Ethics and the ASWB Exam: 1.04 Competence

Preparing for the ASWB exam can feel like walking a tightrope, especially when it comes to ethics. You’re expected to think critically, respond confidently, and apply professional standards in real-world scenarios. One of the most important sections you’ll encounter is Section 1.04, Competence, from the NASW Code of Ethics. It’s more than just a rule; it’s a reflection of how seriously the profession takes client safety, lifelong learning, and personal accountability.

Ethical competence is about knowing your limits, recognizing when to seek help, and never pretending to be something you’re not. For Social Workers, this principle guides everything from choosing a job to responding in crisis situations. And for exam-takers, it’s a recurring theme across practice questions. If you don’t understand what competence looks like in practice, you’ll struggle to spot the ethical path when it matters most—on the test and beyond.

That’s why this is more than just another topic to review. It’s a lens through which you’ll be evaluated, both as a future Social Worker and as an ethical decision-maker. In this post, we’ll unpack what 1.04 really means, how it shows up on the exam, and how resources like Agents of Change can guide you every step of the way toward passing with clarity and confidence.

Learn more about the ASWB exam and create a personalized ASWB study plan with Agents of Change. We’ve helped tens of thousands of Social Workers pass their ASWB exams and want to help you be next!

1) What Is Section 1.04: Competence?

When it comes to ethical Social Work practice, competence isn’t just encouraged—it’s required. Section 1.04 of the NASW Code of Ethics lays out clear expectations for how Social Workers approach their responsibilities, their limits, and their ongoing professional growth. This section emphasizes that competent practice is central to protecting clients and upholding the values of the profession.

Let’s break down what Section 1.04 is all about and why it matters so much.

The Full Text of Section 1.04: Competence

According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, the text of Section 1.04 reads:

1.04 Competence

(a) Social Workers should provide services and represent themselves as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, license, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.

(b) Social Workers should provide services in substantive areas or use intervention techniques or approaches that are new to them only after engaging in appropriate study, training, consultation, and supervision from people who are competent in those interventions or techniques.

(c) When generally recognized standards do not exist with respect to an emerging area of practice, Social Workers should exercise careful judgment and take responsible steps (including appropriate education, research, training, consultation, and supervision) to ensure the competence of their work and to protect clients from harm.

(d) Social Workers should keep current with emerging knowledge relevant to Social Work. They should routinely review the professional literature and participate in continuing education relevant to Social Work practice and Social Work ethics.

(e) Social Workers should critically examine and keep current with emerging knowledge relevant to Social Work. Social Workers should routinely review the professional literature and participate in continuing education relevant to Social Work practice and Social Work ethics.

(f) Social Workers should base practice on recognized knowledge, including empirically based knowledge, relevant to Social Work and Social Work ethics.

Staying Within Your Scope (1.04 a)

The first subsection reminds us that Social Workers must only provide services they are truly qualified to deliver. That means you shouldn’t practice outside your training, education, or experience. Misrepresenting your competence, even with good intentions, can lead to serious harm.

Let’s say you’re trained in general case management but are asked to lead clinical trauma therapy sessions. Unless you have clinical training and licensing, this would be outside your scope and a violation of 1.04(a).

Expanding Responsibly (1.04 b & c)

Growth is part of the profession, but it has to be responsible growth. If you’re stepping into new areas of practice or using new techniques, subsection (b) is clear: you must engage in training, supervision, and consultation first.

Subsection (c) goes even further, addressing areas where formal standards may not yet exist, like work with emerging populations or novel approaches to care. In these cases, Social Workers must take extra care to ensure they aren’t causing unintentional harm.

Commitment to Lifelong Learning (1.04 d & e)

The Social Work profession is constantly evolving, and competence isn’t a one-time achievement. Subsections (d) and (e) emphasize the importance of staying current through ongoing reading, research, training, and continuing education. It’s your ethical responsibility to keep learning so that you can respond effectively to the changing needs of clients and communities.

