My journey to creating this ASWB exam resource was born out of sheer terror. I’d always been a terrible test-taker, a fact cemented by failing algebra three times and putting it off for five long years. The looming ASWB exam felt like an insurmountable mountain, and the fear of failing paralyzed me.


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            In a desperate attempt to conquer my fear, I embarked on a relentless quest, taking every ASWB exam prep course I could find. I spent countless hours reviewing study materials, attending webinars, and completing practice exams. It was an exhausting and expensive endeavor, but I was determined not to let my past failures define me.
Then, a few weeks before the exam, I had an “aha moment.” It dawned on me that most of the questions were not focused on the intricacies of specific practices but rather on a generalized understanding of social work principles and ethics. This realization was a game-changer, and I shifted my focus to mastering the core concepts rather than getting bogged down in the details.
Armed with this newfound clarity, I approached the exam with a sense of cautious optimism. To my immense relief, I passed on the first try! My success wasn’t due to any inherent test-taking ability but rather to my relentless preparation and the crucial realization that the exam was not the monster I had made it out to be. This experience inspired me to create this resource, a distillation of the most effective study strategies and insights I gained. Ideally, you would review all these on their website and assess which ones you need most. I would start by taking this “what type of learner are you” test to start and go from there.
Some of the most popular Resources:
Dawn Apgar: Widely recognized as the gold standard for ASWB exam preparation. Apgar’s materials offer a comprehensive review of social work knowledge, skills, and abilities, aligning with the ASWB exam blueprint. Ideal for learners who prefer in-depth reading and detailed explanations. Her practice exam closely simulates the actual test experience, providing valuable feedback and identifying areas for further study.
Price: $80-130
Agents of Change: AOC is a unique social work test prep platform that stands out from the crowd. It moves beyond generalized content to offer specialized study material for all levels of the ASWB exams (BSW, LMSW, LCSW). One of its key strengths lies in its focus on the specific jargon and terminology used in the exams, providing a deeper understanding of the material. Their full course is designed with audio and visual learners in mind, making the study process engaging and effective. Additionally, Agents of Change provides the best free content available, giving you a taste of their high-quality resources. They even offer in-depth breakdowns of the most challenging exam questions, ensuring you’re prepared for anything on test day. If you’re looking for a comprehensive, targeted, and accessible test prep experience, Agents of Change is an excellent choice.
Course Price: $95 (Basic) -$145 (Premium)
Therapist Development Center (TDC): The Therapist Development Center stands out as a top choice for social work exam preparation, especially for those who value comprehensive content and effective stress reduction techniques. It excels in providing clear, direct answers to fundamental “what is” questions, making it ideal for building a solid foundation of knowledge. Podcast learners and busy individuals will appreciate the on-the-go study options, allowing for flexibility and convenience. The practice tests and answer keys are particularly helpful for gauging progress and identifying areas for improvement. While the full course offers a wealth of resources, the $300 price tag might be a consideration for budget-conscious students.
Full Course Price: $300
Savvy Social Worker: stands out from the crowd for its focus on practical application and user support. Their website offers free study PDFs, a valuable resource for test-takers on a budget. Savvy doesn’t just stop at theoretical knowledge; they delve into how concepts are applied in real-world scenarios, making the material more relatable and memorable. For those struggling to process the vast amount of information, Savvy’s supportive environment helps to break down complex topics. Repeat test-takers especially benefit from their insights and encouragement. Their unique offering of quick, affordable $10 group sessions provides a community where test-takers can connect, share experiences, and learn from each other. Savvy Social Worker extends its support beyond the traditional platforms with a strong TikTok presence offering bite-sized study tips and motivation.
Full Course Price: $209
Phil in the Gaps (Phillip Luterll – YouTube): Luterll’s YouTube channel is a treasure trove of free resources for visual learners. His videos offer meticulously detailed breakdowns of complex topics, often using highlighted text and sentence-by-sentence explanations to enhance understanding. His series on psychotropic medications is particularly valuable for mastering this challenging area. Phill offers immediate access to past groups as well as live study groups, a one-day course, tutoring, and free resources such as YouTube videos, podcasts.
