• About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Shop Merch
SWHELPER
  • Login
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Mental Health
  • LGBTQ
  • Justice
No Result
View All Result
Post Jobs
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Mental Health
  • LGBTQ
  • Justice
No Result
View All Result
SWHELPER
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Social Work

Taking the Social Work Licensure Exam

Jason AdkinsbyJason Adkins
06/18/2014
in Social Work
25
Taking the Social Work Licensure Exam
0
SHARES
42
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Social work licensure can be a dizzying experience for anyone who has graduated with a Bachelor or Master of Social Work. Preparing involves understanding the different requirements for each state, contacting the local state board that regulates licensure, and communicating with your local, state, and national NASW.  Grasping the educational provisions required by the CSWE and adhering to the procedures used by ASWB, it’s no wonder that of the 27,699 exams administered in 2013, there were 6,093 failed attempts.

social-workFor those of you who are quick with math, you’ve already figured out that number equates to a 78% pass rate for the five different licenses they offer, which may not sound too shabby.  But consider this, the pass rate only takes into account first time test takers for that calendar year.

So, no matter how many times someone has taken and failed the exam in previous years, if they passed in 2013, they were counted in that number.  The level of confusion only increases as social workers allow year after year to pass between graduation day and exam day.  This is enough to cause measurable anxiety.  So what do social workers do when it gets to this point?  We seek out help.

A few years ago one of the most intelligent social workers I have met passed her clinical social work exam and is now practicing in the state of Georgia. For her, passing meant not having to go through the process over again for her fifth time. As far as my personal experience, the social work clinical license exam was the hardest exam I’ve taken in my entire life!  I studied hard and thought I would walk right in and ace the test my first go around.  However, I missed the mark by more than 10 points.  I was devastated that I had to go through the painstaking process of retaking the exam.

After I was successful at passing, my goal became offering help to other social workers who are trying desperately to clear this hurdle.  I have been working with social work licensing ever since and while I have had the privilege of sharing in the joy of many success stories, I have also witnessed social workers fail the clinical exam by as little as a mere point.  Some give up while others only get hungrier to succeed.

One option is to get together with colleagues or fellow alumni to create study groups.  We dust off the old text books and pull out the faded notebooks and buckle down to help pull each other through the process.  This works for some, however, let’s say 2 of the 5 people in the study group pass the exam and the others don’t.  While the newly licensed social workers are celebrating their success, the others may be left back…disappearing in embarrassment.  So we want to ensure that we are sensitive to the needs of all in the group.

A different approach is to turn to outside resources to move us forward on our quest.  Online test preparation programs, face to face groups, individual tutors, DVD’s, CD’s, apps, podcasts, and handbooks are some of the widely used tools.  Some are endorsed by NASW on a national level and some are even offered at NASW local chapters.   There are also some companies who provide group study events all over the country and many schools of social work are now incorporating a test prep component into their curriculum.  Be mindful that some of these programs are created by people who are not social workers and others who offer all manners of exams ranging from the LSAT to the GRE.

Technology also plays a role in advancing many social workers towards passing their exams.  There are apps that are offered free, as well as ones that costs.  At this time there are only a handful available and they mainly offer flashcards and practice exam items.  Web camera products like Skype and Google Hangouts assist many social workers with connecting to others when we cannot meet face-to-face for a studying session.

Submit your social work licensure stories of success, struggle, and any questions you may have about the process.  This is the first of a series of articles on the topic and as the resident expert-you can expect a well researched and valuable response on the level of competence you have come to expect from Social Work Helper.   Future articles plan to have interviews with key players from organizations such as CSWE, NASW, state jurisdictions, ASWB, and various test prep providers.  We also plan to do feature stories with social workers who have faced the exam and lived to tell about it!

Did you know…

…that ASWB creates the exams for social workers in 49 states (except California), the US Virgin Islands, and all 10 of Canada’s provinces?

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
Tags: ASWBBachelors of Social WorkBSWexam prepMasters of Social WorkMSWNASWSocial Worksocial work licensuretest prep
Previous Post

Teachers and Twitter: What’s the Point of Twitter Chats?