If you’re relying on outdated theories or are unaware of current best practices, you’re at risk of violating this portion of the code, even if your intentions are good.

Use of Evidence-Based Practice (1.04 f)

Lastly, subsection (f) reminds Social Workers to root their decisions and methods in empirically supported knowledge. Opinions and anecdotes are not enough. You must be guided by the best available evidence, especially when developing treatment plans, making assessments, or advocating for clients.

That doesn’t mean you need to be a researcher, but it does mean staying in touch with the latest credible developments in the field.

This section—1.04 Competence—is about humility, responsibility, and accountability. Whether you’re sitting for the ASWB exam or already working in the field, it’s a reminder that competence isn’t static. It’s something you work at, reflect on, and continually strive to improve.

Agents of Change packages include 30+ ASWB topics, 2 free study groups per month, and hundreds of practice questions so you’ll be ready for test day!

2) Why Competence Matters on the ASWB Exam

Ethical competence isn’t just important in your daily practice as a Social Worker. It’s a recurring theme on the ASWB exam. Questions tied to Section 1.04: Competence test more than your ability to recall the code. They assess your judgment, boundaries, and ability to apply ethical thinking in real-world situations.

Here’s why this topic shows up often and why you can’t afford to gloss over it during your exam prep.

It Reflects the Core of Social Work Practice

The ASWB exam is designed to determine whether you’re ready to practice safely and ethically. Competence is one of the key indicators of professional readiness. It affects every area of practice, including assessment, intervention, supervision, and advocacy.

Competence-related questions may appear in:

Professional ethics
Client safety and well-being
Cultural awareness and diversity
Supervision and consultation scenarios
Boundaries and scope of practice issues

If you’re uncertain about what constitutes competent action, you’re more likely to choose answers that put clients at risk or signal that you’re not ready for licensure.

It’s Tested Through Ethical Scenarios

The exam rarely asks “What is 1.04?” outright. Instead, it weaves ethical principles into situational judgment questions, where you’ll need to pick the most appropriate response from several options that may all seem reasonable.

Expect to be tested on how you would respond when:

You’re asked to take on a case involving unfamiliar populations
A client needs services that are outside your training
You’re using new therapeutic techniques for the first time
You realize you’re working with outdated information or unsupported practices

Common scenarios include:

Referring or consulting when a client’s needs exceed your training
Postponing services until supervision or training is secured
Choosing supervision over independent decision-making when in doubt
Engaging in professional development to stay ethically aligned

Ethical Missteps Can Cost You Points

The ASWB isn’t interested in risk-takers. It rewards safe, ethical, and measured responses. That means erring on the side of protecting the client, even if that means stepping back from a case or deferring to someone with more experience.

Here’s what can hurt you:

Choosing to “figure it out as you go” without training
Acting outside your scope, even with good intentions
Providing services without supervision in a new area
Assuming personal experience is enough to qualify you professionally

Avoid these pitfalls by focusing on what is in the client’s best interest, guided by ethical standards and professional responsibility, rather than personal ambition.

It’s a High-Yield Topic for Test Prep

Because competence touches so many domains, mastering this topic gives you a real edge. It’s one of those foundational concepts that helps you approach all ethics-related questions with greater clarity.

When prepping for competence-based questions:

Review the NASW Code of Ethics regularly, especially 1.04
Practice with realistic, scenario-based questions
Focus on rationales, not just right or wrong answers
Study with peers or in live groups to explore different ethical perspectives

Understanding why Competence matters isn’t just about passing a test. It’s about showing that you’re ready to protect clients, respect the profession, and grow thoughtfully within your scope. And on exam day, that understanding can make all the difference.

3) ASWB Practice Question: Competence

A Social Worker in a community mental health clinic is asked to provide therapy to a client recently diagnosed with an eating disorder. The Social Worker has experience in general mental health counseling but no training or background in treating eating disorders. What is the MOST appropriate action for the Social Worker to take?

