(a) Social workers should accept responsibility or employment only on the basis of existing competence or the intention to acquire the necessary competence.
(b) Social workers should strive to become and remain proficient in professional practice and the performance of professional functions. Social workers should critically examine, and keep current with, emerging knowledge relevant to social work. Social workers should routinely review professional literature and participate in continuing education relevant to social work practice and social work ethics.
(c) Social workers should base practice on recognized knowledge, including empirically based knowledge, relevant to social work and social work ethics.
This is a section that exam writers have been known to turn to with a question or two on the social work licensing exam. Might look something like this: Upon intake, a client reveals they have SOME SPECIAL PROBLEM about which the social worker is not an expert. What is the BEST course of action for the social worker to take? Answer: Continue treating the client; Seek supervision; Refer the client to someone with the speciality; Seek continuing education on the topic and continue to see the client. What do you say?
Well, if social workers are to practice "only on the basis of existing competence" and this social worker isn't yet competent in the area the client seeks help with, referral is the best option. Of course, if the problem isn't really out of the social worker's expertise and the client just thinks it must be, that's a different vignette. Some variation on the theme is a not-uncommon exam question. Now you're ready! Good luck.