LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SOWK COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
2026/2027 Actual Exam – Complete Questions &
Detailed Rationales – Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Social Work Ethics & Professionalism | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Human Behavior & Social Environment | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Social Welfare Policy & Advocacy | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Clinical Assessment & Intervention | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Research Methods & Program Evaluation | Q41 – Q50
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 80% in 90 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: SOCIAL WORK ETHICS & PROFESSIONALISM Q1 – Q10
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 50
A 28-year-old social worker at a community mental health center has been seeing a
16-year-old client for anxiety. The client's mother calls demanding to know what was
discussed in session. The social worker reviews the file and notes the client disclosed
marijuana use but no safety concerns. The social worker's most ethical response is to:
A. Provide a full summary since the client is a minor and the mother has legal rights
B. Refuse all communication with the mother to preserve absolute confidentiality
C. Explain confidentiality limits and discuss with the client what information may be
shared ✓ CORRECT
D. Report the marijuana use to child protective services as required by law
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The NASW Code of Ethics supports client self-determination and
confidentiality even with minors, requiring the social worker to first discuss with the
adolescent what information is appropriate to share with parents. Absolute refusal to
communicate violates the parent's legitimate interest in their child's welfare, and
reporting marijuana use without imminent safety concerns is not mandated. This
approach balances ethical obligations while building trust with the minor client.
Question 2 of 50
A school social worker is offered a gift basket worth $150 from a grateful parent at the
end of the school year. The school's policy prohibits gifts over $25, but the parent insists
it is merely a token of appreciation. The social worker's best ethical course of action is
to:
A. Accept the gift to avoid offending the parent and damaging the therapeutic
relationship
B. Accept the gift and donate it to the school to avoid personal benefit
C. Accept the gift but document it in the case file as a boundary crossing
D. Decline the gift and explain the policy while expressing appreciation for the sentiment
✓ CORRECT
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Accepting gifts that violate explicit agency policy creates a boundary concern
and potential conflict of interest, regardless of the giver's intent or the social worker's
plan to redirect the item. Documenting a policy violation does not make it ethical, and
offending the parent is less harmful than compromising professional boundaries. Clear,
kind communication about policies protects both the social worker and the integrity of
the profession.
Question 3 of 50
,A clinical social worker in private practice discovers that a new client is the adult child
of a former client who terminated services five years ago. The social worker has no
clinical information about the adult child from the previous case. The most appropriate
ethical action is to:
A. Proceed with services since there is no direct prior relationship with this individual ✓
CORRECT
B. Decline services to avoid any appearance of a dual relationship
C. Contact the former client to request permission before proceeding
D. Transfer the case to a colleague without discussing the concern with the new client
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A prior therapeutic relationship with a family member does not automatically
constitute a dual relationship if no confidential information was shared about the new
client and no ongoing connection exists. Declining without assessment may
unnecessarily deny services, while contacting the former client breaches their
confidentiality by revealing the adult child's seeking of treatment. The social worker
should proceed with informed consent and monitor for conflicts.
Question 4 of 50
A social worker at a hospital is asked by the nursing supervisor to access a neighbor's
medical record to verify if the neighbor is being admitted for a contagious illness. The
social worker and neighbor are not close, but they wave when passing. The social
worker's ethical obligation under HIPAA and the NASW Code is to:
A. Access the record since the nursing supervisor has authority to request it
B. Refuse the request and report the improper access attempt through appropriate
channels ✓ CORRECT
C. Access the record but only share the information verbally to avoid documentation
D. Access the record if the social worker can demonstrate a legitimate treatment
purpose
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Accessing medical records out of curiosity or without a legitimate treatment
purpose violates both HIPAA and the NASW Code of Ethics regarding privacy and
confidentiality. The nursing supervisor's request is improper, and the social worker must
refuse and report it rather than comply or find workarounds. Social workers frequently
face pressure to bend privacy rules and must hold firm to protect client rights.
Question 5 of 50
A 45-year-old social worker has been struggling with depression and begins seeing a
therapist. The therapist recommends medication, but the social worker is concerned
about how this might affect their professional reputation if colleagues discover the
diagnosis. The social worker's ethical responsibility to self is best understood as:
A. Avoiding treatment to prevent any documentation that could be used against them
B. Disclosing the diagnosis to the agency director proactively to demonstrate
transparency
C. Seeking appropriate treatment while maintaining confidentiality protections ✓
CORRECT
D. Transferring all clients to another social worker until the depression fully resolves
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The NASW Code of Ethics emphasizes that social workers should seek
treatment for impairments that interfere with practice, and doing so is a professional
responsibility rather than a sign of weakness. Avoiding treatment or unnecessarily
disclosing private health information harms the social worker and their clients, while
transferring all clients may be excessive if the depression is manageable. Self-care is an
ethical imperative that enables competent practice.
