APHSW-C Exam - Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker – Certified
About APHSW-C Certification
APHSW-C stands for Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker – Certified credential. It is awarded by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), and certifies social workers specializing in hospice and palliative care. It validates advanced knowledge and clinical judgment in providing psychosocial support to patients and families facing serious illness, including assessment, intervention, grief and bereavement care, and ethical practice. Earning the APHSW-C credential demonstrates verified expertise in palliative and hospice social work and a commitment to high-quality, patient and family-centered care.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Description | A specialty certification exam designed to validate advanced knowledge and competency for experienced hospice and palliative social workers. |
Credentials Earned | Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker–Certified (APHSW-C). |
Eligibility Requirements | Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program (or sociology, psychology, gerontology, social science, public health); required post-degree hospice or palliative social work experience (BSW: three years supervised within the last five years; MSW: two years within the last five years, a year of experience is equivalent to working 2,000 hours); adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics; active state licensure if required. |
Completion Time | 3 hours. |
Subjects Covered in the Exam | Core domains include Assessment and Reevaluation, Planning and Intervention, Death, Grief, and Bereavement, and Professionalism. |
Number of Questions | 150 multiple-choice questions, with 135 scored items and 15 unscored pretest questions. |
Exam Format | Computer-based examination consisting of multiple-choice questions. |
Exam Proctoring | Administered at authorized testing centers or through live remote proctoring. |
Recertification Details | Required every four years, with renewal options based on continuing education and professional development activities. |
Pass/Fail Rates | Pass rates vary by testing year but average at around 70%. |
Difficulty Level | Hard |
Study Material | BoardCerts APHSW-C Exam Prep, which follows the official exam blueprint. |
BoardCerts APHSW-C Question Bank
BoardCerts delivers a robust question bank designed to support your success on the Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker–Certified (APHSW-C) exam. Featuring high-quality practice questions and multiple predictor exams, all content is mapped directly to the APHSW-C exam blueprint. The content is reviewed by experienced hospice and palliative care social work professionals to ensure accuracy and relevance. Our question bank reflects the depth and demands of the actual exam and includes clear, detailed rationales to reinforce core concepts, enhance critical thinking, and help you approach exam day with confidence.
APHSW-C Content Outline of Exam
The Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker – Certified (APHSW-C) exam evaluates a nurse's proficiency across five primary domains:
- Assessment and Reevaluation (18.5%): assesses initial assessment of patient and family/caregiver, and ongoing assessment and reevaluation.
- Planning and Intervention (37.0%): planning, education, coordination or care/case management, and counseling and support.
- Death, Grief, and Bereavement (20.7%): death preparation and death, and grief and bereavement.
- Professionalism (23.7%): examines quality improvement, collaboration, personal, professional, and ethical competence, knowledge of laws and regulations, provide training and education in hospice and palliative care.
For more detailed blueprint outline, please review the APHSW-C exam blueprint, which can be found here: APHSW-C Exam Preparation and Resources.
Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution
What are the Eligibility Requirements for the APHSW-C Exam?
The following are the eligibility requirements for the Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker Certified (APHSW-C) exam:
- Candidates must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program or an equivalent international program and meet the required post-degree hospice or palliative social work experience criteria.
- Candidates must have completed supervised clinical practice within the designated time frame, three years for BSW-prepared social workers or two years for MSW-prepared social workers, within the last five years. One year of experience is equivalent to working 2,000 hours.
- Candidates are also expected to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics and maintain active state licensure in good standing when licensure is required.
What is the Application Process for the APHSW-C Exam?
To apply for the Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker Certified (APHSW-C) exam, follow these steps:
1. Online Application: Submit your application through the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) online application system.
2. Application Submission: Complete the application by providing your personal and professional information, including your social work education, licensure status if applicable, and verification of required hospice or palliative social work experience.
3. Scheduling the Exam: Once your application is approved, you will receive instructions to schedule your exam at an authorized testing center or through live remote proctoring, allowing flexibility in how and where you test.
4. Preparation: Use targeted study resources such as the BoardCerts APHSW-C Question Bank, which is aligned with the APHSW-C exam blueprint and reflects the scope and difficulty of the actual exam. The question bank covers all major exam domains and is regularly updated to remain consistent with current hospice and palliative social work standards.
