LCSW Study Guide 2025-2026 - Social Work Secrets Prep [4th
Edition]
LCSW Study Guide 2025–2026 — Questions 1–30
I. Ethics & Professional Issues
1. Which principle emphasizes promoting clients’ well-being and preventing harm?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Justice
D) Fidelity
✔ Correct Answer: B — Beneficence
Rationale: Beneficence focuses on actions that promote good and prevent harm to clients.
2. Which ethical principle supports clients making their own decisions?
A) Nonmaleficence
B) Autonomy
C) Justice
D) Beneficence
✔ Correct Answer: B — Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy emphasizes respect for clients’ right to self-determination.
3. Dual relationships are generally considered:
A) Acceptable if beneficial
B) Ethical without restrictions
C) Potentially harmful and to be avoided
D) Required in clinical practice
✔ Correct Answer: C — Potentially harmful and to be avoided
Rationale: Dual relationships can impair professional judgment and client welfare.
4. Confidentiality in social work can be broken when:
A) Client shares personal information
B) Client poses a risk of harm to self or others
C) Client asks for advice
D) Client is late to sessions
✔ Correct Answer: B — Client poses a risk of harm to self or others
Rationale: Social workers are mandated to report imminent danger while generally maintaining
confidentiality.
, 5. Which ethical principle emphasizes fairness and equitable access to services?
A) Justice
B) Fidelity
C) Beneficence
D) Autonomy
✔ Correct Answer: A — Justice
Rationale: Justice ensures fair treatment and equal access to resources.
6. A social worker witnesses a colleague engaging in unethical behavior. The first step should be:
A) Ignore it
B) Report it according to agency policy
C) Publicly confront the colleague
D) Encourage the client to report
✔ Correct Answer: B — Report it according to agency policy
Rationale: Social workers must follow professional guidelines for addressing colleague misconduct.
7. Fidelity in social work means:
A) Keeping promises and maintaining trust
B) Acting only for self-interest
C) Providing services only to certain groups
D) Ignoring conflicts of interest
✔ Correct Answer: A — Keeping promises and maintaining trust
Rationale: Fidelity emphasizes reliability, honesty, and honoring commitments.
8. When working with minors, consent for treatment typically requires:
A) Parent/guardian consent
B) Child consent only
C) Peer consent
D) Social worker discretion
✔ Correct Answer: A — Parent/guardian consent
Rationale: Minors usually require legal guardian consent, except in specific cases allowed by law.
9. Which scenario is an example of informed consent?
A) Client is told the risks, benefits, and alternatives before starting treatment
B) Client is not informed of treatment methods
C) Client is coerced into services
D) Social worker assumes understanding
✔ Correct Answer: A — Client is told the risks, benefits, and alternatives before starting treatment
Rationale: Informed consent requires clear communication of treatment details for voluntary
agreement.
Edition]
LCSW Study Guide 2025–2026 — Questions 1–30
I. Ethics & Professional Issues
1. Which principle emphasizes promoting clients’ well-being and preventing harm?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Justice
D) Fidelity
✔ Correct Answer: B — Beneficence
Rationale: Beneficence focuses on actions that promote good and prevent harm to clients.
2. Which ethical principle supports clients making their own decisions?
A) Nonmaleficence
B) Autonomy
C) Justice
D) Beneficence
✔ Correct Answer: B — Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy emphasizes respect for clients’ right to self-determination.
3. Dual relationships are generally considered:
A) Acceptable if beneficial
B) Ethical without restrictions
C) Potentially harmful and to be avoided
D) Required in clinical practice
✔ Correct Answer: C — Potentially harmful and to be avoided
Rationale: Dual relationships can impair professional judgment and client welfare.
4. Confidentiality in social work can be broken when:
A) Client shares personal information
B) Client poses a risk of harm to self or others
C) Client asks for advice
D) Client is late to sessions
✔ Correct Answer: B — Client poses a risk of harm to self or others
Rationale: Social workers are mandated to report imminent danger while generally maintaining
confidentiality.
, 5. Which ethical principle emphasizes fairness and equitable access to services?
A) Justice
B) Fidelity
C) Beneficence
D) Autonomy
✔ Correct Answer: A — Justice
Rationale: Justice ensures fair treatment and equal access to resources.
6. A social worker witnesses a colleague engaging in unethical behavior. The first step should be:
A) Ignore it
B) Report it according to agency policy
C) Publicly confront the colleague
D) Encourage the client to report
✔ Correct Answer: B — Report it according to agency policy
Rationale: Social workers must follow professional guidelines for addressing colleague misconduct.
7. Fidelity in social work means:
A) Keeping promises and maintaining trust
B) Acting only for self-interest
C) Providing services only to certain groups
D) Ignoring conflicts of interest
✔ Correct Answer: A — Keeping promises and maintaining trust
Rationale: Fidelity emphasizes reliability, honesty, and honoring commitments.
8. When working with minors, consent for treatment typically requires:
A) Parent/guardian consent
B) Child consent only
C) Peer consent
D) Social worker discretion
✔ Correct Answer: A — Parent/guardian consent
Rationale: Minors usually require legal guardian consent, except in specific cases allowed by law.
9. Which scenario is an example of informed consent?
A) Client is told the risks, benefits, and alternatives before starting treatment
B) Client is not informed of treatment methods
C) Client is coerced into services
D) Social worker assumes understanding
✔ Correct Answer: A — Client is told the risks, benefits, and alternatives before starting treatment
Rationale: Informed consent requires clear communication of treatment details for voluntary
agreement.
