Your exam invitation, or Notice to Schedule (NTS), email from Meazure Learning will have links for you to check your computer system. If you take your exam online, it is important to verify that your computer meets the minimum requirements and that you have reliable access to the Internet. An internet connection disruption will suspend the exam session. 

IMPORTANT: If taking the exam online, you must use a computer on which you have full admin access.

Requirements:

• You must be alone in the room throughout the test
• You are required to have a webcam installed on your exam workstation
• PC computers are recommended; however MACs are also acceptable
• Chromebooks, tablets, iPads, dual/multiple monitors, and projectors are not permitted to be used as a testing device
• Your computer must meet the system and equipment requirements listed here

Additional Resources

• Preview the Candidate Experience with ProctorU
• Browse the ProctorU Resource Center 

​If you have computer system questions after following the instructions provided by Meazure Learning's schedule confirmation email, please contact Meazure Learning at +1 919-572-6880 or candidatesupport@meazurelearning.com.

Note: Meazure Learning, Scantron, and ProctorU are all one-and-the-same organization.

• Your valid, government issued photo ID (e.g., driver's license, passport, state-issued ID card) 
• The printed exam confirmation notice you received from Meazure Learning
• No other items can be brought into the exam environment 
  • A calculator and any other necessary resource materials will be provided on the computer for those taking the exam electronically
  • No reference material will be allowed in any test room
  • Please note that storage space will be limited

For all CCST level exams, Units Conversion Tables will be provided to candidates in either paper format (paper/pencil exams) or accessible within the electronic test interface for reference during the exam. Click here to review the Units Conversion Tables.

It is important to be certain when selecting the method and time you want to take the exam. You may incur fees if you change the time and method of testing. Exams must be scheduled in advance as follows: 

• Candidates in the United States and Canada: you must submit your scheduling request at least two calendar days prior to your desired exam date
• Candidates in other countries: you must submit your scheduling request at least five calendar days prior to your desired exam date

If you are within your exam window or eligibility period, you may reschedule your exam appointment before the online and Test Center reschedule cut-off times via the online exam scheduling system. If you are outside your exam window and want to request an extension, please contact certifications@isa.org.

Changing from online exam to another online exam

There is no rescheduling fee. However, it must be changed no less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment date and time.

Changing from online exam to Test Center exam

There is no rescheduling fee. However, it must be changed at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled appointment. Additionally, you must reschedule the new appointment no less than two calendar days in advance of the new appointment at a Meazure Learning test center.

Changing from Test Center exam to another Test Center exam

You will incur a rescheduling fee of 50 USD. Rescheduling fees are payable to Meazure Learning via a secure e-commerce site (credit card). The reschedule cut-off time is no later than two calendar days prior to the exam appointment. Additionally, if you are scheduling a new online exam appointment, it must be done no less than 24 hours prior to the new appointment date and time.

Reschedule Fees:

• ISA members: 76 USD
• Non-members: 95 USD

• ISA members: 120 USD
• Non-members: 150 USD

• ISA members: 108 USD 
• Non-members: 135 USD

• ISA members: 116 USD
• Non-members: 145 USD

You can cancel an exam through Meazure Learning's online exam scheduling system.

• Online exam appointments must be cancelled no less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment date and time. There is no cancellation fee
• Exam center appointments must be cancelled no less than two calendar days prior to the scheduled testing appointment. There is a cancellation fee of 50 USD payable to Meazure Learning via a secure e-commerce site (credit card)

You may retest as many times as needed, if you do not pass or if you miss your scheduled exam, within your exam window or eligibility period. However, there is a fee each time that is payable to ISA. If you need to retest or have missed your exam, you must submit a request to certification@isa.org.

If a candidate fails their exam, they may retest as many times as needed within their 12-month certification exam window or six-month certificate eligibility period. There is a fee each time retesting is needed. If a candidate does not pass the exam within the program exam deadline, the applicant must reapply for that certification or register again for the certificate course to sit for the exam.

