LAW AND ETHICS EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026 VERIFIED.
Purposes of the code of ethics (6) - ANS 1. IDs fundamental values upon which your mission
as a SW is based
2. -summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect SW's core values, and establishes a set of
ethical standards that SWs should use to guide their professional actions.
3. Designed to help you ID relevant considerations when profesional obligations conflict or
ethical uncertainties arise.
4. Provides ethical standards to which general public can hold the profession accountable
5. Socializes new practitioners to SW's mission, values, ethical principles and standards
6. Articulates standards that SW profession can use to assess whether SWs have engaged in
unethical conduct. (used as basis for adjudication in matters of ethics)
If a SW has committed an ethical violation, does that mean they have also broken a law? -
ANS Not necessarily.
Legal processes and administrative procedures are kept separate from peer review process of
ethical standards. Determination of legal liability will be a separate matter.
guidelines for responding to a colleague's unethical behavior - ANS -Code of Ethics requires
you to respond
-Can A) attempt to resolve it informally or B) more formally (filing a complaint), based on your
own judgment.
-Still have to respect confidentiality (e.g. if a clt tells you their former therapist committed an
unethical thing, you couldn't break confidentiality to report them. it would be better to
encourage clt to report them themselves)
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 29
,Values vs. Ethics - ANS Values--> what a person/group considers desirable
Ethics --> organized system/formal set of rules that are explicitly adopted by a group or
profession
Social Work Values (per code of ethics) (6) - ANS 1. Service --> primary goal is to help those in
need
2. Social Justice --> challenging injustice and bringing about change
3. Dignity and Worth of the Person --> respect inherent dignity and worth
4. Importance of Human Relationships
5. Integrity --> trustworthiness
6. Competence--> practice w/in areas of competence and develop/enhance professional
expertise
What to do when personal values conflict with professional values? - ANS Must prioritize
professional values, follow code of ethics and/or law
scope of practice vs scope of competence - ANS scope of practice--> legally defined
boundaries of practice of CSW. (legal issue)
scope of competence --> limits of what an individual LCSW is qualified to do based on
education, training, experience.
Can an LCSW administer psychological tests? - ANS Law does not specifically say no, but any
LCSW who uses it will have to substantiate that they are competence to do so, AND that they
are using tests to treat/assess social adjustment problems. may also use hypnosis if they have
the appropriate training and experience.
What to do if a needed services falls outside the boundaries of your competence, per Code of
Ethics? - ANS Should seek supervision/consultation (if you have the general skill to treat a
case, but there is a particular aspect of the case you don't have experience with) OR get referral.
(must refer whenever that professional's specialized knowledge/expertise is necessary to fully
serve the clt)
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 29
, When is it ok to refer out based on cultural issues? - ANS It is NOT discrimination if clt is from
a background that is completely unknown to you or has a worldview that you are unable to
understand.
How to handle incompetence of a colleague, per Code of Ethics? - ANS a. When you have
direct knowledge of a SW colleague's incompetence, you should first consult with that
colleague, if feasible
b. When you you believe they are incompetence and has not taken adequate steps to address,
you should take appropriate action through employer, agency, NASW, licensing body, and other
organizations.
legal guidelines of impairment as a therapist (for yourself) - ANS If you appear to be impaired
by mental or physical illness, licensing agency may order you to be examined by one or more
doctors/surgeons/psychologist. If you fail to comply it may be grounds for
suspension/revocation of license
ethical standards of impairment as a therapist (for yourself) - ANS -You should not allow your
person problems, psychological distress, legal problems, substance abuse, or MH problems to
interfere with professional performance/judgment
-if this is happening, you should a. immediately seek consultation and b. take appropriate
remedial action by getting professional help, adjusting workload (lol), terminating, or taking
other necessary steps
How to handle incompetence of a colleague, per Code of Ethics - ANS 1. first consult with
that colleague
2. if you believe it is impairing them and they have not taken adequate steps to resolve it, take
action through your employer, agency, NASW, etc.
Privacy vs. Confidentiality - ANS privacy-->basic right of an individual to decide how much
personal info can be shared with others
confidentiality--> obligation to protect clts etc from unauthorized disclosure
handling confidentiality in couples/family therapy - ANS -discuss conf. thoroughly with them
-seek an agreement between them to maintain
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 29
AND ANSWERS 2026 VERIFIED.
