become a licensed social worker
If you’re looking for good books to help you prepare for the social work exam, you may not know where to start. Fortunately, this guide should be able to help you with that. The first step he’ll want to take is to figure out which exam he’ll be taking.
Although all social work applicants take the aswb exam, there are five different versions of the aswb that future social workers will take at different levels throughout their careers.
You are reading: Lmsw exam prep books
The aswb exam you will take will correlate to your degree/experience level. levels are generally divided into the following categories:
- associate level
- bachelor’s level
- master’s level
- advanced generalist
- clinical
We’ll discuss this in a bit more depth later, but this should give you a quick idea of how it works. If you recently earned your associate’s degree and are just entering the field of social work, you will take the first level of the ASWB exam. if you recently earned your bachelor’s degree, you’ll take the second level of the exam, and so on.
what is aswb?
aswb literally stands for “association of social work boards” which is the group that regulates and oversees the testing process for you to become a licensed social worker or licensed social worker assistant at the associate level .
As discussed above, these are the exams you need to take at each level of the career advancement process, and the test you take will correspond to the appropriate level of education and hours of hands-on experience you have.
these are not tests like the sat or act that anyone can take. if you don’t have the specific education and experience to back up the score, your test scores are useless.
what is the exam setup like?
Whether you are taking the level one exam or working on the higher level (level five) of the exam, the general setup is the same. Each exam measures the skills and knowledge in specific content areas of social work that a prospective social worker has acquired. The four main topics covered in the exam include:
- human development, diversity and human behavior in the environment
- assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning
- professional ethics and values
- psychotherapy, clinical interventions and case management
There will also be questions about social and economic justice, which some people link to the “professional values and ethics” section and others see as a separate section entirely.
When discussing the exam, however, you’ll hear most people refer to it as the “four main sections.”
There are 170 questions in total on the exam. Of these 170 questions in total, there will be 150 questions taken from the four main social work content areas. these 150 questions are the only ones that will be scored.
There are an additional 20 questions scattered throughout the exam that will not be scored. these are basic “data collection” questions that simply help assess how effective the exam is. all questions are multiple choice and there are four answer options for each question.
The test is administered electronically at several Pearson Professional Centers across the country. Unlike many other licensing exams, there are no set dates when this exam is administered. instead, you can register at any time by visiting the website and making an appointment. You will have four hours to take the exam.
all exams are relatively similar. the only exception to this is the final exam, the aswb lcsw (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) exam.
Although the layout of this one is the same as the others, the content is much more advanced than the material on any of the lower level exams. Depending on the level of the exam you are taking, your passing score can range from 90 to 107 on the higher extremes.
what are the different exam levels?
aswb associate level
You will take the first level of the exam after earning your two-year associate’s degree in social work or a related field. If you successfully pass the exam, you will not be a licensed social worker because all states require at least a bachelor’s degree or higher for that, but you can become a licensed social worker assistant.
This will allow you to legally work in social work camps alongside licensed social workers, but you will not be able to manage cases yourself.
It is important to note that not all states offer this exam or recognize it as a true license. For that reason, this may not necessarily be the first exam you take when you initially enroll in the ASWB. you will most likely start at the bachelor’s level.
aswb degree level
once you complete your bachelor’s program (four years) in social work, you will take the second level of the exam. If you pass the exam, you will get the lbsw (bachelor of social work) license, and in many states, you can become a real social worker with this particular license.
However, there are still some states that require a higher level of education before they will allow you to become a social worker.
aswb mastery level
once you have completed your masters in social work and gained several hundred hours of experience in the field, you will be able to take the third level of the aswb test to become an lmsw (licensed master of social work).
some states also refer to this as an lgsw (graduate social work license) instead. Most but a few states will now recognize you as a licensed social worker at this level. some states, like california for example, still require higher licensing requirements.
advanced levels of social work aswb
master’s degree in social work – advanced generalist
This is the most advanced license you can earn before moving on to the field of clinical social work. It requires the same level of education as the final degree (master’s), but in addition to all hours earned for the LMSW certification, this license requires at least two additional years of non-clinical supervised practice. Specific states may have even more stringent requirements to take and pass this exam.
licensed clinical social worker
If you want to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), you must take the ASWB final exam. It is the most difficult, the most complete of all the exams. This level of certification is primarily for individuals who wish to conduct their own practice diagnosing mental health disorders, providing clinical assessments, and establishing interventions.
