ASWB Exam Study Guide

We’re excited to share that Kansas recently enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, making it the 7th state to join the compact! This is momentous, because having at least seven states enact the compact was required to move forward with the implementation of the compact. The seven states who have enacted the compact so far include: Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. A number of additional states have pending legislation. Why this matters Historically, obtaining licensure across multiple states has been a tedious and laborious process, costing social

Last month’s ASWB social work blog for the LMSW and LCSW exams covered the topics of countertransference and supervision. We answered the questions: What is countertransference? When should social workers seek supervision? When do we not need to seek supervision? Today we continue our discussion on this highly tested topic and answer the questions: Why supervision and not colleague consultation? When should social workers seek personal psychotherapy? We finish off this month's social work blog with a practice question. Why supervision and not colleague consultation? For exam purposes, the

As one of TDC’s LCSW coaches, I receive hundreds of questions per week from customers preparing for their social work exams. Over the next few months, our social work blogs will focus on some of the most commonly asked questions for the ASWB exam that we’ve received in 2024. Whether you're preparing for your LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW exams, these blogs are for you. This month, the focus is on transference, countertransference, and supervision. I'll be responding to the questions: What is countertransference? When should I seek supervision on the exam? When should I NOT seek supervision? What is

Today is the last of our blogs on the DSM-5-TR changes (and the one I’m most eager to share about). Starting in January 2024, the ASWB exams will transition from testing the DSM-5 to the DSM-5-TR. As we’ve discussed over the past several months of blogs covering these changes, the updates are relatively minor overall. The final installment of our blog series on the DSM-5-TR isn’t a new or updated diagnosis. Rather, it is about the APA consulting with culture and equity professionals. Acknowledgement of Race and Discrimination in Mental Health For the first time, the DSM now acknowledges the

Beginning next month (can you believe it’s almost 2024?!) the ASWB will begin testing the DSM-5-TR. The past several months, we’ve been covering these updates. And, of course, all of our programs are up to date with the DSM-5-TR materials. Today’s blog covers Stimulant-Induced Mild Neurocognitive Disorder. And later this month, our final DSM-5-TR blog will look at the newly added considerations of the impact of racism and discrimination on mental disorders. Stimulant-Induced Mild Neurocognitive Disorder Stimulant-Induced Mild Neurocognitive Disorder was added to the types of substance-induced

Beginning in January 2024, the ASWB will begin testing the current version of the DSM: the DSM-5-TR released in 2022. The past several months we’ve been covering these changes, and will continue doing so through the end of 2023. This month we look at the new T and Z codes for suicidal behavior and the Z codes for non-suicidal self-injury. New diagnoses? Nope! First, I want to point out that these are not diagnoses. Rather, they are part of the codes section of the DSM describing conditions that may be a focus of our clinical attention with clients (but are not themselves diagnoses). These

Over the past couple months, our social work blog has focused on the DSM-5-TR changes. The ASWB will begin testing the DSM-5-TR in January of 2024. Because we want you to be fully prepared, we're taking each of the major updates and reviewing them one at a time in our monthly social work blogs through the end of this year. Be sure to check out our first two blogs covering these changes: 1 and 2. This month’s update covers the newly reinstated diagnosis of unspecified mood disorder. What is unspecified mood disorder? Unspecified mood disorder is a diagnostic category for mood disorders that do

Prolonged grief disorder Beginning January 2024, the ASWB exams will begin testing the DSM-5-TR (which was released in March of 2022). As we mentioned in last month’s blog reviewing the overall changes, the updates are relatively minor and shouldn’t be a cause for concern for those of you preparing for your social work exams. TDC’s DSM materials will be updated later this fall to ensure those of you preparing for exams in 2024 will be ready for the TR content. This month we are diving a little deeper into a new diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR: Prolonged grief disorder. Why the new diagnosis for

Last month, the ASWB announced they will no longer use Pearson test centers and will switch to PSI testing centers in 2024. Why the Change? ASWB announced two main reasons for the change. The first being values and the second being a remote testing option. The ASWB shared that PSI better aligns with their values as an organization. Together, they plan to develop a scholarship fund for repeat test-takers. ASWB and PSI have each pledged to contribute to a fund for future outreach to and support for test-takers, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. There will be a remote

DSM-5-TR The DSM-5-TR was released in March of 2022, and beginning in January 2024, the ASWB exams will begin testing the TR version of the DSM-5. (Through 2023, they will continue testing the DSM-5). Thankfully, the changes are relatively minor and shouldn’t cause any panic for test takers whether you're taking the exam this year or next. Later this year, TDC will update our LMSW and LCSW content to reflect these changes. Rest assured, whether you are taking the test this year or in 2024, we will give you everything you need to be well prepared to pass your exam with confidence. The primary