Purposes of the code of ethics (6) - ANS 1. IDs fundamental values upon which your mission
as a SW is based
2. -summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect SW's core values, and establishes a set of
ethical standards that SWs should use to guide their professional actions.
3. Designed to help you ID relevant considerations when profesional obligations conflict or
ethical uncertainties arise.
4. Provides ethical standards to which general public can hold the profession accountable
5. Socializes new practitioners to SW's mission, values, ethical principles and standards
6. Articulates standards that SW profession can use to assess whether SWs have engaged in
unethical conduct. (used as basis for adjudication in matters of ethics)
If a SW has committed an ethical violation, does that mean they have also broken a law? -
ANS Not necessarily.
Legal processes and administrative procedures are kept separate from peer review process of
ethical standards. Determination of legal liability will be a separate matter.
guidelines for responding to a colleague's unethical behavior - ANS -Code of Ethics requires
you to respond
-Can A) attempt to resolve it informally or B) more formally (filing a complaint), based on your
own judgment.
-Still have to respect confidentiality (e.g. if a clt tells you their former therapist committed an
unethical thing, you couldn't break confidentiality to report them. it would be better to
encourage clt to report them themselves)
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 29
,Values vs. Ethics - ANS Values--> what a person/group considers desirable
Ethics --> organized system/formal set of rules that are explicitly adopted by a group or
profession
Social Work Values (per code of ethics) (6) - ANS 1. Service --> primary goal is to help those in
need
2. Social Justice --> challenging injustice and bringing about change
3. Dignity and Worth of the Person --> respect inherent dignity and worth
4. Importance of Human Relationships
5. Integrity --> trustworthiness
6. Competence--> practice w/in areas of competence and develop/enhance professional
expertise
What to do when personal values conflict with professional values? - ANS Must prioritize
professional values, follow code of ethics and/or law
scope of practice vs scope of competence - ANS scope of practice--> legally defined
boundaries of practice of CSW. (legal issue)
scope of competence --> limits of what an individual LCSW is qualified to do based on
education, training, experience.
Can an LCSW administer psychological tests? - ANS Law does not specifically say no, but any
LCSW who uses it will have to substantiate that they are competence to do so, AND that they
are using tests to treat/assess social adjustment problems. may also use hypnosis if they have
the appropriate training and experience.
What to do if a needed services falls outside the boundaries of your competence, per Code of
Ethics? - ANS Should seek supervision/consultation (if you have the general skill to treat a
case, but there is a particular aspect of the case you don't have experience with) OR get referral.
(must refer whenever that professional's specialized knowledge/expertise is necessary to fully
serve the clt)
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 29
, When is it ok to refer out based on cultural issues? - ANS It is NOT discrimination if clt is from
a background that is completely unknown to you or has a worldview that you are unable to
understand.
How to handle incompetence of a colleague, per Code of Ethics? - ANS a. When you have
direct knowledge of a SW colleague's incompetence, you should first consult with that
colleague, if feasible
b. When you you believe they are incompetence and has not taken adequate steps to address,
you should take appropriate action through employer, agency, NASW, licensing body, and other
organizations.
legal guidelines of impairment as a therapist (for yourself) - ANS If you appear to be impaired
by mental or physical illness, licensing agency may order you to be examined by one or more
doctors/surgeons/psychologist. If you fail to comply it may be grounds for
suspension/revocation of license
ethical standards of impairment as a therapist (for yourself) - ANS -You should not allow your
person problems, psychological distress, legal problems, substance abuse, or MH problems to
interfere with professional performance/judgment
-if this is happening, you should a. immediately seek consultation and b. take appropriate
remedial action by getting professional help, adjusting workload (lol), terminating, or taking
other necessary steps
How to handle incompetence of a colleague, per Code of Ethics - ANS 1. first consult with
that colleague
2. if you believe it is impairing them and they have not taken adequate steps to resolve it, take
action through your employer, agency, NASW, etc.
Privacy vs. Confidentiality - ANS privacy-->basic right of an individual to decide how much
personal info can be shared with others
confidentiality--> obligation to protect clts etc from unauthorized disclosure
handling confidentiality in couples/family therapy - ANS -discuss conf. thoroughly with them
-seek an agreement between them to maintain
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 29
