In preparation for the ASWB exam—and for ethical practice beyond it—social workers are well to understand that staying silent in the face of unethical behavior is itself an ethical issue. Section 2.10 of the NASW Code of Ethics spells out our responsibility to address misconduct among peers, including unethical behavior carried out digitally.

Whether you're witnessing boundary violations, confidentiality breaches, or dishonest billing, the ethical mandate is the same: speak up, document, and follow appropriate channels.

Here’s the full standard:

2.10 Unethical Conduct of Colleagues
(a) Social workers should take adequate measures to discourage, prevent, expose, and correct the unethical conduct of colleagues, including unethical conduct using technology.
(b) Social workers should be knowledgeable about established policies and procedures for handling concerns about colleagues’ unethical behavior. Social workers should be familiar with national, state, and local procedures for handling ethics complaints. These include policies and procedures created by NASW, licensing and regulatory bodies, employers, agencies, and other professional organizations.
(c) Social workers who believe that a colleague has acted unethically should seek resolution by discussing their concerns with the colleague when feasible and when such discussion is likely to be productive.
(d) When necessary, social workers who believe that a colleague has acted unethically should take action through appropriate formal channels (such as contacting a state licensing board or regulatory body, the NASW National Ethics Committee, or other professional ethics committees).
(e) Social workers should defend and assist colleagues who are unjustly charged with unethical conduct.

What It Means in Practice

Ethical accountability is part of professional integrity. This section reinforces a social worker’s role not just as helper—but as steward of the profession.

  • Don’t ignore misconduct—take action when you see it

  • Start with direct communication when appropriate and safe

  • Know your employer’s and state’s reporting protocols

  • Use formal channels if issues persist

  • Support wrongly accused colleagues with fairness and transparency

Practice Question

Here's how this material might look on the licensing exam:

A clinical social worker notices that a colleague frequently posts client stories on social media—without names, but with enough detail to make some clients identifiable. The social worker is unsure whether the posts violate any laws. What should the social worker do first?

A. Confront the colleague in a team meeting to ensure transparency

B. Report the colleague to the licensing board 

C. Take action as soon a client complains

D. Discuss the concern privately with the colleague

This situation involves potential ethical violations around confidentiality and public communication. While it’s tempting to escalate quickly, the Code recommends starting with direct dialogue—if it’s feasible and likely to be productive. Narrowing down the correct answer: A could be shaming and may damage team dynamics; B may be necessary later—but not as the first step unless harm is urgent; C ignores the duty to act proactively in protecting client welfare. The best answer is D.

Want to see more questions like this before test day? SWTP’s full-length practice exams are designed to build your confidence and sharpen your clinical judgment.

Take a test and see how you score.




June 23, 2025
Categories :
  ethics  
  practice  
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