LCSW Exam Study Guides

It's nice to have some help as you're preparing to pass the licensing exam. Maybe lots of help. It's a big exam with potential content spanning just about everything you've learned in school and in social work practice. But there's no need to get overwhelmed. And there's no reason to do it all by yourself. Many, many social workers have travelled this road before you. They've passed the exam. And they've left their wisdom all over the net, on flash card sites, on blogs like this one, and have gone to work creating practice tests--based upon their experience--for various exam companies. Google will get you to lots of those.

Study guides are also easily tracked down via Internet search. Here are two that come up early have the advantage of being completely free: This (semi-outdated) pdf from University of Missouri-St. Louis. And this free (with sign up) study guide from Social Work Test Prep. Those should keep you busy for a while. If you find others that are great, post for others in comments. Passing the social work licensing exam is a team sport.

The Blog is Back!

We're very excited to announce that, after an over four year hiatus, this blog is returning to action. Coming soon, more posts--more assessment, DSM, theories and methods, and lots more to help you pass the LCSW exam. By now, chances are that most of you who read and used these pages over the first burst of blogging, 2006 through 2010, have already taken and passed the exam. You're now out there doing all kinds of great social work. Please don't be shy about checking in in comments and letting everyone know what you've been up to! For those of you new to the blog, welcome. There are years of terrific posts by niebuhrian to sort through, plus lots of helpful comments from people struggling with and eventually triumphing over the test. You're next.

Interested in helping blog about the exam? Have questions you'd like to see answered here? Write thelcswexam [+] gmail. Looking forward to the coming years of helping you get licensed!

A New Year

I am finally finished with the bulk of my dissertation. This allows me to diversify my interests and time into other writing projects. I finally have some energy to put back into this project and hopefully get some things going again.

To that end, I have designed a brief (5 question) survey for the readers of this blog. If you could take a few moments to fill it, I would appreciate it. This will help me focus my energy and writing into the most needed areas.



Click here to take the Online Survey

New Information

I was looking at the stats for this website today and it seems as though, on average, 30 people visit the website daily. This is a little surprising to me, since I haven't really updated the content all too frequently. However, it tells me that some people are finding value in what is written here.

I have had an internal debate about what I want to do with this blog. Do I want to just leave it alone and post occasionally (when the mood strikes or an email I receive asks a particular question)? Do I want to make a concerted effort to post more material pertaining to taking the exam? Do I want to work on more exam preparation material?

For me, answering these questions comes down to (1) the service this blog is providing for others and (2) a cost-benefit analysis related to my time. I am writing my dissertation at the moment and that certainly takes up a majority of my time. I know I have asked this before and received a few responses from folks. However, I am asking for your help in determining the direction of this blog. Is what is here enough? Would you like to see more information, and what shape should that information take to be most helpful? The more you can help me understand how you use this blog, the better I can decide where to go in the future.

Thanks,

It's Been a While

Occasionally, I get some emails about this blog from the people who find it useful. I have not posted here in a while because of a variety of reasons; however, I could be convinced to post again should the need arise.

Most of what you will find here are brief explanations of the theories and methods of clinical social work practice. My reasons for writing it in the past were twofold. First, it helped me study for my exam. Second, the guides I found online were poorly edited and provided little value for the money you paid for them.

As I think about writing new posts for this blog I am working hard to convince myself of its usefulness for others in need. In that vein, I would ask what you, the people who find this medium and information helpful, would like me to post on this blog. The clinical theories and methods are relatively complete, are there other areas that seem information heavy that could be dealt with here and provide a service to others taking the exam?

What do you think? What information could I provide here that would be helpful for you (and others) taking the LCSW national exam?

If I don't hear anything I will assume that I have provided the necessary information for your benefit. If I do hear something then I will attempt to provide what information I can in as timely a manner as possible.

Feel free to email me or leave a comment in this post.

Peace

Study Groups

I have a request from someone who is looking for others to study with for the LCSW. Rather than post her information individually. Please feel free to comment to this post if you are looking for a study group or know of one in your area. Consider it a bulletin board of sorts...

Better still, post on the more trafficked study group bulletin board at SWTP.

I passed

I took the exam today and passed. I have a great sense of relief and will post the rest of my notes on the theories and other pieces I used as a study guide. I am going on vacation first though...

Getting Started

I was asked a question about where to begin when wanting to become licensed as a soical worker. My first thought is begin with your state website. In Colorado (where I currently live) the webiste is found here:

http://www.dora.state.co.us/mental-health/sw/licensing.htm

For other states I would recommend a Google search containing the keywords: social, work, boards, (your state).

Assuming you have completed the required supervisory and clinical hours, the application and payment will need to be filled out and sent in. Then the state board will approve the application and send further instructions for taking the national exam.

Registration for the national exam is through www.aswb.org. Once you are approved you sign up with them, pay another fee, and pick your date and location.

One other place to get information about licensure is through your supervisor or another licensed social worker. It would seem, to me at least, that those who are lisenced and provide supervision should also have information regarding the requirements and steps needed to fulfill the process.

Finally, different states have different concepts of "preparedness." Therefore, check the state website for what you might need before applying. Furthermore, due to a lack of initiative or the inability to agree, there is little reciprocity between states. Therefore, your license in Virginia is no good in Colorado until you fill out the Colorado application, pay the fee, and hope they approve of the work you have already done.

Taking the LCSW Exam

I am taking the National Clinical Social Worker exam in late July. So far, most of the online resources that I have found have been either boring or full of editing mistakes. Therefore, I am going to try and write up as much of the material I can before the late July and post it here for myself and others who might want the resources without the hassles. Feel free to comment, request or add to the material I present.

I have the belief that all of those who are taking the test are in it together. Furthermore, those who come after us can benefit from the wisdom and studies of those who have completed the clincal requirements and preparing for the exam. Therefore, let us contribute wisely and succinctly from our reading and our experiences.

I will probably alternate between posting psychotherapuetic theories and DSM-IV disorders. I would appreciate additional information from anyone who has studied for the research, ethics and HIPPA portions of the test.