If you fail to appear for a scheduled exam or arrive more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time, you will be considered a no-show and forfeit your exam. However, you may retake a missed exam by paying a rescheduling fee to ISA if you are within your exam window or eligibility period. To request a rescheduled exam, email certifications@isa.org with your request. See exam procedures section #4, Rescheduling an Exam, for reschedule fee costs.

All ISA certification exams are closed-book and have multiple choice questions.  We apply a modified Angoff Method to determine the pass point for each exam (learn more about the modified Angoff Method below). Our certification exams last between 3 and 4 hours and our certificate exams last two hours.

ISA does not provide a passing score; you are only notified whether you passed or failed. If you fail an exam, you will receive a score report that lists the domains and indicates the percentage of questions answered correctly within each domain. Note that the percentages are not used to calculate a candidate’s passing score.

You will see your exam results on the screen at the completion of the exam. You will also receive your exam results immediately via email from (candidatesupport@meazurelearning.com). If you do not receive an email containing your results within 24 hours, please contact Meazure Learning by phone at +1 919-572-6880 or email candidatesupport@meazurelearning.com for assistance. 

If you pass your exam, you will receive an email containing a digital badge from isa_badges@isa.org within one business day of completing the exam. To access, manage, and/or share your secure digital badge, use your email address and password to enter your BadgeCert portfolio. If it is the first time accessing your portfolio or if you have forgotten your password, click “Request new password?” on their login page to create your password. More information about using your digital badge can be found here.

Be advised that we update our databases and systems with the previous month’s exam data in the first part of the following month.  ISA will update your credential status on the “My Credentials” tab from your ISA account and in ISA's Credential Directory within the first ten (10) business days of the following month you took your exam.

Modified Angoff Method

The modified Angoff Method uses expert judgements to determine the difficulty level of the exam. The easier the exam, the higher the pass point. Likewise, the more difficult the exam, the lower the pass point. The following is a basic outline of the modified Angoff Method (some details have been omitted):

• A group of subject matter experts (SMEs) independently rate each exam question within a given form of the exam. The ratings are defined as the probability, or likelihood, that an acceptably (minimally) competent person with the requisite education and experience will answer the question correctly. An acceptably (minimally) competent person is defined as someone who adequately performs all job functions safely and requires no further training to do so.
• The SMEs review each exam question as a group. A statistical consensus is reached for the difficulty rating of each exam question.
• After the data is refined, the final step is to calculate the mean, or average, of all the exam question ratings. This becomes the overall pass point estimation.

Becoming a nurse practitioner (NP), a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), requires significant education and training, as well as knowledge, skills and competencies. Aspiring NPs must be licensed registered nurses (RNs), hold a bachelor of science in nursing and complete a masters in nursing or a doctorate of nursing program graduate programs.

The last step on the long journey to becoming an NP is passing a national nursing certification exam in your specialization. Passing the right exam demonstrates your advanced clinical knowledge and skills and shows employers you can succeed as an NP in your specialty.

Two national organizations, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), offer nurse practitioner certifications. You must pass a board certification exam from either AANP or ANCC to become an NP.

NPs specializing in family or adult-gerontology primary care can take either an AANP exam or an ANCC exam. For other practice specialties, like psychiatric-mental health, only one organization offers the relevant exam and credential.

Learn more about AANP vs. ANCC nursing certifications, and figure out which path is right for you.

AANP vs. ANCC

AANP and ANCC both offer NP certifications and board certification exams. AANP is a membership organization representing more than 121,000 nurse practitioners across North America. Its credentialing arm is the AANP Certification Board (AANPCB), which only offers NP certifications.

ANCC is an offshoot of the American Nurses Association (ANA), a professional group with 4 million members in the United States. ANCC administers certifications to both NPs and registered nurses with an associates degree or bachelor’s degree in nursing.

