After weeks of studying, and years preparing with clinical hours and supervision, I took the LCSW exam today for the first time. I PASSED!!!! This is not an easy test, and I was SO relieved. Thank you to who helped me with encouraging words, supervision, suggestions, support, and prayers. Prayers especially really helped-I could feel them, and I believe that prayer is tangible in effect, especially when people are focused on a common goal. See Noetics, or any number of theories and experiments for further explanation. =)

If you are a person studying for this exam, the following materials were most helpful in prepping.

1. The Social Worker’s Desk Reference: This clarifies and gives more specifics on virtually any topic that may come up on the exam.

2. If your state offers a test prep course, take it. The study manual you will get from it alone is worth the cost of the course.

3. The DSM-IV TR, or as I like to call it, the Big Gray Book of Human Misery (That’s me whistling in the dark.) Also a great song by They Might Be Giants….

4. Purchasing the practice exam from the ASWB is well worth it. In taking it, it made me more familiar with the true exam format, types of questions, and although I passed the practice exam, my score was even higher on the actual exam. More confidence, less anxiety.

5. I also found a subscription to socialworkexam.com was helpful, but feel I could  have passed the exam without it. There are many typos on the site, as well as conflicting and duplicated information. To be fair-it does at least give you some practice and some key review knowledge.

I am on cloud nine. I can now do private practice on the side or full time, and take insurance. It’s the ultimate goal achieved at the end of years of training, but there’s always more to learn. Good luck to anyone on their journey. It’s a major turning point in your career, and a reward for years of hard work!

Especial thanks to Sweet Donnie, for his faith in me, and for covering me with silly string immediately after the exam, and wrapping a large feather boa in Kelly Colors around me. I love my husband. He also got me a keepsake for today, took me for great food, and to a movie. Then, we relaxed. Sweet bliss. I think I shall sleep well tonight.