Agents of Change ASWB exam prep has helped 100,000+ social workers pass, with video and audio lessons, hundreds of practice questions, and live study groups. Start with 10 free practice questions.
A long feature list doesn’t tell you how your study week will work. When comparing Agents of Change and AATBS, look at how concepts are taught, how you get your questions answered, what the package you’d actually buy includes, and how long you can use it.
We recommend Agents of Change if you want multiple learning formats, live engagement in every package, a one-time price, and access until you pass. Created by Dr. Meagan Mitchell, a social worker and educator, Agents of Change includes video, visual, and audio lessons, two live study groups each month, a personalized study plan, and iOS and Android apps for $125 or $175. AATBS offers a broad range of materials and, in its higher-tier packages, live workshops and coaching. The tradeoff is sorting out which services, access periods, and conditions belong to each package.
Published by Agents of Change. This comparison uses publicly available provider information reviewed on November 3, 2026; it is not a hands-on review of every platform. Prices, packages, and policies can change. Our recommendations reflect how we teach and support ASWB preparation.
Quick answer: Why start with Agents of Change when comparing packages?
- Several ways to learn: Video, visual, and audio lessons in every package.
- Live engagement without upgrading: Two live study groups every month are included in both Basics and Premium. At AATBS, live workshops come with the Live Instruction packages.
- Access until you pass: No 6- or 9-month clock, and no requirements to complete before you can keep studying.
- Simple, one-time pricing: $125 for Basics or $175 for Premium + Power Pack, with a personalized study plan and mobile apps included.
- AATBS’s strength: Extensive materials, including 900+ flashcards, a large TestMASTER question bank, and coaching in its live packages.
Jump to: Compare Packages, Not Just Providers · Why Our Creator and Teaching Approach Matter · Turn the Feature List Into a Study Week · Classes, Study Groups, and Coaching · Practice and Review · Access Periods and Guarantees · Total Price of Your Plan · Why We Recommend Agents of Change · FAQs · Next Steps
1) Compare Packages, Not Just Provider Names
AATBS sells several ASWB Masters options: full Live Instruction and Self-Study packages, shorter 3-month Quick Study bundles, and question-only bundles. What’s included depends on the package, so compare the specific one you’d buy. The table below uses AATBS’s full Masters packages.
| Decision | Agents of Change | AATBS (Masters packages) |
|---|---|---|
| Instruction | Video, visual materials, and audio lessons in every package | Study volumes (digital or print), audio lectures, and flashcards; live workshops in Live Instruction packages |
| Live learning | 2 live study groups every month in every package | Live online workshops (about 20 hours) in Live Instruction packages only |
| Individual support | Priority email and chat in Premium; optional 24/7 ASWB Chatbot Tutor | 4 coaching sessions in Live Instruction packages; a $125 add-on for Self-Study |
| Practice | Practice questions with rationales in every topic; 122-question timed exam in Premium; up to 4 full-length exams ($35 each) | TestMASTER with 680+ questions, an assessment exam, full-length practice exams, domain quizzes, and a final exam |
| Study plan and apps | Personalized study plan and iOS and Android apps included | Not described on the package pages we reviewed |
| Price | $125 Basics or $175 Premium + Power Pack, one-time | Package pages show financing “as low as $48/month” (Self-Study) or “$72/month” (Live Instruction) |
| Access | Until you pass | 6 or 9 months by package; one free 3-month extension if you meet the guarantee requirements |
AATBS says it has updated its LMSW materials and TestMASTER practice questions to reflect the new ASWB exam’s structure, applied knowledge focus, and question format. Agents of Change’s lessons and full-length practice exams are also updated for the new exam.
2) Why Agents of Change’s Creator and Teaching Approach Matter
Agents of Change was created by Dr. Meagan Mitchell, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a Doctor of Social Work (DSW), a Master of Social Work (MSW), and a Master of Education. She teaches at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and has helped social workers prepare for the ASWB exam for more than 11 years.
That combination shapes the Agents of Change experience. Video explanations, visual materials, audio lessons, examples, and practice questions give you several ways into the same concept. You can watch a difficult topic being explained, review the visual material, and return to the audio when you want another pass.
