Dawn Apgar - Social Work ASWB Clinical Practice Test

Contents

i The following study guides by Dawn Apgar are also available to assist social workers with studying for and passing the ASWB examinations.

Bachelors

The Social Work ASWB Bachelors Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Guide for Success, Second Edition

Test focuses on knowledge acquired while obtaining a Baccalaureate degree in Social Work (BSW). A small number of jurisdictions license social workers at an Associate level and require the ASWB Associate examination. The Associate examination is identical to the ASWB Bachelors examination, but the Associate examination requires a lower score in order to pass.

Masters

The Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Guide for Success, Second Edition

Test focuses on knowledge acquired while obtaining a Masters degree in Social Work (MSW). There is no postgraduate supervision needed.

Clinical

The Social Work ASWB Clinical Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Guide for Success, Second Edition

Test focuses on knowledge acquired while obtaining a Masters degree in Social Work (MSW). It is usually taken by those with postgraduate supervised experience.

Advanced Generalist

The Social Work ASWB Advanced Generalist Guide: A Comprehensive Guide for Success, Second Edition

Test focuses on knowledge acquired while obtaining a Masters degree in Social Work (MSW). It is usually taken by those with postgraduate supervised nonclinical experience.

ii Dawn Apgar, PhD, LSW, ACSW, has helped thousands of social workers across the country pass the ASWB examinations associated with all levels of licensure. In recent years, she has consulted in numerous states to assist with establishing licensure test preparation programs.

Dr. Apgar has done research on licensure funded by the American Foundation for Research and Consumer Education in Social Work Regulation and has served as chairperson of her states social work licensing board. She is a past President of the New Jersey Chapter of NASW and has been on its National Board of Directors. In 2014, the Chapter presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Apgar has taught in both undergraduate and graduate social work programs and has extensive direct practice, policy, and management experience in the social work field.

iii Social Work ASWB Clinical Practice Test

170 Questions to Identify Knowledge Gaps

Dawn Apgar, PhD, LSW, ACSW

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Apgar, Dawn, author. | Association of Social Work Boards.

Title: Social work ASWB clinical practice test : 170 questions to identify knowledge gaps / Dawn Apgar, PhD, LSW, ACSW.

Description: New York, NY : Springer Publishing Company, [2018]

Identifiers: LCCN 2017034876 | ISBN 9780826134363

Subjects: LCSH: Social workersCertificationUnited States. | Psychiatric social workUnited StatesExaminationsStudy guides. | Social serviceUnited StatesExaminationsStudy guides. | Social serviceUnited StatesExaminations, questions, etc.

Classification: LCC HV40.52 .A7363 2018 | DDC 361.3076dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017034876

Printed in the United States of America by Gasch Printing.

v To Bill, Ryan, and Alex

You remind me what is important, support me so I can do it all, and always inspire me to be a better person

vii Contents

ix Introduction

Despite social workers best efforts to study for and pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examinations for licensure, they can encounter difficulties answering questions correctly that can ultimately lead to challenges in passing. Social workers who struggle with standardized test taking or have failed the ASWB examinations find themselves at a loss in finding resources to assist them in identifying the mistakes they made and strategies for correcting these errors. The focus of test preparation courses and guides is usually the review of the relevant content and supplying some study and test-taking tips. However, when these resources do not result in passing the ASWB examinations, social workers do not know where to turn for help.

Often, social workers will turn to taking practice tests in an effort to gauge their readiness for the ASWB examinations. In addition, they will try to use them to identify gaps in knowledge and errors in problem solving that prevent desired outcomes. Such an approach is understandable because there has been a void in available diagnostic resources. However, for several reasons, use of existing practice examinations is not usually helpful.

First, it is difficult to identify specific content that is used by test developers to formulate actual questions. For example, many practice tests do not provide the rationales for the correct and incorrect answers. In addition, they usually do not let social workers know which specific ASWB content areas were being tested (e.g., Human Development, Diversity, and Behavior in the Environment; Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning; Psychotherapy, Clinical Intervention, and Case Management; or Professional Values and Ethics). In addition, the ASWB competencies and x corresponding Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities statements (KSAs) that form the basis for question development are also not included. Thus, when questions are answered incorrectly, social workers do not know which knowledge in the ASWB content areas, competencies, and KSAs is lacking so they can go back and review relevant source materials.

Based on a practice analysis conducted by ASWB, which outlines the content to be included on the exam, content areas, competencies, and KSAs are created. Content areas are the broad knowledge areas that are measured by each exam. The content areas structure the content for exam construction and score reporting purposes. When receiving exam scores, failing candidates are given feedback on their performance on each content area of the exam. Competencies describe meaningful