Price: Typically $30 per Study Group
Ray Tube: For those who struggle with understanding the reasoning behind correct answers, Ray Tube’s approach is invaluable. He provides an in-depth analysis of practice questions, focusing on the underlying logic and strategies for eliminating incorrect options. His DSM study guide is widely considered the best in the field. The active online community and affordable study group offer additional support and interaction with other test-takers. Ray Tube stands out as the most comprehensive resource for those seeking in-depth question breakdowns, making it ideal for auditory learners who thrive on clear explanations and effective strategies. The creator’s active online presence fosters a supportive learning environment, complemented by the affordable $ 5-for $5 study group and an interactive Facebook group for collaborative learning. Unique to Ray Tube is its emphasis on research and program evaluation, areas often overlooked in other study guides. Additionally, the accompanying DSM study guide (available on Amazon) provides a thorough breakdown of essential diagnostic criteria. This combination of features makes Ray Tube the ultimate choice for anyone aiming to master the social work licensing exams.
Price: Typically $25 per Study Group + a Study Guide Free
Social Work Exam Strategies: This platform’s strength lies in its focus on clarifying the nuances of “Most/Best/First” scenarios, which are common on the ASWB exam. Their Essential study guide (Amazon) distills key information into a manageable format, and their workshops offer targeted practice with challenging question types. Their expertise in macro-level practice questions fills a gap in many other prep resources. The platform is renowned for breaking down complex concepts into manageable pieces, making it an ideal choice for those who struggle with dense study materials. Additionally, their workshops are highly acclaimed for their focus on dissecting exam questions, teaching valuable strategies for identifying correct answers. For those tackling the macro-level social work questions, Social Work Exam Strategies is considered a top choice due to their in-depth analysis and expertise in this specific area. Overall, Social Work Exam Strategies provides a well-rounded and effective approach to exam preparation, empowering students to achieve success and obtain their social work licensure.
Price: $160 for full course and typically $35-50 per individual Workshop.
Practice Exams & Knowledge Assessment
  • ASWB Practice Test (Official): This is the only practice exam created by the ASWB, the organization that develops the actual licensing exam. As such, it provides the most accurate representation of the exam format, question style, and difficulty level. The detailed feedback report pinpoints areas where you need to focus your studies. While it’s limited to one full-length exam, the quality of the questions and feedback makes it an essential tool.
Price: $85
  • Social Work Test Prep: This platform offers a wide array of practice exams, covering all content areas and knowledge levels. The questions are carefully designed to mimic the style and format of the ASWB exam, providing realistic practice and building confidence. The platform’s analytics track your progress and identify areas where you need additional review. They also offer a free test!
Price: Range
Flashcards & Mobile Apps
Special Note: the links in the following apps are for Android, most if not all of these apps do also work with Apple, and I had them on both.
  • Test Prep Book Flash Cards: These flashcards offer a quick and easy way to assess your knowledge of key social work concepts. They’re a cost-effective option for self-directed learners who are comfortable researching unfamiliar material. The active recall method used in flashcards has been shown to enhance memory and retention. Mometrix is another great deck of cards that is great and does the same thing.
Price: Test Prep Book: $40
Price: Mometrix $42
  • Behavioral Health Pocket Prep App: This app boasts a vast library of practice questions with detailed explanations. Its emphasis on ethics is particularly helpful for mastering this critical component of the ASWB exam. However, some users find the wording of the questions to be more convoluted than on the actual exam.
Price: $125 a Year
  • ASWB – Pass Your Exam (App): This app is designed for on-the-go study. It offers challenging questions that cover a wide range of topics, including less common content areas. The app’s interface is user-friendly and allows you to track your progress over time.
  • ASWB Exam Prep – Best Fun Games LLC (App): This app gamifies the study process with features like customizable timers and a readiness score. The 10-question practice sessions are a convenient way to fit in quick study bursts throughout your day. The app’s focus on gradually increasing study time can help build stamina for the full four-hour exam.
