It's official,
DSM-5 has been approved. Big changes are summarized at
the link. What's this mean for the social work licensing
exam? For the moment, not too much. The ASWB says the
test will stay the same till July, 2015. So, if you're
planning on taking an ASWB-administered exam before July, 2015,
study the DSM-IV-TR as if nothing's
happened.
Californians have to get ready sooner. The CA-BBS website
reports
DSM-5 will begin appearing on California's licensing exams in
December, 2014. This is true only for LCSW-hopefuls in California.
Note: The California BBS plans an eventual
switch--possibly in January, 2016--to a combination of the national
ASWB exam and a California-specific Law & Ethics exam. Check
back in this space for details.
(UPDATED 4/3/14)