Two live study groups each month give you the chance to engage, ask Meagan questions, and work through material with other learners. You have a recurring place to bring the concept or answer choice that still doesn’t make sense.
If you want varied instruction and regular chances to ask questions without choosing a higher-tier package or a coaching add-on, Agents of Change is our recommendation.
3) Turn the Feature List Into a Study Week
An extensive package can look reassuring. The practical question is what you’ll do on Monday, Tuesday, and the next time you sit down to study.
If you buy study volumes, audio, flashcards, practice tests, and workshops, decide which resource leads your plan. Otherwise, you may spend your time switching formats without finishing a review cycle.
For a difficult topic, that cycle might include a lesson, a short explanation in your own words, practice questions, and a return to the part you misunderstood. Materials are useful when they support that sequence.
At Agents of Change, your personalized study plan lays out that sequence week by week, built around your exam date, available hours, and weaker areas. The lessons and practice are designed to work together, and the iOS and Android apps let you keep going on your phone. To see the teaching for yourself, try the free preview with 10 practice questions and rationales.
4) Separate Classes, Study Groups, and Coaching
These services can all be useful, but they aren’t interchangeable.
| Type of help | What it can offer | What to ask before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled class | Instruction at a planned time | Does the schedule fit, and are recordings included? |
| Live study group | Shared question review and opportunities to ask questions | How often does it meet, and how do I participate? |
| Individual coaching | Attention to a specific study concern | How many sessions are included, and what do they cover? |
| Email or chat support | Help through a written channel | Is this instructional help, account support, or both? |
Agents of Change’s twice-monthly study groups suit candidates who want a regular opportunity to learn with others, and they come with every package. They aren’t one-to-one tutoring. AATBS includes four 30-minute coaching sessions in its Live Instruction package and sells coaching as a $125 add-on to Self-Study, so if personal coaching is a priority, compare those terms.
For questions between study groups, Agents of Change also offers the optional ASWB Chatbot Tutor, available 24/7 and informed by the Agents of Change curriculum, with a 7-day free trial.
Avoid paying for scheduled services you can’t attend. A package with more support on paper may give you less useful support if its timing doesn’t fit your work or caregiving responsibilities.
5) Compare Fresh Practice and the Review Process
When a package lists an assessment, quizzes, mock exams, and a final exam, ask what each item is designed to do. An early assessment can guide your review. A fresh timed test later can help you check pacing and apply what you learned.
AATBS’s TestMASTER is a real strength, with 680+ questions, an assessment exam, practice exams, domain quizzes, and a final exam, plus 900+ flashcards. Its package pages describe the number of full-length exams in more than one way, so confirm the count for the package you choose.
Agents of Change offers four full-length, 122-question practice exams timed like the new ASWB exam, with a break after question 61 and a rationale for every question. Premium includes Exam #1, and Exams #2 through #4 are $35 each. Check what you already own before buying the four-exam bundle so you don’t pay for the same exam twice.
After practice, set aside time for review. For every missed or guessed answer, identify whether the problem was missing knowledge, a missed detail, or the reasoning behind the decision. Your next study task should respond to that pattern.
6) Understand Access Periods and Guarantee Conditions
Agents of Change gives you access until you pass. There’s no countdown and nothing you have to complete to keep your access.
AATBS’s full Masters packages come with 6 or 9 months of access. Its Pass Guarantee provides one free 3-month extension if you don’t pass or feel unprepared, but you must have bought a qualifying package within 12 months of your exam, complete every TestMASTER exam first, and request the extension at least 30 days before your course expires or your test date. Additional extensions can be purchased.
That difference matters if your test date changes or life interrupts your study schedule. Ask how much time you’ll have, what you must complete to keep it, and how to request more.
A guarantee is a policy, not an exam result. Compare the actual benefit and eligibility terms rather than assuming the word means a refund or a promise that you’ll pass.
7) Compare the Total Price of Your Actual Plan
Agents of Change Basics is $125 and Premium + Power Pack is $175 for the Masters and Clinical exams, paid once. Both include video, visual, and audio lessons, two live study groups each month, a personalized study plan, the mobile apps, and access until you pass. Premium adds 50+ hours of lessons, a 122-question timed practice exam, case vignettes with video rationales, 30+ recorded study groups, downloadable audio, and priority support. See the course choices and practice exam options.