If you’re pursuing NP certification in family or adult-gerontology primary care, you can do so through AANPCB or ANCC. Other NP specializations do not offer a choice; you must take the relevant certification exam from whichever organization offers it.

For example, aspiring emergency nurse practitioners can only pursue certification through AANPCB. NPs seeking to specialize in psychiatric mental health, on the other hand, must earn their credentials through ANCC.

What Is the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)?

AANP created AANPCB, a nonprofit credentialing organization for nurse practitioners, to offer NP certifications in the following specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP)
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP)

AANP members receive a $75 discount on AANPCB certification applications.

Certifications Offered by AANPCB

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP)

The A-GNP certification demonstrates clinical knowledge of adults from age 13 until advanced age and end-of-life. This certification qualifies you for NP licensure specializing in adult patients. A-GNPs have demonstrated expertise and competencies in health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, treatment and management of acute and chronic conditions, and evidence-based practice.

The certification’s competency-based exam includes 150 questions, including 15 pre-test questions that do not count toward your score. The test covers assessment, diagnosis, plan and evaluation domains, including questions about all age parameters. Online applications cost $240 for AANP members and $315 for nonmembers. Prices may change over time and discounts may be available for members of specific nursing organizations. Members should check with their association membership offices to see if discounts are applicable.

A-GNP applicants must hold an active RN license. Other eligibility requirements include a minimum of 500 graduate level clinical practicum hours and successful completion of a graduate or postgraduate adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner program at an accredited school of nursing.

To find out more about earning RN licensure, review our guide on how to become an RN.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

The FNP certification qualifies holders to apply for a state license to practice as an FNP offering primary care across the life span, from prenatal patients to older adults.

The competency-based exam includes 150 questions (135 scored questions and 15 unscored pretest questions). The test assesses knowledge of various age and practice domains like assessment, evaluation, diagnosis and planning. It covers courses like cultural competence, crisis management, pain management and anatomy.

FNP applicants with AANP memberships pay $240 to apply online, while nonmembers pay $315. Eligibility requirements for the FNP include an active RN license, completion of a graduate or postgraduate family nurse practitioner program at an accredited school and at least 500 clinical hours.

To learn more, see our guide on how to become a family nurse practitioner.

What Is the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)?

As part of ANA, ANCC offers various certifications to help NPs and RNs advance their careers. ANCC’s NP certifications include:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC®)
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGPCNP-BC®)
• Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC™)
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Certification (PMHNP-BC™)

In addition to providing certifications, ANCC also accredits healthcare organizations that offer or approve continuing education for nurses. ANCC recognizes healthcare organizations that encourage safe and effective nursing practice as well. ANA members can save $100 on ANCC’s NP certification application fees.

NP Certifications Offered by ANCC

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGPCNP-BC)

ANCC’s AGPCNP-BC credential qualifies you to practice as an entry-level adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner. To qualify for the AGPCNP-BC, you must hold RN licensure and pass a national certification exam.

To obtain this credential, you must earn an accredited AGPCNP master’s in nursing, a DNP or a postgraduate certificate including at least 500 supervised clinical hours. Applicants must complete three APRN core graduate courses in advanced physiology or pathophysiology, advanced health assessment and advanced pharmacology.

The Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification provides accreditation for this certification, which requires renewal every five years. For initial certification, ANA members pay $295, and nonmembers pay $395. AANP members, AANP student members and Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) members also receive discounts.

The AGPCNP exam assesses competency in clinical knowledge and skills for this specialty. The competency-based test lasts 3.5 hours and includes 175 questions (150 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions). Questions cover the patient assessment process, plan of care and professional practice, spanning different age groups, body systems and drug agents.

You can take ANCC’s Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Readiness Test to assess your preparedness for the official exam. You can use ANCC’s study aids to prepare for the test.

Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC)

ANCC’s FNP-BC credential qualifies you to apply for state licensure to work as a family nurse practitioner. This certification requires renewal every five years.

To earn this credential, you must pass the competency-based FNP-BC exam to demonstrate that you have the clinical skills and knowledge necessary for FNP work. The 3.5-hour test includes 175 questions (150 scored questions and 25 unscored pretest questions). exam content covers assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation with questions about different age groups, drug agents and body systems.

ANA members pay $295 for initial certification; nonmembers pay $395. AANP members, AANP student members and GAPNA members also receive discounts.

Eligibility requirements for the FNP-BC certification include a current RN license and an FNP master’s, postgraduate certificate or DNP from an accredited school. The FNP program must include 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours. Applicants must also complete three graduate-level APRN core courses covering advanced physiology or pathophysiology, advanced health assessment and advanced pharmacology.

You can take ANCC’s FNP readiness test to assess your exam readiness and to get a better idea of what to expect. ANCC also provides other study aids, including demo questions and a test content outline.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About AANP vs. ANCC

Social work licensing practices vary widely by state. Some states require entry-level and generalist social workers to pass an exam and earn licensure. In other states, you only need a license to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and provide psychotherapy services.

In many states, social work licensure at any level requires you to pass an exam administered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). The ASWB exam is a nationally recognized assessment that evaluates your comprehension of human behavior and development.

If you’re a social work major or considering pivoting into the human services field, read on to discover how to prepare for, take and pass the ASWB licensure exam—with or without a social work degree.

What Is the ASWB Exam?

ASWB is a nonprofit organization comprising all of the state social work regulatory boards in the United States and Canada. This body regulates the social work profession and administers the licensure exam that evaluates prospective social workers’ ethics and expertise. Passing the ASWB exam is the final step to earning a social work license in many states.

ASWB offers five exam categories—associate, bachelor’s, master’s, advanced generalist and clinical—each tailored to a specific education and experience level. A candidate’s exam category determines their title and scope of practice post-licensure.

Within a four-hour window, ASWB exam-takers must answer questions concerning:

• Human development, diversity and behavior in the environment
• Assessment (of clients’ physical and mental status)
• Interventions with clients
• Professional relationships, values and ethics

ASWB exam Categories

All ASWB exam categories contain 170 questions on human development and behavior, but question types may vary among categories. For example, the associate and bachelor’s exams lean more heavily on recall questions than other exam categories, which feature larger proportions of reasoning questions.

Each exam category may lead to a different level of social work licensure depending on your state’s licensing processes. Not all states offer all five categories of the ASWB exam.

Associate

This category offers a licensure pathway for applicants who want to practice social work without earning a four-year degree in the field. In most cases, associate-level social workers can only practice under supervision.

A handful of states offer this licensing pathway: South Dakota, Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Only South Dakota, New Hampshire and Massachusetts require associate-level social workers to pass the associate ASWB exam.

Registration for the associate ASWB exam category costs $230.

Bachelor’s

The ASWB bachelor’s exam, which also costs $230, evaluates your generalist understanding of social work practices and ethics. You must hold a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited college to sit for this exam category.

The bachelor’s category features the same questions as the associate category.

Passing the bachelor’s exam qualifies you to become a non-clinical baccalaureate social worker. Exact titles vary among states; in Oregon, these professionals are called registered baccalaureate social workers, while North Carolina calls them certified social workers.

In most cases, social workers at this level interview clients, manage cases, conduct research and advocate for social justice. Depending on the state, they may only be able to practice autonomously after gaining supervised work experience post-licensure.

Master’s

The ASWB master’s category requires a master of social work (MSW) and usually qualifies applicants for the licensed master social worker (LMSW) credential. Again, the exact title may vary by state—Indiana calls these professionals licensed social workers, for example.

The master’s-level exam tests your foundational understanding of the social work field and evaluates your application of specialized skills gained during their MSW program. Licensees know how to apply advanced practice skills and specialized knowledge in their roles.