APHSW-C Exam Dates and Costs
Candidates can apply for the APHSW-C exam at any time since it is available year-round (March, June, September, December). Once eligibility is verified, candidates can schedule the exam via PSI.
For the latest updates on APHSW-C exam costs, please check the official website of HPCC.
How is the Exam Format of APHSW-C?
Number of Questions: The APHSW-C exam comprises 150 multiple-choice questions, of which 135 are scored, and 15 are unscored pretest questions.
Exam Response Options: Each question offers four response options (A, B, C, D).
Testing Options: The exam is administered at designated testing centers, or via Live Remote Proctoring.
Time Allotted: Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam.
What is the Passing Score of APHSW-C?
Difficulty Level: The APHSW-C exam is considered moderately to highly challenging, reflecting the advanced knowledge and clinical judgment required in hospice and palliative social work practice. Candidates should have a strong working familiarity with the APHSW-C content outline to prepare effectively.
Passing Score: HPCC does not publicly release a fixed passing score for the APHSW-C exam. Scores are determined using a scaled scoring process designed to ensure consistency and fairness across different versions of the exam. The minimum scaled score needed to pass the examinations has been set at 500 scaled score units.
Score Reporting: Candidates receive an on-screen pass or fail result immediately after completing the exam. An official score report is typically provided after testing and includes a breakdown of performance by content domain.
Exam Statistics: The pass rate for the APHSW-C exam varies yearly, averaging at around 70%. This underscores the importance of comprehensive, exam-mapped preparation using reliable study resources.
APHSW-C Exam Proctoring
The Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker Certified (APHSW-C) exam is administered by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) in partnership with its testing vendor. Candidates have the option to take the exam at an authorized testing center or through live remote proctoring, offering flexibility in how the exam is completed.
Live Remote Proctoring: This option allows candidates to complete the APHSW-C exam from a convenient location such as their home or office. During the exam, a trained proctor monitors the candidate in real time using the computer’s webcam and microphone to maintain exam security and integrity. Live remote proctoring provides added convenience for candidates who may have limited access to testing centers or prefer a remote testing environment.
APHSW-C Exam Preparation and Resources
At BoardCerts, we follow the APHSW-C exam blueprint closely to ensure our practice questions are relevant and aligned with the content you will encounter on the test. Our questions are developed based on authoritative hospice and palliative social work references, providing candidates with thorough preparation grounded in reliable, professional resources.
Topics on Exam: The APHSW-C exam blueprint assesses key knowledge and skills across domains such as psychosocial assessment, care planning and coordination, grief and bereavement support, and professional practice. Understanding these areas is essential for success. You can find more information here.
Review Course: Candidates may benefit from additional review courses offered by professional organizations or hospice and palliative care educational programs to strengthen foundational knowledge in exam content.
Question Bank: A comprehensive resource like the BoardCerts APHSW-C Question Bank is highly recommended. This question bank aligns with the APHSW-C exam blueprint and is reviewed by experienced hospice and palliative social work professionals to ensure accuracy and relevance. Each question includes detailed rationales, and predictor exams are provided to help candidates evaluate their readiness and confidence for exam day.
APSHW-C Certification Renewal
The Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker Certified (APHSW-C) credential is valid for four years. To maintain your certification, you must complete the recertification process, which includes:
- Practice Hours: Maintain active social work practice in hospice or palliative care during your four-year certification period, demonstrating ongoing professional engagement in the field.
- Continuing Education: Complete the required continuing education hours and professional development activities as specified by HPCC to stay current in hospice and palliative social work practice. Alternatively, candidates may recertify by successfully passing the APHSW-C exam again.
For detailed guidance on the recertification process, refer to the HPCC APHSW-C Handbook, which provides comprehensive instructions and requirements to help you navigate credential renewal effectively.
Practice Questions for APHSW-C
Practicing sample questions is a crucial part of APHSW-C exam preparation, helping you become familiar with the exam format, question style, and key content areas. The BoardCerts APHSW-C Question Bank offers high-quality, exam-focused sample questions that align with the APHSW-C exam blueprint, ensuring you are well-prepared and confident on test day.
Access Sample Questions: Practice these questions in the interactive quiz software here for an engaging study experience, which will provide you with a feedback at the end of the practice test.
Frequently Asked Questions