AATBS’s package pages we reviewed show monthly financing amounts, “as low as $48/month” for the 6-month Self-Study package and “as low as $72/month” for the 9-month Live Instruction package, rather than a single total. Get the full price at checkout before comparing.
- Include any coaching or workshop add-ons you plan to use.
- Include any separate practice exams needed to complete your plan.
- Compare the access period with your expected test date.
- Check the refund policy and extension requirements.
- Decide which included materials you’ll actually use in a typical week.
The useful comparison is the price of a workable plan. You don’t need to assign equal value to every item in a bundle just because it’s included.
8) Why We Recommend Agents of Change for Clear Course Value
Several Learning Formats Included
Choose Agents of Change for video, visual, and audio instruction you can return to as your needs change. A hard concept may need a focused visual explanation; a familiar topic may just need another audio review.
Live Engagement in Every Package
Two live study groups each month give you regular chances to ask Meagan questions, and they’re included in Basics and Premium alike. You don’t need to buy a higher-tier package to get live teaching.
No Clock on Your Access
Access until you pass means you can start early, pause when life gets busy, and pick back up without buying an extension.
A Plan and Tools Built In
Every package includes a personalized study plan and the iOS and Android apps, so you know what to study each week and can study wherever you are.
AATBS’s Genuine Strength
AATBS’s range of materials, large practice bank, flashcards, and coaching in its live packages can appeal to a candidate who wants that full service mix and a defined study window. For varied lessons, live engagement in every package, access until you pass, and simple pricing, Agents of Change is our recommendation.
9) FAQs About Agents of Change and AATBS
Does AATBS include live instruction in every package?
No. AATBS says workshops and coaching are included in its Live Instruction packages. Self-Study packages don’t include live workshops, and coaching is a $125 add-on.
Does every Agents of Change package include live study groups?
Yes. Both Basics and Premium + Power Pack include two live study groups every month, along with a personalized study plan, the iOS and Android apps, and access until you pass.
Does Agents of Change offer individual tutoring?
Agents of Change focuses on course lessons and live study groups. Premium includes priority email and chat support, and the optional ASWB Chatbot Tutor answers questions 24/7. Neither is a package of private tutoring sessions.
Which provider has more practice questions?
AATBS’s TestMASTER lists 680+ questions in its full packages. Agents of Change includes practice questions in every topic and offers four full-length, 122-question practice exams. Compare the exact products you’d buy.
Is the longer feature list the better value?
Only if those features address your needs and you’ll use them. A focused set of tools can support a clearer plan than a large package you struggle to navigate.
10) Choose Agents of Change for Clear Plans and Live Engagement
We recommend Agents of Change for candidates who want varied instruction, twice-monthly live study groups, a personalized study plan, mobile apps, and access until you pass, all for $125 for Basics or $175 for Premium + Power Pack. Explore the course for your level or start with the free preview. Agents of Change has helped more than 100,000 social workers pass their licensing exams.
For other providers, return to our ASWB exam prep comparison guide.
Compare other options: Agents of Change vs. TDC · Agents of Change vs. Pocket Prep · Agents of Change vs. Dawn Apgar · Agents of Change vs. Social Work Test Prep · Agents of Change vs. LEAP
Sources and current product details
- Agents of Change: Masters course
- Agents of Change: Clinical plans and support
- Agents of Change: Practice exams
- AATBS: LMSW exam prep packages and updated materials
- AATBS: LMSW Self-Study package (6-month access)
- AATBS: LMSW Live Instruction package (9-month access)
- AATBS: Pass Guarantee terms and eligibility
► Learn more about the Agents of Change course here: https://agentsofchangeprep.com
About the Instructor, Dr. Meagan Mitchell: Meagan is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and the creator of Agents of Change. She holds a Doctor of Social Work (DSW), a Master of Social Work (MSW), and a Master of Education, and teaches at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. She has been providing individualized and group test prep for the ASWB for over 11 years, and from that experience 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
This content is for informational and educational purposes. No preparation program can guarantee a passing score. ASWB does not sponsor or endorse this comparison or the Agents of Change exam preparation program.