Question 6 of 50
2026/2027 Actual Exam – Complete Questions &
Detailed Rationales – Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Social Work Ethics & Professionalism | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Human Behavior & Social Environment | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Social Welfare Policy & Advocacy | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Clinical Assessment & Intervention | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Research Methods & Program Evaluation | Q41 – Q50
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 80% in 90 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: SOCIAL WORK ETHICS & PROFESSIONALISM Q1 – Q10
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 50
A 28-year-old social worker at a community mental health center has been seeing a
16-year-old client for anxiety. The client's mother calls demanding to know what was
discussed in session. The social worker reviews the file and notes the client disclosed
marijuana use but no safety concerns. The social worker's most ethical response is to:
A. Provide a full summary since the client is a minor and the mother has legal rights
B. Refuse all communication with the mother to preserve absolute confidentiality
C. Explain confidentiality limits and discuss with the client what information may be
shared ✓ CORRECT
D. Report the marijuana use to child protective services as required by law
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The NASW Code of Ethics supports client self-determination and
confidentiality even with minors, requiring the social worker to first discuss with the
adolescent what information is appropriate to share with parents. Absolute refusal to
communicate violates the parent's legitimate interest in their child's welfare, and
reporting marijuana use without imminent safety concerns is not mandated. This
approach balances ethical obligations while building trust with the minor client.
Question 2 of 50
A school social worker is offered a gift basket worth $150 from a grateful parent at the
end of the school year. The school's policy prohibits gifts over $25, but the parent insists
it is merely a token of appreciation. The social worker's best ethical course of action is
to:
A. Accept the gift to avoid offending the parent and damaging the therapeutic
relationship
B. Accept the gift and donate it to the school to avoid personal benefit
C. Accept the gift but document it in the case file as a boundary crossing
D. Decline the gift and explain the policy while expressing appreciation for the sentiment
✓ CORRECT
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Accepting gifts that violate explicit agency policy creates a boundary concern
and potential conflict of interest, regardless of the giver's intent or the social worker's
plan to redirect the item. Documenting a policy violation does not make it ethical, and
offending the parent is less harmful than compromising professional boundaries. Clear,
kind communication about policies protects both the social worker and the integrity of
the profession.
Question 3 of 50
,A clinical social worker in private practice discovers that a new client is the adult child
of a former client who terminated services five years ago. The social worker has no
clinical information about the adult child from the previous case. The most appropriate
ethical action is to:
A. Proceed with services since there is no direct prior relationship with this individual ✓
CORRECT
B. Decline services to avoid any appearance of a dual relationship
C. Contact the former client to request permission before proceeding
D. Transfer the case to a colleague without discussing the concern with the new client
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A prior therapeutic relationship with a family member does not automatically
constitute a dual relationship if no confidential information was shared about the new
client and no ongoing connection exists. Declining without assessment may
unnecessarily deny services, while contacting the former client breaches their
confidentiality by revealing the adult child's seeking of treatment. The social worker
should proceed with informed consent and monitor for conflicts.
Question 4 of 50
A social worker at a hospital is asked by the nursing supervisor to access a neighbor's
medical record to verify if the neighbor is being admitted for a contagious illness. The
social worker and neighbor are not close, but they wave when passing. The social
worker's ethical obligation under HIPAA and the NASW Code is to:
A. Access the record since the nursing supervisor has authority to request it
B. Refuse the request and report the improper access attempt through appropriate
channels ✓ CORRECT
C. Access the record but only share the information verbally to avoid documentation
D. Access the record if the social worker can demonstrate a legitimate treatment
purpose
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Accessing medical records out of curiosity or without a legitimate treatment
purpose violates both HIPAA and the NASW Code of Ethics regarding privacy and
confidentiality. The nursing supervisor's request is improper, and the social worker must
refuse and report it rather than comply or find workarounds. Social workers frequently
face pressure to bend privacy rules and must hold firm to protect client rights.
Question 5 of 50
A 45-year-old social worker has been struggling with depression and begins seeing a
therapist. The therapist recommends medication, but the social worker is concerned
about how this might affect their professional reputation if colleagues discover the
diagnosis. The social worker's ethical responsibility to self is best understood as:
A. Avoiding treatment to prevent any documentation that could be used against them
B. Disclosing the diagnosis to the agency director proactively to demonstrate
transparency
C. Seeking appropriate treatment while maintaining confidentiality protections ✓
CORRECT
D. Transferring all clients to another social worker until the depression fully resolves
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The NASW Code of Ethics emphasizes that social workers should seek
treatment for impairments that interfere with practice, and doing so is a professional
responsibility rather than a sign of weakness. Avoiding treatment or unnecessarily
disclosing private health information harms the social worker and their clients, while
transferring all clients may be excessive if the depression is manageable. Self-care is an
ethical imperative that enables competent practice.
Question 6 of 50
