It turns out that toddlers are not the only ones who do better after an afternoon nap. New research has found that young adults who slept for 90 minutes after lunch raised their learning power, their memory apparently primed to absorb new facts.

Other studies have [...]]]> Sleep your way toward social work licensure.  From the New York Times:

It turns out that toddlers are not the only ones who do better after an afternoon nap. New research has found that young adults who slept for 90 minutes after lunch raised their learning power, their memory apparently primed to absorb new facts.

Other studies have indicated that sleep helps consolidate memories after cramming, but the new study suggests that sleep can actually restore the ability to learn…

This course is designed to assist social workers in understanding the overall licensing process, i.e. the basic requirements and timeframes for obtaining a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license in California. California’s licensing process has been described at [...]]]> From my inbox:  a free NASW course, “How do I obtain a LCSW in California?” is available here.  Description:

This course is designed to assist social workers in understanding the overall licensing process, i.e. the basic requirements and timeframes for obtaining a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license in California. California’s licensing process has been described at lengthy, complex and demanding. According to statistics, over 50% of applicants drop out before completing the process. Consequently, this course recommends strategies to help applicants (a) avoid the most common pitfalls, (b) decrease frustration and delays, and (c) increase the likelihood of being successful. The content also includes a section for licensed social workers from other states who want to become licensed in California.

Non-Californians, if you have links to similar courses, let me know and I’ll happily post them.

* The recommendation of new categories for learning disorders and a [...]]]> Here’s what’s coming ’round the mountain. Posting today at dsmv.org, a new draft of the DSM. Don’t worry, it’s not on the test till it’s out of draft and between shiny covers. But, FYI, here’s a little bit of what’s new:

* The recommendation of new categories for learning disorders and a single diagnostic category, “autism spectrum disorders” that will incorporate the current diagnoses of autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder (not otherwise specified). Work group members have also recommended that the diagnostic term “mental retardation” be changed to “intellectual disability,” bringing the DSM criteria into alignment with terminology used by other disciplines.

* Eliminating the current categories substance abuse and dependence, replacing them with the new category “addiction and related disorders.” This will include substance use disorders, with each drug identified in its own category.

* Eliminating the category of dependence will better differentiate between the compulsive drug-seeking behavior of addiction and normal responses of tolerance and withdrawal that some patients experience when using prescribed medications that affect the central nervous system.

* Creating a new category of “behavioral addictions,” in which gambling will be the sole disorder. Internet addiction was considered for this category, but work group members decided there was insufficient research data to do so, so they recommended it be included in the manual’s appendix instead, with a goal of encouraging additional study.

* New suicide scales for adults and adolescents to help clinicians identify those individuals most at risk, with a goal of enhancing interventions across a broad range of mental disorders; the scales include research-based criteria such as impulsive behavior and heavy drinking in teens.

* Consideration of a new “risk syndromes” category, with information to help clinicians identify earlier stages of some serious mental disorders, such as neurocognitive disorder (dementia) and psychosis.

* A proposed new diagnostic category, temper dysregulation with dysphoria (TDD), within the Mood Disorders section of the manual. The new criteria are based on a decade of research on severe mood dysregulation, and may help clinicians better differentiate children with these symptoms from those with bipolar disorder or oppositional defiant disorder.

* New recognition of binge eating disorder and improved criteria for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, as well as recommended changes in the definitions of some eating disorders now described as beginning in infancy and childhood to emphasize that they may also develop in older individuals.

• A page of links to Free Practice Tests (from AATBS, BTA, Gerry Grossman, and the like).

• Dozens of blog posts including quizzes, links to test-prep audio, [...]]]> Welcome, glad you found the site.  The mission here:  To help get you through the social work licensing exam process.  Among the many features, some favorites:

• A page of links to Free Practice Tests (from AATBS, BTA, Gerry Grossman, and the like).

• Dozens of blog posts including quizzes, links to test-prep audio, flash cards, and lots more.

Please feel free to write with any questions.  Good luck preparing for the exam!

2009 was a big one here. Lots of studying, lots of licensing (me included). SWTP went from casual study blog to full-fledged dot-com with tutoring services, a practice test page, and a shiny new look.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, commented, contributed, wrote, called, got tut or otherwise [...]]]> HAPPY NEW YEAR from Social Work Test Prep!

2009 was a big one here. Lots of studying, lots of licensing (me included). SWTP went from casual study blog to full-fledged dot-com with tutoring services, a practice test page, and a shiny new look.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, commented, contributed, wrote, called, got tut or otherwise participated. Keep coming back, checking in, writing about your successes, failures, frustrations, and triumphs. There’s no site without you.

Good luck to everyone studying. 2010 is the year you get licensed!

Congratulations in advance. More thanks. And Happy New Year.

Will

Social Work Test Prep

Some questions:

How did you study content (program, hours, duration)?  What was worth it, what was wasted time?

How did you prepare for the test-taking [...]]]> Gotten through the exam already or know someone who has?  Send in words of wisdom for all those not yet there.  People want to know how to get it done.

Some questions:

How did you study content (program, hours, duration)?  What was worth it, what was wasted time?

How did you prepare for the test-taking process (online, offline, program, etc.)?

What sort of things did you do to help manage your anxiety?

What other tips do you have people prepping for the exam?

Remember, you signed something saying you wouldn’t talk about the content of the exam.  Leave that stuff out.  But everything else, have at it!

Send responses to socialworktestprep@gmail.com.

