The ASWB exam has a strict order of operations: your state licensing board approves you first, you register with ASWB second, and you schedule with Pearson VUE last.
Do those out of order and you’ll be waiting on refunds instead of studying. Here’s the clean sequence.
The three-step sequence
- Apply to your state (or provincial) licensing board and wait for exam approval—every board has its own forms, fees, and timelines.
- Register with ASWB and pay the exam fee (currently $230 for Bachelors and Masters, $280 for Advanced Generalist and Clinical).
- Book your seat at Pearson VUE once the registration confirmation arrives.
Register for the right exam category
ASWB runs four exam categories—Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist, and Clinical. Your license level and your state decide which one you sit; it is not a personal choice.
Registering for the wrong category means canceling and starting over, so copy the category exactly from your board’s approval letter.
Accommodations take lead time
Testing accommodations are requested through ASWB with documentation and must be approved before you schedule. Build in several extra weeks if you need them—retrofitting accommodations onto an existing appointment doesn’t work.