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Telehealth and other remote services are now a regular part of Social Work practice. They expand access to care, but they also raise ethical questions about privacy, informed consent, boundaries, licensure, and emergencies. These are the same core ethics you’ll see on the ASWB exam, applied to a digital setting.
This guide covers the NASW technology standards, key ethical issues in remote practice, equity and access, and how to approach these questions on the exam, with practice questions.
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Quick answer: ethics of remote Social Work
- Informed consent: explain the benefits and risks of technology-based services, including privacy and backup plans.
- Confidentiality: use secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms and help clients find a private space.
- Licensure: follow the laws of the jurisdiction where the client is located, not just where you are.
- Emergencies: confirm the client’s location and have a crisis plan before each session.
Jump to: NASW Technology Standards · Key Ethical Issues · Access and Equity · On the ASWB Exam · Practice Questions · FAQs
1) NASW Technology Standards
In 2017, NASW updated its Code of Ethics with standards on technology, and NASW, ASWB, CSWE, and the Clinical Social Work Association released joint Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice.
| Standard | What It Requires |
|---|---|
| 1.03 Informed Consent | Explain the benefits and risks of technology-based services, verify the client’s identity and location, and assess whether the client can use technology effectively. |
| 1.04 Competence | Develop the knowledge and skills needed for technology-based practice, and follow the laws of both the jurisdiction where you practice and where the client is located. |
| 1.06 Conflicts of Interest | Avoid personal relationships with clients on social media and other digital platforms. |
| 1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality | Protect client information in electronic communication and records, and don’t search for clients online without consent unless there’s a compelling professional reason. |
Review the Code of Ethics for the ASWB exam for more.
Agents of Change packages include video and audio lessons, hundreds of practice questions, a personalized study plan, and 2 live study groups each month so you’ll be ready for test day!
2) Key Ethical Issues in Remote Practice
| Issue | Best Practice |
|---|---|
| Privacy | Use secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms. Help clients find a private space, and consider using headphones or a phone call if privacy is limited. |
| Emergencies | Confirm the client’s location and an emergency contact at the start of each session, and know local crisis resources. |
| Licensure | Practice only where you’re authorized. Clients who travel or move to another state may need a referral or a different arrangement. |
| Boundaries | Use professional accounts and devices, set clear communication hours, and don’t connect with clients on personal social media. |
| Rapport and communication | Check in more often, since nonverbal cues are harder to see. Be careful with text-based messages, which are easy to misread. |
| Suitability | Assess whether remote services fit the client’s needs. Some clients, such as those at high risk, may need in-person care. |
| Documentation | Note the service format, the client’s location, and any technical problems in the record. |
3) Access and Equity
Remote services can reach clients in rural areas and those with transportation or mobility barriers. But not everyone has a reliable device, internet access, or a private space. Social Workers can help by:
| Strategy | Example |
|---|---|
| Assessing access | Ask about devices, internet, privacy, and comfort with technology. |
| Offering alternatives | Provide phone sessions or in-person options when video isn’t workable. |
| Connecting to resources | Refer clients to device-lending programs or low-cost internet options. |
| Ensuring accessibility | Use interpreters, captioning, and accessible platforms. |
| Advocating | Support policies that expand broadband and telehealth coverage. |
4) Remote Practice on the ASWB Exam
Remote practice questions test familiar principles in a new setting:
| Exam Principle | What to Remember |
|---|---|
| Safety first | In a crisis during a remote session, use the client’s location and emergency plan to get help. See our guide to ASWB exam safety-first rules. |
| Confidentiality | Choose answers that protect privacy and address risks openly with the client. |
| Informed consent | Look for answers that explain technology risks and backup plans up front. |
| Client-centered solutions | Solve access problems without putting financial or privacy burdens on the client. |
| Boundaries | Keep relationships professional across every platform. |
Agents of Change includes 2 live study groups each month to talk through tricky ethics questions.
5) Practice Questions
Question 1: A Social Worker provides video sessions to a client who recently moved to a rural area. The client is worried about privacy because family members share the computer. What should the Social Worker do?
A) Advise the client to use a private browsing window
B) Suggest the client buy a personal device
C) Offer to hold sessions by phone if the client can’t secure a private space or device
D) Recommend the client use a friend’s device
Correct Answer: C) Offer to hold sessions by phone if the client can’t secure a private space or device
Rationale: A phone session addresses the privacy concern without adding cost or new risks. A private browser doesn’t prevent being overheard, buying a device may not be affordable, and a friend’s device creates new confidentiality risks. The Social Worker can also help the client explore private times and places for sessions.
Question 2: During a video session, a client says she has taken a large number of pills, and then the call disconnects. What should the Social Worker do FIRST?
A) Contact emergency services at the client’s location using the information confirmed at the start of the session
B) Wait to see whether the client calls back
C) Send an email asking the client to reschedule
Correct Answer: A) Contact emergency services at the client’s location using the information confirmed at the start of the session
Rationale: This is an emergency. Confirming the client’s location at the start of each session makes it possible to get help quickly.
Question 3: A telehealth client tells the Social Worker she is moving to another state next month and wants to continue sessions. What should the Social Worker do FIRST?
A) Check whether they’re authorized to practice in the client’s new state
B) Continue sessions as usual, since they’re online
C) End services immediately without a plan
Correct Answer: A) Check whether they’re authorized to practice in the client’s new state
Rationale: Social Workers must follow the laws of the jurisdiction where the client is located. If they aren’t authorized there, they should plan a transition and referral.
Want more practice? Start with our free ASWB practice questions and free ASWB flashcards. Agents of Change packages also include hundreds of practice questions with rationales and four full-length, 122-question practice exams. For more test-taking tips, see our ASWB exam strategies.
6) FAQs: Ethics of Remote Social Work
How can Social Workers protect confidentiality in remote practice?
Use secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms, help clients find private spaces, explain privacy risks during informed consent, and keep professional and personal accounts separate.
How can Social Workers make remote services more equitable?
Assess each client’s access to technology, offer phone or in-person options, connect clients to device and internet resources, and ensure accessibility for clients with disabilities or language needs.
How do I maintain boundaries online?
Set clear communication hours and platforms, use professional accounts only, avoid personal social media connections with clients, and use supervision for tricky situations.
7) Conclusion
Remote practice applies the same Social Work values to a new setting. For the ASWB exam, focus on informed consent, confidentiality, licensure, emergency planning, boundaries, and equitable access.
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About the Instructor, Dr. Meagan Mitchell: Meagan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing individualized and group test prep for the ASWB for over 11 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!
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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.
