out. Kim's (2022) data analysis supports the baseball analogy. More poignantly, all social workers must be held responsible for the continuation of institutional racism.…”

Racial Disparity in Social Work Licensure Exam Pass Rates

“…Using a national sample, she examined racial differences in licensure rates, based on structural barriers, such as disparate educational access to social work programs, varying state licensure regulations, sectors of social work practice, and occupational requirements for a social work license. What Kim (2022) found was that the significant variation in licensure rates between white and Hispanic as well as white and other races (e.g., Asian–Pacific Islander) could be explained by these structural barriers. Differences in licensure rates between African American and white social workers at the Master level were mitigated only by type of practice and type of employer.…”

Effects of Social Work Licensure Exemptions: Theoretical Propositions, Evidence, and Research Agendas

“…The social work licensing rate is reported to vary significantly by race/ethnicity both at the bachelor's and master's levels. While more than 64% of White master's social workers had a license, only 46.52% of African Americans, 54.44% of Hispanics, and 48.53% of social workers of other races did so at the master's level (Kim, 2022). The fact that race/ethnicity, a critical marker of experiences of historical marginalization in this country, is related to licensing rate corroborates the concern about potential classism within the licensed professions.…”

“…The fact that race/ethnicity, a critical marker of experiences of historical marginalization in this country, is related to licensing rate corroborates the concern about potential classism within the licensed professions. It is important to point out that African American social workers are more concentrated in state and local government agencies that usually grant licensure exemptions although this concentration may be related to broader labor market contexts (Kim, 2022). Again, time and cost burdens related to obtaining a license may be felt more acute among minoritized social workers with limited resources (Boutte-Queen, 2003), and the costs may be contributing to racial disparity in licensing rates.…”

“…Again, time and cost burdens related to obtaining a license may be felt more acute among minoritized social workers with limited resources (Boutte-Queen, 2003), and the costs may be contributing to racial disparity in licensing rates. Kim (2022) estimated that if as many African American social workers as White social workers are employed in settings that require licenses, the White and African American disparity in licensing rates at the master's level may not differ significantly. This indicates that the existence of exemptions and racial disparities in licensing rates may be related, and the cost and time barriers to licensing may be the mediating factor in the relationship between exemptions and racial disparity in licensing rates.…”