In order to obtain this license, you must have at least 4,000 hours of supervised clinical practice. you can get this license only with a master’s degree, but many people choose to get their doctorate when getting this license.
other considerations
The information above is general information when preparing to take one of the aswb exams, but it is also extremely important that you check your state’s requirements for becoming a licensed social worker.
Each state has its own slight variations on what you must do to become a social worker in that state, so it’s important to check your state’s specific regulations before proceeding. this is a great place to check the basic requirements to become a social worker in each state.
How can the social work test prep books help me prepare?
if you’re preparing to take the aswb exam, especially if it’s your first time taking it, you may not really know how to approach the study on your own. That’s where social work exam preparation guides can come in handy. most study guides are divided by level, so you can find the book that corresponds exactly to where you are in your licensing process.
The best guides will give you a lot of great information about the exam process itself. They’ll discuss strategies for making the most of your time and provide you with lots of helpful test-taking tips and tricks.
Finally, these guides will help break the topic down into logical, easy-to-navigate sections. they’ll walk you through all the topics that will be covered on the exam, but they’ll do it in a way that makes it easy for you to jump straight to the topics you need help with the most.
Many of the best social work test preparation guides also include practice tests. These are mini-exams or full exams that closely mirror what the real exam will look like. you can set a timer for yourself, sit down and take these exams and get a pretty good idea of how you might do on the actual aswb exam.
Answer guides usually also give you detailed explanations about why something is right or wrong. that can be useful when you skip questions because it will help you see where you went wrong.
best lbsw exam prep guides
1. aswb bachelor’s study guide: aswb bachelor’s degree exam prep book and practice test questions
test prep books is a company known for offering excellent and comprehensive test preparation guides at relatively reasonable prices. this is no exception.
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The book is divided into easy-to-navigate sections so you can jump straight to the area you want to study. The beginning of the guide presents an overview of what will be covered in it, some strategies for taking the test, and an introduction that tells you all about the test itself. then the book gives you a study plan to help you use your time wisely, which is a nice addition that some guides don’t have.
The content sections make up the bulk of this guide. Each of the four main sections to be covered in the test is included. each one is broken down into smaller subsections that break the content down into something that feels more manageable.
As a reminder, the main topics any good aswb guide should cover are:
- professional values and ethics
- psychotherapy, clinical interventions and case management
- assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning
- human development, diversity and human behavior in the environment
- social and economic justice (either by itself or as part of the professional ethics and values section)
At the end of each of the four main sections, there are several practice questions. these come with detailed answer explanations that let you see which answer is correct and why that answer is correct.
Please note that there is not a complete practice test in this guide. If you’re the kind of student who needs to take a full exam to feel confident about taking the real exam, you might want to check out one of the other books on the list.
2. social work license bachelor’s exam guide and practice test set
This LBSW Test Prep Guide was published by Dawn Apgar, Ph.D. She is a licensed social worker herself, so she has taken the ASWB exams at every stage and has a thorough understanding of the content and format of it.
his books are some of the best when it comes to preparing for the aswb. you’ll find more of his books in the following sections, and each one is as good as this one.
this guide focuses specifically on the types of questions you’ll find on the aswb exam for bachelor’s degrees. the guide features an impressive 340 questions! As long as you purchase the original seller’s guide, you also get free access to the app, which gives you the same great information digitally and on the go.
The guide begins with a self-assessment that will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. this is a common tool in apgar books and you will see it in all of their guides at every level of the exam process.
There is a full and detailed review of each of the four main sections of the exam, complete with multiple practice questions at the end of each section.
A bonus book is also included with this study guide. features a full 170-question practice exam. you can take the time to take the test and get a good idea of how ready you are for the real test.
The explanation section of the answer is also quite extensive. explains why the correct answers are correct and where you might have gone wrong if you answered incorrectly.
The included app is also packed with great study material. it is easy to use and has an easy to operate interface. Between the study guide, the practice test book, and the free app, you should definitely have enough knowledge to pass this exam on the first try.
3. aswb licensure exam practice test questions
When it comes to finding affordable social work test preparation guides, trivium is one of the best options. They publish really great test prep guides for just about every high school and college test imaginable, and they sell them at prices even college students can afford.