A. Accept the case and begin treatment while researching best practices
B. Decline the case and recommend a referral to a specialist
C. Accept the case with the condition of receiving supervision and training in this area
D. Provide supportive counseling only and avoid addressing eating disorder symptoms directly

Correct Answer: C. Accept the case with the condition of receiving supervision and training in this area

Rationale:

C is correct because it aligns directly with Section 1.04(b) of the NASW Code of Ethics, which allows Social Workers to expand into new areas of practice only after engaging in appropriate study, training, consultation, and supervision. The Social Worker is taking responsibility to ensure competence before proceeding with treatment, which protects the client and honors ethical standards.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Accepting the case and “researching best practices” without supervision is insufficient. Ethical competence requires active guidance from professionals with experience, not just self-study. This puts the client at risk.
B. While referring the case might seem safe, it’s not always necessary to decline if the Social Worker is willing and able to pursue the appropriate supervision and training. Automatically refusing the case may limit client access to services when ethical care is possible with support.
D. Providing only “supportive counseling” while avoiding core symptoms is not ethical or competent practice. It sidesteps the primary issue and risks harming the client by ignoring a serious diagnosis. It also suggests working outside one’s competence by providing incomplete care.

4) FAQs – Code of Ethics: 1.04 Competence

Q: How often does 1.04 Competence show up on the ASWB exam?

A: While the ASWB exam doesn’t label questions by code section, ethical competence underlies many scenarios across domains like assessment, intervention, and professional responsibility. You’re likely to encounter multiple questions that directly or indirectly test your understanding of 1.04 Competence.

These may involve situations where a Social Worker is asked to work outside their training, needs to seek supervision, or is using new techniques without adequate preparation. Mastering this topic improves your ability to select safe, ethical responses—something the exam consistently rewards.

Q: Can I ethically accept a case in an area I’m unfamiliar with if I plan to learn along the way?

A: Only if you take specific, proactive steps to build competence first. According to Section 1.04(b) of the NASW Code of Ethics, you may begin working in a new area after engaging in proper training, study, supervision, or consultation with someone who is already competent in that area.

Simply planning to “learn on the job” is not enough. If you start providing services without these supports in place, you risk causing harm and violating ethical standards. The key is ensuring client safety through responsible preparation.

Q: How can I best study ethical competence for the ASWB exam?

A: Start by thoroughly reviewing Section 1.04 of the NASW Code of Ethics. Then, apply your knowledge using realistic practice questions that require situational thinking. Resources like Agents of Change are especially helpful because they offer case-based questions, rationales, and live group discussions that help you internalize the material.

Their programs include structured study plans, flashcards, and unlimited access until you pass, so you can begin early and stay on track. Studying ethics in isolation isn’t effective. You need to see how competence plays out in real decisions, and Agents of Change is built for that.

5) Conclusion

Competence isn’t just a requirement in the NASW Code of Ethics. It reflects the Social Work profession’s deepest values: integrity, responsibility, and respect for human dignity. Section 1.04 holds Social Workers accountable for knowing their limits, committing to ongoing learning, and always prioritizing client safety. Whether you’re just entering the field or preparing to advance your licensure, understanding this principle is essential for ethical, effective practice.

On the ASWB exam, questions involving competence are subtle but powerful. They challenge you to think critically, make judgment calls, and choose the response that reflects real-world professionalism. Memorizing rules won’t be enough. You need to know what competence looks like in action and how to recognize when a line has been crossed.

► Learn more about the Agents of Change course here: https://agentsofchangeprep.com

About the Instructor, Meagan Mitchell: Meagan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing individualized and group test prep for the ASWB for over 10 years. From all of this experience helping others pass their exams, she created the Agents of Change course to help you prepare for and pass the ASWB exam!

Find more from Agents of Change here:

► Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aswbtestprep

► Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/agents-of-change-sw

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Disclaimer: This content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Ethics and the ASWB Exam: 1.04 Competence

Ethics and the ASWB Exam: 1.04 Competence

1) What Is Section 1.04: Competence?