LMSWs can drive social change and justice for various communities. In some states, they can provide clinical therapy with oversight from an LCSW. The registration fee for this ASWB exam category is $230.

Advanced Generalist:

The advanced generalist category is tailored to prospective LMSWs who aspire to work in macro-level roles. This means working with large populations, such as entire states and countries. The advanced generalist ASWB exam indicates a desire to work with public policy, state or national campaigns, or other government initiatives.

To sit for the advanced generalist ASWB exam, you must hold a master’s degree in social work plus two years of nonclinical professional experience.

With a fee of $260, test takers can prove their expertise in social justice, public policy and administration, and public welfare to their state licensing boards.

Clinical

The minimum requirements for this ASWB category include an MSW and two years of clinical experience. The clinical ASWB test serves prospective social workers who want to provide mental health services in clinical settings.

LCSWs (who may work under different titles, depending on where they practice) provide psychotherapy services to prevent, diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Through individual or group therapy, these professionals help people struggling with emotional distress.

Clinical social workers practice independently in various settings, including hospitals, schools, psychiatric facilities and social service agencies. Registering for the clinical ASWB exam category costs $260.

Signing Up for the ASWB Exam

Apply for a State License

First, you must get your state board’s approval to register for the ASWB exam. Approval processes differ depending on the state where you want to practice.

Typical requirements vary by state and license level but may include college transcripts, a license application fee and proof of supervised experience, which you can send to the board via email or fax. Some states may also require you to provide fingerprints and undergo a background check.

Sign Up for the ASWB Exam

Once you receive approval from your state social work board, you must register for the appropriate ASWB licensure exam, either online, via mail or by fax. Registration costs between $230 and $260, depending on your exam category.

If your registration is successful, you’ll receive an “authorization to test” email from ASWB.

Schedule Your Test with Pearson VUE

Pearson VUE provides testing centers for licensure applicants nationwide. You can schedule, cancel and reschedule exam appointments with Pearson VUE through the testing authorization email.

Preparing for the ASWB Exam

Understand How the exam Is Structured

The ASWB exam is a four-hour, computer-based test comprising 170 multiple-choice questions that test your expertise and decision-making skills as a social worker.

Exam questions cover various content areas and competencies you should have covered during your degree program. You may also find knowledge, skills and abilities statements resembling real-life situations that require critical thinking. To pass the licensure exam, you must answer about 100 out of the 150 questions correctly.

Take a Practice Test

Although self-study is necessary to pass professional exams, practice tests can help you prepare better. By taking a mock test, you can identify loopholes in your study plan, learn the testing software, understand your strengths and areas for improvement, and prepare for complex questions.

After you register for your exam, ASWB offers a 30-day window to take a practice exam for an additional $85. Practice exams exist for all categories except the advanced generalist exam.

Other test prep resources offer free practice tests, but ASWB warns against those resources because their content may be misleading.

Know What to Expect on Test Day

ASWB enforces several security measures on test day to ensure a reliable exam process. Prepare to present two photo IDs and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Pearson VUE test centers are fitted with surveillance tools to detect exam malpractice. Test Center personnel may also walk through the room at intervals.

You cannot enter the testing center with personal items, but you will receive erasable note boards, markers and other necessary materials from the Test Center personnel. You must return the items after the exam or risk invalidating your score.

The testing equipment should look like a typical computer setup. Test administrators may provide a short on-screen tutorial to help you navigate the software.

Decompress After the Exam

Upon completing the licensure exam, you’ll receive an unofficial score report at the Test Center indicating your performance. ASWB will then send the official score report to your state’s social work board two weeks after the exam.

Note that your scores cannot be altered at any point, so all you can do is wait for your state board to contact you or go ahead with other state-specific requirements. This may take anywhere from two weeks to a month.

If you fail the licensure exam, you can retake it after 90 days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the ASWB Exam