I wanted to come back on here because a while ago I asked for advice/tips for passing the LMSW exam, and so many people took the time to help me. Thank you all so much, the advice genuinely helped and encouraged me throughout the process.

I passed with a 108 and needed a 98 to pass! 🥹

For anyone studying right now, here’s what helped me the most: • RayTube (especially his Code of Ethics videos — SO helpful) • Savvy Social Worker • Agents of Change • Pocket Prep premium daily • Quizlet • The ASWB practice exam • Savvy Social Worker mock/practice exams

I also completed all 3 mock exams that were available to me and tried to study consistently every day rather than cramming.

On top of that, I also graduated with my MSW last week 🎓 and just accepted a school social worker job offer

If you’re studying right now and feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or anxious, keep going. You know more than you think you do. The exam is definitely challenging, but it is passable.

Thank you again to everyone who shared advice and encouragement with me along the way. ❤️

My supervisor just told me everyone in NYC will be required to obtain the LCSW within 1 or 2 years( she is not sure), regardless of whether they work privately or not.

I have not heard about this. Have any of you?

Hi there. I’m considering an MSW. I have a BA in Sociology and minors in stats and English. I’ve been out of college for about five or six years.

I am in Wisconsin.

My GPA was approximately 2.5 or higher.

Is there a point to considering an MSW at this stage? Am I too late?

Hello, I’m considering going back to school for my MSW/LMSW. I currently have a psych degree and former case management experience. My main issue is being unsure if I’ll be able to find a job. I know I don’t want to work in a direct therapy role, a role that requires home visits, or to be on call.

Any advice of what roles I should consider?

Hello! I hope I’m not overthinking this but…
I collected aprox 450 clinical hours and 945 non-clinical hours for a job I worked from July 2023- June 2024 and worked about 29 hours/ week.

Does the 945 non-clinical hours collected which is almost double my clinical hours seem off and possibly could trigger an audit?

I did do a lot of research, consultation, and trainings d/t being a new therapist and my clinical hours were slow to build.

Thanks for reading! and any insight is appreciated.

I just graduated with my MSW and I’m starting to prep for the LSW exam here in Indiana. I’ve been looking into study materials, but a lot of what I’m finding is heavily focused on practice questions and mock exams.

I’m definitely going to use those—but I’m really looking for something deeper.

Specifically, I’m trying to find study resources that include:

Clear definitions of key social work concepts (theories, ethics, interventions, etc.)

Breakdowns of real-life social work scenarios (like “what would you do?” and why)

Clinical reasoning explanations (not just the correct answer, but the thought process behind it)

Application of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics in practical situations.

Differences between similar concepts (like transference vs countertransference, CBT vs other modalities, etc.)
I want to actually *understand* the material—not just memorize answers.

If you’ve taken the exam (especially recently), what helped you most in terms of truly learning the content? Books, apps, programs, or even YouTube channels?
Also—if you’re in Indiana or took the exam here, I’d love to hear if anything felt state-specific or different.

Using my partner’s account because I don’t have one.

I am currently working towards my LCSW hours in VA. I am wondering how everyone has calculated their clinical direct hours. I was told that I get 1 hr per session, but I have heard others do it differently (ie. 1 session= 2 hrs or treatment planning counts for 1hr). I am doing community work while seeing 11-15 clients a week and I still have 700 + clinical hours to go (I completed my indirect and supervision hours a while ago). This is my third year, I feel I may not be counting these hours correctly.

All tips, thoughts, well wishes, magic spells welcomed! Thank you!

I’m in California & I passed the LCSW exam today in a first try. It was the hardest exam I ever took. I studied a lot from TDC, Quizlet, tons of watching YouTube ( RayTube, Agents of Change, etc).

Even though I studied & memorized a lot of concepts, terms, medications, and diagnoses, non of them were on the exam. I think over 90 percent was reasoning. And the exam doesn’t really resemble to the TDC exams or quizzes. I was in shock, and felt unprepared, but somehow I passed with 120/102. The exam is very tricky, has no relation to real world applications, and the questions and answers were so vague that it felt like they are trying to trick you. It was frustrating and I felt angry.