  • ASWB Exam Prep Practice – Super Test (App): This app is unique in its focus on specific content areas. Each 10-question set drills down on a particular topic, providing targeted practice and helping you identify your strengths and weaknesses. The app’s feedback includes a “hazardous,” “passing,” or “security” rating based on your performance.
  • Springer ASWB App: This app stands out for its detailed progress tracking, showing your performance as a percentage in each content area. The gamified features, such as match and sudden death modes, can make studying more engaging. The app utilizes material from Dawn Apgar’s study guide, providing a comprehensive review of exam content.
Price: Online when you buy the book!
Community Support
Facebook Groups: Online communities like the ASWB, LMSW, and LCSW Study Group 2024 offer daily practice questions and a forum for connecting with other test-takers. Ray Tube’s Tribe provides a supportive space for discussing his materials and strategies.
A bit more about my process that may help you!
The day and week before
            On the evening before my ASWB clinical exam, I intentionally scheduled a day of rest. I reserved a hotel room to create a quiet and distraction-free environment. That evening, I attended a baseball game, allowing myself a reprieve from the impending exam. The stadium lights illuminated the night sky with a vibrant energy, and I shared in the crowd’s enthusiasm. To ensure a restful night, I avoided caffeine, choosing instead to drink calming chamomile tea. The soothing scent of lavender from the shower gel enveloped me as I stood under the warm water, washing away any lingering doubts. I mentally reviewed the material I felt least confident about and associated with Raytube, ensuring I had thoroughly memorized it. Importantly, I had chosen to schedule the exam in a different city, so any potential setback would not be linked to a specific location. This precautionary measure was a safeguard to maintain my confidence regardless of the outcome.
The above process is essential because it will allow you to create some form of separation and, more so, an ability to be much more focused and come to the realization of the moment and the test. Don’t just take this as another test. It’s a full process from the start of studying each time to the week before, the day before, and then even during and after the test.
During the exam itself, I implemented several strategies to optimize my performance:
  1. Time Management: I allocated time for each section based on the number of questions and their level of difficulty. This prevented me from spending excessive time on any single question. I found that assessment questions were easier to answer quickly, as they focused more on personal judgment rather than potentially confidence-shaking factual recall.
  1. Careful Reading: The exam is, in essence, a reading comprehension test. It is crucial to practice reading complex material for extended periods before the exam. Many test-takers find the material challenging due to the intricate wording and the substitution of common terms with more complex vocabulary. I read each question meticulously, paying attention to keywords and specific instructions. Rephrasing the question in my own words often helped clarify its meaning.
  2. Process of Elimination: For multiple-choice questions, I began by eliminating clearly incorrect options. This narrowed down my choices and increased the probability of selecting the correct answer. Some options are demonstrably false. Additionally, rereading the question or the diagnosis can often highlight key details and provide greater clarity.
  1. Flagging Questions: When uncertain, I marked questions for review and moved on. Revisiting them later with a fresh perspective often proved helpful. Occasionally, answers to other questions provided context for those that initially seemed difficult. Flagging numerous questions is acceptable as long as time permits a thorough review. However, it is important not to let this tool become a source of excessive second-guessing. During the review process, I would select a few questions I was confident I had answered correctly on the first attempt. If these answers remained consistent upon review, I would expedite the remaining review process.
  1. Maintaining Composure: Anxiety can impede clear thinking. I managed stress by taking deep breaths, remaining focused, and reminding myself of my thorough preparation. It is crucial to prioritize sleep the night before the exam and to avoid excessive studying on the day of the test. Additionally, I eliminated caffeine and fatty foods from my diet.
While individual approaches may differ, these strategies were instrumental in helping me navigate the exam effectively. This detailed guide will empower social work professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the available resources for ASWB exam preparation. Combining these tools and strategies allows you to approach the exam and achieve your licensure goals confidently.



Also before you beat youself up over the NASW test read this blog to get some inisght into what the NASW has to say about it. 

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The NASW opposes the ASWB Exam, heres why (Click here)