Social workers who teach, train, or supervise students have a powerful influence—and with it comes a heightened ethical responsibility. Section 3.02 of the NASW Code of Ethics focuses on setting clear expectations for educators and field instructors: teach only what you’re qualified to teach, treat students fairly, avoid dual relationships, and ensure client awareness when students are involved.
This standard is often reflected on the ASWB exam in questions about boundaries, fairness, and informed consent during student placements.
Here’s the full standard:
3.02 Education and Training
(a) Social workers who function as educators, field instructors for students, or trainers should provide instruction only within their areas of knowledge and competence and should provide instruction based on the most current information and knowledge available in the profession.(b) Social workers who function as educators or field instructors for students should evaluate students’ performance in a manner that is fair and respectful.
(c) Social workers who function as educators or field instructors for students should take reasonable steps to ensure that clients are routinely informed when services are being provided by students.
(d) Social workers who function as educators or field instructors for students should not engage in any dual or multiple relationships with students in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the student, including dual relationships that may arise while using social networking sites or other electronic media. Social work educators and field instructors are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries.
What It Means in Practice
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Teach only within your scope of knowledge and up-to-date with best practices
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Grade and evaluate fairly—bias or favoritism has no place in ethical education
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Always ensure that clients are informed when services involve a student intern
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Avoid any dual relationships (e.g., dating, friendships, favors) with students
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Be especially cautious with digital boundaries—no following, DMs, or casual contact
Practice Question
Here's how this material might look on the licensing exam:
A field instructor notices that a student intern is providing direct services to clients without informing them of their student status. The intern says they were never told to do so and assumed clients already knew. What is the most ethical response?
A. Reprimand the student and instruct them not to discuss their status with clients going forward
B. Take no action unless a client expresses concern
C. Remind the student of the obligation to inform clients and ensure this becomes routine practice
D. Ask the agency director to temporarily remove the student from direct client work
How to get to the answer: A fails to meet ethical transparency; B ignores the importance of informed consent; D is disproportionate if the issue can be corrected through guidance. The correct answer is C.
SWTP’s full-length ASWB practice exams help you prepare with realistic scenarios, clear explanations, and smart strategies for navigating complex ethics questions.