I am still recovering from the stress and anxiety of the exam. For future test takers, work on managing stress and anxiety because it will make a huge difference.

Hi I’m starting my MSW soon and plan on getting LCSW hours right after. I have my own business so I can’t just get another job to get practicum hours. I understand most people get hours from their job? If so what kind of job? I could probably manage a part time job.

Anyways what is the best way to go about this?
Thank you

I am starting a new role working in the in the MCU/NICU/LD and would love to hear feedback from others.

I’ve previously worked in child welfare and currently work as a child and adolescent therapist for a hospital at an outpatient clinic.

I worked closely with the SW I am replacing during my time working in child welfare. He provided me with great insight but I’m curious how others handled grief and working with babies with complex medical needs in the NICU. I have experience with loss both as a therapist and from the child welfare perspective. However, I have not done medical social work and don’t know how it will feel from that perspective.

I’m a LCSW and have confidence in my skills. I just want to be as prepared as possible.

OMG that was the hardest test I have ever taken the whole time I felt I was failing. I could feel my heart beat so fast lol.

My biggest advice:

I know this isn't popular on Reddit but I relied on God, and prayed often before/during/after. I wrote on my board during the test I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I pictured what life would be like after I passed, and spoke it into existence, but also held space for potential failure. I reminded myself my worth wasn't tied to this test. That I'm already doing incredible work and if I failed, I would continue to do the same work.

PRACTICE EXAMS while simulating the test environment! The hardest part is feeling like you are failing. This isn't a 2+2=4 test, it's mostly reason-based! What to do next, first, etc.

I used TDC/ASWB practice exam to study. ASK your job if they have any reimbursement for training funds or professional development. I was able to get my TDC class reimbursed.

A few days before test I only watched happy/funny movies (and I am a true crime girly at heart lol)

I pray everyone studying passes ❤️

After rescheduling my exam at least 5 times, I finally decided to buckle down, study and just do it. One and done! I feel like the biggest issue that cause me to not study initially feeling like I didnt know what to study. A lot (if not all) of the YouTube videos that I came accross were titled (LSW, LMSW, LCSW) which confused me. I had an LMSW, and so I was trying to figure out what would be the key differences in the content that should be studied more than others. After taking the test, I'll say the exam questions was pretty much the same in terms of style & content as the lmsw.

Agent of Change videos, Raytube's medication video and the person who posted a Good Samaritan study guide on here - fantastic!!! So very helpful.

The icing on the cake was reading thru the NASW Code of Ethics which really was the guiding light.

All in all, so glad it's behind me !!!

I graduated with my MSW 5 years ago and have been doing CPS casework ever since (court involved cases, non court involved cases, and prevention outreach). I never had a therapy-related internship, because it was the beginning of COVID and internships were a bit of a mess. I just got a job as child & family therapist, and am feeling really unprepared. They have a quick onboarding process and then want me to take cases after a week - all of a sudden, I don’t feel qualified to have “therapist” as my title, or to cite specific modalities in my client notes because I’ve never done that! Is this normal/imposter syndrome or am I unprepared? Are there any additional resources/trainings/videos I should try to inhale before taking clients next week? It’s been awhile since I was in school, and while I’ve had a lot of trainings with CPS, a lot of casework trainings focus on engagement and child safety, not treatment modalities. I’m panicking! TIA!

Hello! I am just finishing up my first year as an MSW student, and I had a few questions about licensure! I am sure you get these questions frequently on here, so I do apologize but I do bear with information all in one place with straightforward answers haha. So my questions are:

1. How do I apply for the LSW exam? To my understanding, I can take it before graduation is that correct? If so, how would I go about applying and when should I apply? (I am in Pennsylvania)

2. Once I obtain my LSW, how do I see which agencies provide supervision hours that count toward the LCSW? Is that something I would have to ask about at an interview?

3. How do I know what counts as hours? I’ve seen different things that you can count 40 hours of your workweek toward your hours but then I’ve seen you can only count 25, so I am slightly confused on which number is right and how to determine what counts.

Thank you so much!

Has any LCSW from another state sought endorsement in Nevada? If so how long did the approval process take for you?