Next Post

Aging-in-Place: It Can Be Detrimental to Your Health

Next Post
Aging-in-Place: It Can Be Detrimental to Your Health

Aging-in-Place: It Can Be Detrimental to Your Health

Please login to join discussion
ADVERTISEMENT

Featured Jobs

Open rank tenure-track faculty position, School of Social Work
Boston, MA - Simmons University
Open rank tenure-track faculty position, School of...
Social Worker
Alexandria, MN - Undisclosed
Join this vital team!Hiring to fill multiple Socia...
Medical Social Worker-OSH
Berwyn, IL - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Medical Social Worker (MSW), Hospice
Springfield, MO - Bayada
Reduce stress and burnout! Provide clinical care w...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Gig Harbor, WA - LifeStance Health
Sign-On Bonus!We are actively looking to hire tale...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Bothell, WA - LifeStance Health
Sign-On Bonus!We are actively looking to hire tale...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Bothell, WA - LifeStance Health
Sign-On Bonus!We are actively looking to hire tale...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Edmonds, WA - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Licensed ...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Sammamish, WA - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Licensed ...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Renton, WA - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Licensed ...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Olympia, WA - LifeStance Health
Sign-On Bonus!We are actively looking to hire tale...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Timonium, MD - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Columbia, MD - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Saint Peters, MO - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Tacoma, WA - LifeStance Health
Sign-On Bonus!We are actively looking to hire tale...
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Clinton, NC - Liberty Health
Liberty Cares With Compassion At Liberty Hospice w...
PERMANENCY SPECIALIST Job Details | State of Illinois
Rockford, IL - State of Illinois
PERMANENCY SPECIALISTWe continually strive for a w...
Medical Social Worker
Allentown, PA - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Medical Social Worker - Home Health Visits
Baltimore, MD - Bayada
BAYADA Home Health Care is currently seeking an en...
Social Worker - MSW
CHULA VISTA, CA - St. Paul's Senior Services
San Diego's St. Paul's PACE program (Program of Al...
Surgical Assistant - Oral Surgery
Colorado Springs, CO - Pike Peak Oral Surgery
Dental Assistant Oral SurgerySurgical Assistant Or...
Pediatric Pulmonology and/or Pediatric Sleep Medicine - Assistant, Associate or Professor
San Antonio, TX - CHRISTUS Children's
Pediatric Pulmonology and/or Pediatric Sleep Medic...
Social Worker / Counselor - Boise Fairview
Boise, ID - Terry Reilly Health Services
For 50 years, Terry Reilly Health Services has bee...
Medical Social Worker
Westampton, NJ - Bayada
Be the Medical Social Worker you always wanted to ...
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
Novi, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
Lansing, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
Auburn Hills, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
St. Clair Shores, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
Highland, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
Brighton, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Ann Arbor, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) (open to working with all ages)
Fenton, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Novi, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Ann Arbor, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
St. Clair Shores, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Auburn Hills, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Brighton, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Highland, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Lansing, MI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Therapist...
Social Worker - Full or Part Time
Columbus, OH - Life Start, Inc.
Life Start Inc. is a private non-profit agency, pr...
Clinical Social Worker
Avenal, CA - California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS)
Position: Clinical Social WorkerAnnual Salary Rang...
Clinical Social Worker
Coalinga, CA - California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS)
Position: Clinical Social Worker Annual Salary Ran...
Clinical Social Worker
Jamestown, CA - California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS)
Position: Clinical Social WorkerAnnual Salary Rang...
Social Worker - Emergency Department - University Hospital
Madison, WI - University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Work Schedule : This is a full time, 40 hours per...
Clinical Social Worker
San Quentin, CA - California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS)
Position: Clinical Social Worker Annual Salary Ran...
Clinical Social Worker
Susanville, CA - California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS)
Position: Clinical Social Worker Annual Salary Ran...
Medical Social Worker- Part-Time
Jamestown, CA - Satellite Healthcare, Inc.
\n\n WHAT YOU WILL DO The Medical Social Worker u...
Dialysis Social Worker - Up to $2000 Sign-On Bonus
Lafayette, IN - U.S. Renal Care, Inc.
How you will change lives As a Social Worker at U...
Dialysis Social Worker - LCSW Chronic In-center
Naples, FL - U.S. Renal Care, Inc.
How you will change lives As a Social Worker at U...
Social Worker Field Care Coordinator - DC, MD, VA
Washington, DC - Optum
$5,000 Sign-on Bonus for External CandidatesOptum ...
View All JobsPost a Job
Powered by

  • Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

    Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

    94 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

    694 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Biopsychosocial Perspective to Mental Health and Illness

    3 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • My Journey as a Teacher and the Future of Education

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fast and Furious Star Paul Walker Died During Charity Event for Philippines Typhoon Victims

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
SWHELPER

We bring content to support you and the people you care about in their various stages of life. If you are searching in google on how to help or assist a loved one or yourself, check out our content.

LEARN MORE »

  • Terms of Service
  • Article Submissions
  • Advertising
  • Shop Merch

© 2024 SWHELPER.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Category
    • Business
    • Culture
    • Economy
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Travel
    • Opinion
    • Politics
    • Tech
    • World
  • Find/Post Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop Merch

© 2024 SWHELPER.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    If You Enjoyed This Post
    Join Our Newsletter
    Subscribe
    Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime.
    Close