As a former broke college student myself, I relied on trivium for these affordable guides. this particular guide has a good selection of practice questions that are completely relevant to the material that will be included in the actual exam.
Best of all, it includes a full practice test for you to use to time yourself and get a real feel for what the test will be like. Both the practice questions and the practice test come with an answer key that presents full, detailed explanations of the answers and why they are correct.
The only real downside to this exam is that there is no breakdown of specific strategies and tips for the aswb exam. Many other social work test preparation guides feature a section like this, usually towards the beginning of the book. this one doesn’t, but it almost makes up for it with the full practice test and affordability. It also has a glossary of common test-taking terms and relevant vocabulary on the back.
best lmsw exam prep guides
1. masters social work exam secrets study guide: aswb test review for social work association boards exam
This is the first of two mometrix social work exam prep guides you’ll see in the best lmsw exam prep guides section, and both are great options.
This features easy-to-read summaries of each of the four test areas and plenty of practice questions for each section. The guide begins with a detailed description of the ASWB exam, including its design and the content it covers. from there, it goes directly to the four content sections.
The four sections of content are broken down into much smaller and much more precise subsections, and the knowledge contained within these subsections is incredibly specific and comprehensive.
Just as an example, in the Human Development, Behavior and Diversity section, you’ll find information on Systems Theory, Freudian and Neo-Freudian Approaches, and Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages, all broken down into their own sections.
The book also gives you a comprehensive overview of the vocabulary, principles, procedures, and concepts that the aswb (the board, not the exam) expects its prospective caseworkers to master before taking the exam.
2. Master of Social Work License Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Success
this is another of the apgar books of dawn. As a reminder, Apgar has a Ph.D. and he is a licensed social worker. She is also a social work educator, so she has been part of the field of social work at almost every possible level: student, practitioner, and educator. she gives you a great perspective on the exam, and it shows in her guides.
This particular guide features all sorts of great information, like test-taking strategies, tips on studying for the test, an overview of test design, and more.
The four main sections of the exam are covered in excellent detail in this guide, with plenty of examples and explanations for students to review. There’s also a full practice test that includes 170 questions that are very similar to what you’ll see on the real test.
The book also includes the standard Apgar self-assessment which should help you identify your strengths and weaknesses in relation to the various sections of the exam.
As long as you buy the original seller’s guide on amazon, you’ll also get six months of free access to examprepconnect, which includes all the material in the guide and more.
There’s a personalized study plan, lessons and flashcards, timed practice tests, and even discussion forums to help you connect with other students like you who are preparing for this exam. (note: the seller cannot guarantee that you will have access to this if you buy the book used or from an outside seller).
3. social work aswb teacher exam secrets study guide
This is the second mometrix guide in this section and it covers much of the same great information as the first guide. however, I also wanted to mention this one, because it also comes with even more.
Throughout this social work test preparation guide, you will find links mixed in with the material. these links will direct you to additional material online in the form of step-by-step video tutorials that will really help you drive home the content.
In addition to all the things listed in the other guide (the four content section reviews, the numerous practice questions, etc.), there are also sections in this guide that will give you lots of tips for taking exams specific to taking the aswb. there are study strategies to maximize your time, and there are vocabulary breakdowns and technical terms that often confuse students while taking the test.
If you plan to purchase these two guides from mometrix, you should be aware that there may be some overlap in the questions, but the guides are not exactly the same. you could easily benefit from one or the other, or you could opt for both and get extra practice.
best advanced generalist aswb study guides
1. social work license advanced generalist exam guide and practice test suite
I’ve only included one entry in the advanced generalist section because this is the only set of books you’ll need.
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It should come as no surprise that this is yet another dawn apgar set, and like those listed above, that means the guides are written by an actual licensed social worker who sat the exams herself.
His personal, practical knowledge of the exam shines brightly on every page of these guides. These are, without a doubt, the best guides available if you are preparing for the Advanced Generalist exam level.
Like most of the other apgar entries on the list, this is a set of two books. there is the study guide and then there is the practice test book.
Just like the other Apgar sets on the list, as long as you buy this one from the original seller, you’ll get free access to the app that enhances your studying experience. Between the study guide and the app, you’ll have access to over 335 questions from each core content section of the exam.
