NH SOCIAL WORK JURISPRUDENCE EXAMINATION
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR JUST RELEASED
Tested Coverage Areas
Licensure categories and scope of practice: Differences among LSW, LICSW, and other
credentialed social work roles under New Hampshire law.
Confidentiality and privileged communication: Legal requirements for protecting client
information and permitted disclosures.
Informed consent: Requirements for obtaining and documenting consent before providing social
work services.
Mandated reporting: Duties related to reporting child abuse, abuse of vulnerable adults, and
threats of harm.
Professional boundaries and dual relationships: Avoiding conflicts of interest, exploitation, and
inappropriate relationships with clients.
Record keeping and documentation: Standards for creating, maintaining, storing, and releasing
client records.
Supervision requirements: Legal standards for supervision of applicants, associates, and
supervisees.
Disciplinary actions and board authority: Grounds for complaints, investigations, sanctions, and
license denial or suspension.
Ethical standards incorporated into law: Relationship between NASW ethics and enforceable
New Hampshire regulations.
Telehealth and interstate practice: Requirements for practicing electronically and serving clients
located in New Hampshire.
NH Social Work Jurisprudence Examination
Question 1
Which statement best describes the primary purpose of New Hampshire social
work jurisprudence laws protecting the public?
A. Increasing insurance reimbursement for social workers
B. Protecting the public through regulation of competent professional practice
C. Expanding social work employment opportunities statewide
,D. Reducing documentation requirements for behavioral health providers
Answer: B
Rationale: The fundamental purpose of professional licensure laws is public
protection through regulation of qualifications, competence, conduct, and
accountability of licensed practitioners.
Question 2
A New Hampshire social worker should practice only within areas in which the
practitioner has appropriate education, training, and supervised experience.
A. True
B. False
C. Only for independent practice
D. Only when billing insurance
Answer: A
Rationale: Scope of competence is a core legal and ethical requirement. Practicing
beyond one’s competence may constitute professional misconduct and endanger
clients.
Question 3
When obtaining informed consent from a competent adult client, which
information is most important to discuss before beginning services?
A. The social worker’s vacation schedule only
B. Risks, benefits, alternatives, fees, and limits of confidentiality
C. Personal political beliefs of the social worker
D. Future employment opportunities for the client
Answer: B
,Rationale: Valid informed consent requires disclosure of essential information
enabling the client to make a knowledgeable voluntary decision about treatment.
Question 4
A social worker receives a subpoena requesting client records. What is the most
appropriate initial action in many situations?
A. Immediately send the complete record
B. Ignore the subpoena entirely
C. Review legal requirements and confidentiality obligations before disclosure
D. Destroy the record to protect confidentiality
Answer: C
Rationale: A subpoena does not always require immediate disclosure. The
practitioner should evaluate client authorization, privilege, court orders, and
applicable laws.
Question 5
Under New Hampshire professional standards, documentation should generally
be completed in a timely, accurate, and objective manner.
A. True
B. False
C. Only when required by insurance
D. Only for involuntary clients
Answer: A
Rationale: Timely and objective documentation supports continuity of care, legal
compliance, professional accountability, and effective supervision and review.
Question 6
, Which situation presents the greatest concern regarding professional boundaries
and potential client exploitation?
A. Referring a client to another qualified provider
B. Accepting substantial gifts from a current psychotherapy client
C. Providing a written treatment summary upon request
D. Consulting with a supervisor about a difficult case
Answer: B
Rationale: Significant gifts may impair professional judgment, create expectations,
and increase the risk of exploitation or inappropriate dual relationships.
Question 7
A social worker suspects that a child is being abused but lacks absolute proof.
What is the best legal response?
A. Wait until the abuse is confirmed beyond doubt
B. Report based on reasonable suspicion as required by law
C. Ask the child to confront the alleged offender first
D. Promise the family that no report will be made
Answer: B
Rationale: Mandated reporting laws generally require reporting when there is
reasonable suspicion, not certainty, of abuse or neglect.
Question 8
Confidential information may generally be shared without client authorization
when disclosure is required by law or necessary to prevent serious harm.
