Effectiveness of China’s social work professional level examination: based on evaluating professional competence

ABSTRACT

This study uses data from 5965 social workers in the China Social Work Longitudinal Study (CSWLS) and employs propensity score matching to examine whether obtaining certification through the Chinese Social Work Professional Level Examination (CSWPLE) ensures that social workers possess a certain level of professional competence. The analysis results indicate that the CSWPLE can guarantee that certified social workers who pass the examination possess a certain level of professional competence. The CSWPLE, characterised by the abandoning educational restrictions, low-threshold, and government led, provides a new model for promoting the development of social work in developing countries and regions.

KEYWORDS:

• Certificate
• social work education
• examination
• professional competence
• threshold

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due the data used in this study comes from the China Survey of Social Work Longitudinal Study (CSWLS) subject group of East China University of Science and Technology, which explicitly states that the use of the data requires the group’s consent and that this study does not have the right to disclose the CSWLS data. Database link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kOQTkzQK7e2wN5WOMQIOvw.

Notes

1. Occupational Qualification: CSWPLE is not an admission qualification exam, and the ‘certificate’ is not the foundation for engaging in social work, that is, one can work in the field of social work without holding a certificate.

2. Filter: A ‘filter’ refers to whether the CSWPLE can effectively screen and evaluate potential social workers, ensuring that certified social workers who pass the examination possess the appropriate professional competence to perform relevant work.

Additional information

Funding

This research is jointly funded by the Key Project of Social Science of MOE [grant 22JZD028], Key project of National Social Science Foundation [grant 22AMZ003], Key Project of Xinjiang Social Science Foundation [grant 20AZD006] and Postgraduate Research and Innovation Project of Xinjiang [grant XJ2022G074].

Notes on contributors

Yukun Li

Yukun Li: He is a master of social work of Xinjiang University, Assistant social worker. His research interests are mental health of social workers and turnover issues.

Haibo Qin

Haibo Qin: He is the deputy dean of the School of Politics and Public Administration of Xinjiang University, Associate Professor, where he mainly studies social organisation cultivation and quantitative social work.

Yanyan Zhao

Yanyan Zhao: She has a Masters in Social Work from Xinjiang University and is an Assistant Social Worker. Her research interests are in social organisation.