The guide also comes with the standard self-assessment to help you determine which areas you need to spend more time on and which areas you’re already pretty strong on.
There are sections on tips for taking tests, overcoming test anxiety, and avoiding the pitfalls that other apgar books have, and the set also comes with the practice test book, which features a practice test complete with detailed explanations of the answers.
In all important respects, this guide is the same as the other Apgar guides, but this one is designed specifically to meet the needs of students taking the Advanced Generalist exam.
best lcsw exam preparation guides
1. social work license clinical exam guide and practice test suite
This is one of the best sets of lcsw exam prep guides I have been able to find.
both books are extremely comprehensive and don’t have many “cons”, although you may find some misspelled words in print that may irritate some people. This is another Sunrise Apgar prep set, and I won’t waste any more time reminding you of your credentials.
Reviews for this suite are extremely good, with several reviewers stating that these guides helped them pass the exam on their first attempts. this is due in large part to the comprehensive nature of the study guides.
The main study guide has comprehensive and detailed sections on each of the four main components of the exam. There are also sections on how to read and interpret the questions, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to overcome test-taking anxiety.
The guide also features the aforementioned self-assessment to help you determine which sections of the exam you are strongest on and which sections you are weakest on.
The second book in the set is an actual ASWB clinical practice test. is a comprehensive test made up of 170 questions that are just like the ones you will find on the real exam. the detailed answers section in the back will help you understand where you went wrong on the questions you missed, and there is another section to help you learn strategies and tips for passing the exam on your first try.
The score assessment will guide you to your next steps or let you know you’re ready for the exam. Whenever you purchase the books from the dawn agner vendor store, you will also get access codes to the free online/app material that is included.
2. ASWB Clinical Study Guide: Exam Review & practice test questions
If you’re looking for a clinical exam preparation book that includes a good mix of everything: study tips, numerous challenge questions, strategies for taking exams, detailed answer explanations, etc., this guide has it.
there are several questions that cover the four content areas of the aswb exam. each individual section features a comprehensive review at the end, and many reviewers of the book have stated that the practice questions are the closest they have found to those on the actual exam.
The biggest complaint I have with this social work test prep guide is that it doesn’t come with a full practice test. It’s true that the practice questions section is extensive and there’s a lot of great information to be found there, but many students just don’t feel comfortable taking a real test unless they’ve taken a practice test first. you won’t find that in this book.
3. aswb clinical exam practice questions
this is another guide published by mometrix. it’s not exactly a real study guide. it does not include the test introduction, test taking tips, and study strategies that are included in most other study guides.
There are also no review sections of the content areas. if you are looking for a real study guide with that kind of information, this is not the book for you.
However, if you’re looking for a book that’s just about practicing questions and answers, this is exactly the book for you. It’s over 100 pages of nothing but practice questions with detailed answer explanations.
This is a great resource if you’ve studied as much as possible and just want to test your knowledge before taking the exam. a kindle version is also available which is much less expensive than the hard copy.
to sum it all up
When you start looking at the rules, regulations, and steps to become a licensed social worker in your state, you may feel a little overwhelmed. if that’s how you feel, try to relax.
Take a deep breath and remember that there are all sorts of great resources out there to help you easily break these things down step by step.
If you’re preparing to take the aswb exam, your first goal is to find out what level of the exam you’ll be taking. once you’ve done that, it won’t be hard to find some social work exam preparation guides to help you study.
There are many options, but we hope this guide has helped you narrow your focus to a few of the best.
As a final note, you’ll notice I didn’t include any exams for people taking the Associate Level exam. That’s because it’s very hard to find a study guide specific to that level, and if you do come across one, they’re not always of high quality.
If you are taking the first level of the exam, my advice is to choose one of the bachelor’s study guides.
according to the aswb’s own candidate handbook, both the material and content of the bachelor’s and associate’s exams are the same. if anything, the bachelor’s level guides should help him over-prepare for what he’d need to know for the associate’s level exam.
If you decide to look for a specific guide to the top level exam, make sure it’s from a reputable company and check the reviews before you buy it, especially if it’s expensive.
Hopefully, this list has given you some great places to start your social work exam prep journey. Good luck with your next exams!
Related reading:
your guide to a mind-blowing social work personal statement
best online msw programs in california
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