ISSUED: 16 November 2016
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University social work graduates once again did very well on the Association of Social Work Boards exam. Craig Cline, assistant professor of social work and director of the social work program, said nine students from Shepherd took the 2015 exam and the pass rate was 100 percent.
For the past 10 years, Shepherd students have averaged a 96 percent pass rate. Cline pointed out that not all states requires social workers to be licensed, so whether students take the exam depends on where they end up finding a job.
“It is an improvement over previous years and it is significantly higher than the North American pass rate of 71 percent,” Cline said. “It demonstrates that the social work faculty are dedicated to making sure that the students are obtaining the skills and information that they need to practice safely with their clients.”
Cline said in Shepherd’s social work program there’s a huge emphasis on ethical practice.
“We’re working with very vulnerable populations,” Cline said. “As we send students out into the field to practice, it’s important that they’re doing so ethically and professionally. We’re very proud that the students are able to achieve such a significant pass rate and that they are prepared to practice ethically with their clients.”
Listen to the interview HERE.
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