Professional life as a social worker can be hard – we
often work with some of the most vulnerable populations and don’t always
receive a great deal of appreciation for our efforts. If you’re in the process of getting your LCSW, make your
life a tiny bit easier by reading these tips.
Image credit Kate McHugh Akbar
If you are applying for the LCSW in California, the
governing entity is the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
You probably already know to sign
up for their email alerts to
receive major updates and also to make sure that nothing is missing from your
application packet before you mail it in – two of the more obvious and
oft-repeated tips.
In California, the BBS is required to publish your address
after
you are licensed. This is the same address they use for corresponding with you
about your exam eligibility and other important matters. If you don't want your home address
made public, you can use your work address.
However, if you don't have a work address that is
convenient, consistent, and reliable, another option is to use a PO Box with
the USPS.
The USPS has a program called Real Mail Notification™
where you provide your cell
phone number or email address, and they will send you a notification every day
that you are scheduled to receive mail.
That way, you don’t miss a piece of mail or spend unnecessary time traveling
to the post office to find your box empty. It’s available in many post offices, but not all, so check
with your local office.
When I sent in my application packet to the BBS in 2014, there
was a pretty hefty backlog. They
had a page on their website where they updated their application processing
status (e.g., in September it said they were currently reviewing applications
received in the week of February 1).
While they don’t have these updates up on their site anymore, I recently
tweeted at them and they said their processing timeframe is now 30-60 days. Much better! Also, helpful to know that they respond quickly to tweets.
Some final tips regarding testing: If you haven’t already
been there, you can look up your specific test center on a community review
site like Yelp to see what other
test-takers have to say about the center.
I found both my local PSI and Pearson test centers on Yelp, and read helpful
tips about the parking situation, nearby food, and pros and cons of morning vs.
afternoon test times, to name a few examples.
Specifically, ASWB exams are held at Pearson test
centers. Pearson has some
resources on their site to get you familiarized before your test day – you can
take a panoramic tour and see pictures of their lobby and testing rooms, as well as watch a
somewhat peculiar wordless video on security measures for test-takers. All that visualization can definitely help you feel even
more prepared for your exam.
Please share – what other tips have you found helpful in the
licensing process? Other than
study hard and make use of practice questions,
of course!
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