Thanks in advance from all involved.

When will the new fees take effect?

Candidates who register on or after January 1, 2010 will pay the new fees.

Why are exams being offered at different fees? The cost of creating test questions for the Bachelors and Masters examinations is lower than the cost of creating test questions for the Advanced Generalist and [...]]]> From ASWB’s press release:

When will the new fees take effect?

Candidates who register on or after January 1, 2010 will pay the new fees.

Why are exams being offered at different fees? The cost of creating test questions for the Bachelors and Masters examinations is lower than the cost of creating test questions for the Advanced Generalist and Clinical examinations. Because fewer Advanced Generalist/Clinical items survive the pretest process, more items need to be created. Additionally, the lower fee for the Bachelors and Masters examination reflects the reality that social workers at these levels, having just graduated from social work programs, are not likely to make as much money as social workers who have been employed for two years.

Why are the new fees at $230 and $260?

The examination fee has not been raised since 2001. Since that time expenses have increased for ASWB, as they have for every organization. The ASWB social work licensing examinations meet the highest psychometric standards, and the cost of maintaining these standards increases as the costs of contractual testing services and travel expenses for volunteers who work on the examinations to write and review the questions rise. There are also additional test security measures that have been planned due to increased test security risks, and these measures will incur additional costs. The amounts of the new fees were designed to serve the association’s needs for at least the next five years—just like the fee increase adopted in 2000 and implemented in 2001.

Why doesn’t ASWB increase fees by a small percentage each year, or at least more frequently than every 5-8 years?

The cost of making incremental fee increases would outweigh the benefits, both in terms of the publication costs and information changes that would need to be made at the board and association level, as well as the level of confusion and (likely ongoing) frustration that would occur at the candidate level.

Why not just cut expenditures? What about across-the-board reductions?

The association has a fiduciary responsibility to its members to provide a valid, reliable licensure examination, and expenses related to this program could not be cut without affecting the overall strength of the program. Leaving this expense area unaffected reduced the potential areas for cuts—so much so that in the first year of operations without a fee increase, several major association programs would have needed to be cut out entirely, and reserve funds used to offset any further projected deficits.

How do the new fees compare to other professional licensing exam fees?

The new fees make the clinical social work fee ($260) 11th and the bachelors and masters social work fee ($230) 13th out of 18 fees—still in the bottom half of the examination fees surveyed.

When examination fees are considered in reference to the average income of the professions that use each exam, ASWB’s new fees still rank toward the bottom in comparative cost.  Relative to average incomes of BSW and MSW social workers, the new fees rank 14th of the 17 professions surveyed. Relative to the average income for clinical social workers, the new fees rank 10th of the 17 professions.

Why in light of the bad economy?

The current state of the economy is not a factor in the new fees. The need for a fee increase at this point is part of a cycle that was predicted in 2000, when the last fee increase was approved. At that time, the ASWB Finance Committee predicted that the increased fees would serve ASWB for about five years. Careful financial management and a rise in exam administrations have allowed the association to survive on this fee for an additional three years. Theoretically, the timing of a fee increase might need to be adjusted if current fees were disproportionate to other professional examination fees, or to the earnings of social workers, but neither is the case (see “how do the new fees compare to other professional licensing exam fees?” above).

1)  Read the question, and close your eyes. The idea behind this technique is to see if you can answer the question yourself before looking at the [...]]]> Haven’t talked much on these pages about the basics of taking a multiple choice test.  So…here are nine basics, from ehow’s How to Take a Multiple Choice Test.

1)  Read the question, and close your eyes. The idea behind this technique is to see if you can answer the question yourself before looking at the choices. Since many teachers and test makers delight in making the answers confusing, using your own brain before looking at the answers gives you confidence in a correct answer.

2) Reread the question—carefully. Sometimes the quickest test takers make mistakes because they assumed they knew the question asked. Slow down and read the question, one word at a time. It takes a little longer, but you’ll be surprised how much more you’ll understand.

3) Eliminate the obvious wrong answers. In some questions, it’s clear that one or two answers are definitely wrong, but most teachers and test makers are smarter than that. They will often put almost identical answers as choices. When you’re sure an answer does not qualify, cross it out and start on the process of eliminating another one.

4) Take the test methodically. On a typical multiple choice test, work through each problem. If you really don’t know the answer, make your best guess, and put a mark by the number. This way, if time runs out, at least you’ll have a shot at the correct answer.

5) Change your answer if you think it’s wrong. The old advice to “stay with your first intuition” is fine, except sometimes you remember a fact or detail that makes you think that answer was wrong.

6) Collect your thoughts. You can become so entrenched in test taking that you forget to analyze the questions and answers. If you’re a nervous test taker, stop after a few minutes, close your eyes and focus on your breathing for half a minute. You will be more relaxed and find it easier to concentrate.

7) Look for repeated words if you have no idea what the answer is. Guessing on a question is an art form. Although there is no guarantee, an answer that contains one of the same words as the question has better odds of being correct.

8) Go for the long answer. When you don’t have a clue, eliminate the obvious wrong answers and choose the longest answer of the remaining ones. This increases your odds of getting the answer correct, but only on teacher-made tests. National standardized tests purposely avoid this tactic.

9) Bypass an answer if it has a typo. Teachers are pressed for time, and when they create a test, they proofread it; at least they proofread the question and the correct answer. If you see a typo, it may suggest the teacher didn’t take the time to reread that answer because it wasn’t the correct one.