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New Mexico LISW Licensing EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST
RELEASED
New Mexico LISW Licensing Exam:
10-Line Exam Coverage Summary
1. LISW Licensure Requirements – Minimum age 18, hold active LMSW license, complete
3,600 post-graduate hours over no more than 60 months, document 90 supervision
hours (min 70 direct, max 20 group, max 30 interdisciplinary), pass ASWB
Clinical/Advanced exam (≥70%), pass Jurisprudence Exam (≥70%), complete NM Cultures
course, provide criminal conviction disclosure
2. Scope of Practice & Independent Authority – LISW/LCSW is highest licensure level,
authorized for independent practice and private practice, can diagnose and treat
mental/emotional/behavioral disorders, exercise independent judgment, supervise
LBSWs/LMSWs/other LCSWs/LISWs, and employ practice theory/research findings
3. LBSW/LMSW Practice Limitations – LBSW and LMSW cannot practice as independent
private practitioners; LMSWs must operate under supervision in agency settings;
independent diagnosis/treatment of mental disorders is reserved for LCSW/LISW level
only
4. Mandatory Reporting (Strict Liability) – Child abuse/neglect and incapacitated adult
abuse must be reported immediately to appropriate authorities; this
duty supersedes confidentiality privileges; failure to report constitutes grounds for
disciplinary action
5. Duty to Warn/Protect – Exception to confidentiality exists when there is a clear,
substantial risk of imminent serious physical harm or death; does NOT apply to
property damage; risk assessment and safety planning are required
6. Continuing Education – 30/6/0 Rule – 30 hours biennially; exactly 6 hours in cultural
awareness; zero carryover permitted; max 10 self-directed hours; social workers are
exempt from specific ethics CE requirement
7. Client Records & Confidentiality – Minimum retention 7 years, or 3 years after minor
reaches age of majority (21), whichever is longer; psychotherapy process notes are
exempt from client access rights; subpoenas require legal counsel consultation; client
records belong to client with right to access (with exceptions for substantial harm)
8. Prohibited Practices & Conduct – Conversion therapy on minors is explicitly
prohibited and constitutes automatic grounds for license revocation; sexual
relationships with current or former clients are unequivocally prohibited; unlicensed
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practice is criminal misdemeanor with fines and civil penalties; dual relationships that
impair judgment or risk exploitation must be avoided
9. Provisional Licensure & ASWB Exam – One-year provisional license issued while
awaiting ASWB exam; only one provisional license per level; ASWB exam approval
processed only after completed application received; unlimited retakes with new
application/fee; 90-day wait before retake after failed exam
10. Regulatory & Disciplinary Framework – Primary law is Social Work Practice Act (61-31
NMSA 1978); Board of Social Work Examiners under RLD; biennial renewal with $200 fee
for LISW/LCSW; initial licensure fee $125; disciplinary authority includes unprofessional
conduct, discrimination, fraud, abuse, sexual contact; SW Interstate Compact enacted
2025 for multistate practice
200 Practice Questions
SECTION 1: LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS (1-40)
Question 1
An applicant for LISW licensure in New Mexico must be at least what age, and what is the
statutory basis for this requirement?
A) 16 years old, as specified in the Social Work Practice Act
B) 18 years old, as specified in NMAC 16.63.11.8
C) 21 years old, as specified in NMAC 16.63.8.11
D) 25 years old, as specified in ASWB examination requirements
Answer: B
Rationale: Applicants for licensure as independent/clinical social workers must be at least 18
years of age under NMAC 16.63.11.8(A). This is a foundational requirement for all levels of
social work licensure in New Mexico .
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Question 2
An LMSW in New Mexico has accumulated 3,600 post-graduate hours but took 6.5 years to
complete them due to personal circumstances. Is this candidate eligible for LISW licensure? Why
or why not?
A) Yes, because the 3,600-hour requirement has been met regardless of time frame
B) No, because the 3,600 hours must be accumulated over no more than a 60-month (5-year)
period
C) Yes, because the Board can grant extensions for personal circumstances
D) No, because LISW requires 4,000 hours, not 3,600
Answer: B
Rationale: Under NMAC 16.63.11.8(F), individuals aspiring to LISW/LCSW licensure must
complete and document 3,600 hours of licensed masters level social work experience
accumulated over no more than a 60-month period. Exceeding this timeframe makes the
candidate ineligible .
Question 3
A social worker has completed 3,600 post-graduate hours and 90 supervision hours for LISW
licensure. However, only 65 of the 90 supervision hours were direct (individual) supervision. Is
this applicant eligible?
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A) Yes, because 90 total supervision hours have been met
B) Yes, because direct supervision hours can be substituted with group supervision
C) No, because at least 70 of the 90 required hours must be obtained through direct supervision
D) No, because LISW requires 100 supervision hours total
Answer: C
Rationale: Under NMAC 16.63.11.8(G)(2), at least 70 of the 90 required supervision hours must
be obtained through direct (individual) supervision. With only 65 direct hours, the applicant fails
to meet the minimum requirement .
Question 4
An applicant for LISW licensure has completed 85 of their 90 supervision hours through a
combination of individual and group supervision. However, 25 of these hours were obtained
through group supervision with 8 participants per session. Is this acceptable?
