ACSW Committee

Charge

Authorization and Accountability

The Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) Examination Review Committee was created in 1987 as a specialized committee of the Competence Certification Commission (CCC), designed to provide expert professional and technical judgment necessary to ensure the validity of the ACSW certification procedure. Members of the ASCW ERC are appointed by the President of NASW, and the Chairperson of the ACSW ERC is a member of the CCC. The ACSW ERC is accountable to the CCC, which reports to the Board

Purpose

The ACSW ERC is charged with providing the professional social work review of all examination procedures to ensure their appropriateness to the certification involved, and with the responsibility for the development and accuracy of test items. In consequence of these basic responsibilities, the ACSW ERC serves as the volunteer body that oversees and advises staff in the preparation of test materials, in steps required to ensure the validity of the certification procedure, and other activities related to these areas.

Time Frame

As a unit providing professional support to the ACSW, the ACSW ERC is an on going committee of the CCC with specific responsibilities related to the two annual examination administrations of the ACSW and to the continuous need for the development of examination items. Its activities are related to the June and November examination times, as well as in response to any specific tasks requested of it by the CCC.

Members, Terms and Criteria

The ACSW ERC is comprised of eight members, appointed for staggered terms of three years. All persons appointed should hold the ACSW credential. The ACSW ERC chairperson is a member of the CCC.

Specific Responsibilities

For the ACSW certification procedure:

• To develop a process for the ongoing preparation of valid test items.
• To review and approve all items developed for use in the ACSW certification procedure.
• To review and approve each form of an ACSW test administration.
• To determine the scoring of statistically problematic test items.
• To review steps required for the validation of the ACSW procedure, in consultation with the American College Testing, Inc.
• To develop, review, and approve reference materials and procedures used in the ACSW certification procedure.
• To advise and inform the Competence Certification Commission and the NASW Board of Directors of policy issues affecting the ACSW procedure.
• To make recommendations for ensuring the validity and technical viability of the ACSW certification procedure of other certification procedures, as requested.
• To provide guidance and consultation regarding the periodic revision of the test blueprint.
• To receive and resolve complaints or problems related to the ACSW certification procedure.

Revised Board of Directors 6/97