A. True
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR JUST RELEASED
Tested Coverage Areas
Licensure categories and scope of practice: Differences among LSW, LICSW, and other
credentialed social work roles under New Hampshire law.
Confidentiality and privileged communication: Legal requirements for protecting client
information and permitted disclosures.
Informed consent: Requirements for obtaining and documenting consent before providing social
work services.
Mandated reporting: Duties related to reporting child abuse, abuse of vulnerable adults, and
threats of harm.
Professional boundaries and dual relationships: Avoiding conflicts of interest, exploitation, and
inappropriate relationships with clients.
Record keeping and documentation: Standards for creating, maintaining, storing, and releasing
client records.
Supervision requirements: Legal standards for supervision of applicants, associates, and
supervisees.
Disciplinary actions and board authority: Grounds for complaints, investigations, sanctions, and
license denial or suspension.
Ethical standards incorporated into law: Relationship between NASW ethics and enforceable
New Hampshire regulations.
Telehealth and interstate practice: Requirements for practicing electronically and serving clients
located in New Hampshire.
NH Social Work Jurisprudence Examination
Question 1
Which statement best describes the primary purpose of New Hampshire social
work jurisprudence laws protecting the public?
A. Increasing insurance reimbursement for social workers
B. Protecting the public through regulation of competent professional practice
C. Expanding social work employment opportunities statewide
,D. Reducing documentation requirements for behavioral health providers
Answer: B
Rationale: The fundamental purpose of professional licensure laws is public
protection through regulation of qualifications, competence, conduct, and
accountability of licensed practitioners.
Question 2
A New Hampshire social worker should practice only within areas in which the
practitioner has appropriate education, training, and supervised experience.
A. True
B. False
C. Only for independent practice
D. Only when billing insurance
Answer: A
Rationale: Scope of competence is a core legal and ethical requirement. Practicing
beyond one’s competence may constitute professional misconduct and endanger
clients.
Question 3
When obtaining informed consent from a competent adult client, which
information is most important to discuss before beginning services?
A. The social worker’s vacation schedule only
B. Risks, benefits, alternatives, fees, and limits of confidentiality
C. Personal political beliefs of the social worker
D. Future employment opportunities for the client
Answer: B
,Rationale: Valid informed consent requires disclosure of essential information
enabling the client to make a knowledgeable voluntary decision about treatment.
Question 4
A social worker receives a subpoena requesting client records. What is the most
appropriate initial action in many situations?
A. Immediately send the complete record
B. Ignore the subpoena entirely
C. Review legal requirements and confidentiality obligations before disclosure
D. Destroy the record to protect confidentiality
Answer: C
Rationale: A subpoena does not always require immediate disclosure. The
practitioner should evaluate client authorization, privilege, court orders, and
applicable laws.
Question 5
Under New Hampshire professional standards, documentation should generally
be completed in a timely, accurate, and objective manner.
A. True
B. False
C. Only when required by insurance
D. Only for involuntary clients
Answer: A
Rationale: Timely and objective documentation supports continuity of care, legal
compliance, professional accountability, and effective supervision and review.
Question 6
, Which situation presents the greatest concern regarding professional boundaries
and potential client exploitation?
A. Referring a client to another qualified provider
B. Accepting substantial gifts from a current psychotherapy client
C. Providing a written treatment summary upon request
D. Consulting with a supervisor about a difficult case
Answer: B
Rationale: Significant gifts may impair professional judgment, create expectations,
and increase the risk of exploitation or inappropriate dual relationships.
Question 7
A social worker suspects that a child is being abused but lacks absolute proof.
What is the best legal response?
A. Wait until the abuse is confirmed beyond doubt
B. Report based on reasonable suspicion as required by law
C. Ask the child to confront the alleged offender first
D. Promise the family that no report will be made
Answer: B
Rationale: Mandated reporting laws generally require reporting when there is
reasonable suspicion, not certainty, of abuse or neglect.
Question 8
Confidential information may generally be shared without client authorization
when disclosure is required by law or necessary to prevent serious harm.
A. True