A) Yes, because group supervision can be counted without limitation
B) No, because no more than 20 hours may be obtained through group supervision AND no
more than 6 individuals may be in a group at a time
C) No, because group supervision is not permitted for LISW applicants
D) Yes, because the total supervision hours requirement is met
Answer: B
New Mexico LISW Licensing EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST
RELEASED
New Mexico LISW Licensing Exam:
10-Line Exam Coverage Summary
1. LISW Licensure Requirements – Minimum age 18, hold active LMSW license, complete
3,600 post-graduate hours over no more than 60 months, document 90 supervision
hours (min 70 direct, max 20 group, max 30 interdisciplinary), pass ASWB
Clinical/Advanced exam (≥70%), pass Jurisprudence Exam (≥70%), complete NM Cultures
course, provide criminal conviction disclosure
2. Scope of Practice & Independent Authority – LISW/LCSW is highest licensure level,
authorized for independent practice and private practice, can diagnose and treat
mental/emotional/behavioral disorders, exercise independent judgment, supervise
LBSWs/LMSWs/other LCSWs/LISWs, and employ practice theory/research findings
3. LBSW/LMSW Practice Limitations – LBSW and LMSW cannot practice as independent
private practitioners; LMSWs must operate under supervision in agency settings;
independent diagnosis/treatment of mental disorders is reserved for LCSW/LISW level
only
4. Mandatory Reporting (Strict Liability) – Child abuse/neglect and incapacitated adult
abuse must be reported immediately to appropriate authorities; this
duty supersedes confidentiality privileges; failure to report constitutes grounds for
disciplinary action
5. Duty to Warn/Protect – Exception to confidentiality exists when there is a clear,
substantial risk of imminent serious physical harm or death; does NOT apply to
property damage; risk assessment and safety planning are required
6. Continuing Education – 30/6/0 Rule – 30 hours biennially; exactly 6 hours in cultural
awareness; zero carryover permitted; max 10 self-directed hours; social workers are
exempt from specific ethics CE requirement
7. Client Records & Confidentiality – Minimum retention 7 years, or 3 years after minor
reaches age of majority (21), whichever is longer; psychotherapy process notes are
exempt from client access rights; subpoenas require legal counsel consultation; client
records belong to client with right to access (with exceptions for substantial harm)
8. Prohibited Practices & Conduct – Conversion therapy on minors is explicitly
prohibited and constitutes automatic grounds for license revocation; sexual
relationships with current or former clients are unequivocally prohibited; unlicensed
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practice is criminal misdemeanor with fines and civil penalties; dual relationships that
impair judgment or risk exploitation must be avoided
9. Provisional Licensure & ASWB Exam – One-year provisional license issued while
awaiting ASWB exam; only one provisional license per level; ASWB exam approval
processed only after completed application received; unlimited retakes with new
application/fee; 90-day wait before retake after failed exam
10. Regulatory & Disciplinary Framework – Primary law is Social Work Practice Act (61-31
NMSA 1978); Board of Social Work Examiners under RLD; biennial renewal with $200 fee
for LISW/LCSW; initial licensure fee $125; disciplinary authority includes unprofessional
conduct, discrimination, fraud, abuse, sexual contact; SW Interstate Compact enacted
2025 for multistate practice
200 Practice Questions
SECTION 1: LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS (1-40)
Question 1
An applicant for LISW licensure in New Mexico must be at least what age, and what is the
statutory basis for this requirement?
A) 16 years old, as specified in the Social Work Practice Act
B) 18 years old, as specified in NMAC 16.63.11.8
C) 21 years old, as specified in NMAC 16.63.8.11
D) 25 years old, as specified in ASWB examination requirements
Answer: B
Rationale: Applicants for licensure as independent/clinical social workers must be at least 18
years of age under NMAC 16.63.11.8(A). This is a foundational requirement for all levels of
social work licensure in New Mexico .
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Question 2
An LMSW in New Mexico has accumulated 3,600 post-graduate hours but took 6.5 years to
complete them due to personal circumstances. Is this candidate eligible for LISW licensure? Why
or why not?
A) Yes, because the 3,600-hour requirement has been met regardless of time frame
B) No, because the 3,600 hours must be accumulated over no more than a 60-month (5-year)
period
C) Yes, because the Board can grant extensions for personal circumstances
D) No, because LISW requires 4,000 hours, not 3,600
Answer: B
Rationale: Under NMAC 16.63.11.8(F), individuals aspiring to LISW/LCSW licensure must
complete and document 3,600 hours of licensed masters level social work experience
accumulated over no more than a 60-month period. Exceeding this timeframe makes the
candidate ineligible .
Question 3
A social worker has completed 3,600 post-graduate hours and 90 supervision hours for LISW
licensure. However, only 65 of the 90 supervision hours were direct (individual) supervision. Is
this applicant eligible?
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A) Yes, because 90 total supervision hours have been met
B) Yes, because direct supervision hours can be substituted with group supervision
C) No, because at least 70 of the 90 required hours must be obtained through direct supervision
D) No, because LISW requires 100 supervision hours total
Answer: C
Rationale: Under NMAC 16.63.11.8(G)(2), at least 70 of the 90 required supervision hours must
be obtained through direct (individual) supervision. With only 65 direct hours, the applicant fails
to meet the minimum requirement .
Question 4
An applicant for LISW licensure has completed 85 of their 90 supervision hours through a
combination of individual and group supervision. However, 25 of these hours were obtained
through group supervision with 8 participants per session. Is this acceptable?
A) Yes, because group supervision can be counted without limitation
B) No, because no more than 20 hours may be obtained through group supervision AND no
more than 6 individuals may be in a group at a time
C) No, because group supervision is not permitted for LISW applicants
D) Yes, because the total supervision hours requirement is met
Answer: B
