Social Work Exam Prep Reviews
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Social Work Exam PrepI would first like to thank you for putting this program together and utilizing audio lectures to make the process of studying (for hours) bearable. I personally have a difficult time studying for hours but not with this program and the audio lectures. It brought back the memories of being in class lectures which I personally loved. Going over the exam questions and having an explanation provided for each answer was extremely helpful during the actual exam because I was able to think about each questions and ask myself, "How would they like me to answer this?" There was several times that I even asked myself, "How would Amanda answer this?" which reassured me that I can do this! And I did it! Practicing actual exam questions is crucial to passing this exam which is exactly what this program offered. In addition to having all of the study content organized, the practice exams and each explanation provided was very helpful. In addition to utilizing this program, I did purchase the ASWB practice exam 3 days before my actual exam, just to prepare myself using the actual modality used during the LCSW exam which was also helpful. If it wasn't for TDC there was no way I would have spend as many hours as I did studying. I will continue to praise your program and again from the bottom of my heart, I thank all of the individuals who made this program possible and available to us. I was looking forward to writing this knowing that I would pass my exam. Thank you for the confidence that you instilled throughout the program which is also very important.
It took me a long time to get around to studying for and taking my LCSW exam, related to various professional (not technically needed in my job as an Assertive Community Treatment Team Clinician) and personal issues (life, parenting). I had put off studying for it for years because I have been out of school for 25 years and the idea of doing seemed daunting given a full time, very demanding job in the field and life in general. My friend, who was in a similar situation, used TDC and passed the exam. She recommended the program to my husband, another friend and I. All three of us ended up using TDC, two of us have passed and one is just starting her studying process. The TDC system structured the information I needed to learn in a way that I could not have done as well on my own. The program was rigorous, challenging, comprehensive and more than adequately prepared me for a difficult exam. The LCSW exam did not seem intuitive at all to me. You really do have to learn how to answer the questions. Having a good understanding of the Knowledge Areas was helpful in picking correct answers or ruling out wrong answers on nearly all the questions. It also gives you a stronger sense of confidence going into the test than you would have had otherwise. Thank you TDC. SO glad that is over. Good luck everyone.
I really enjoyed studying with TDC! The materials/topics covered were pretty much spot on with what's on the exam. I felt adequately prepared and the mock exams were extremely helpful in terms of identifying what areas I need to focus more on. I started using Apgar's study book but immediately felt overwhelmed with amount of content I needed to read/study. TDC had just enough study materials that didn't seem too overwhelming. I particularly enjoyed listening to the audios and listened to them multiple times on my commute to work. The quick studies were great for on the go and I always carried them around just in case I got an extra 10-15 minutes to study during the day or in between clients. The final pep talk was also helpful and put my mind at ease with some anxiety I was experiencing. I recommend completing the program at least twice and take advantage of the coaches that are available for any questions/clarifications. The ASWB practice exam is very helpful too. I was a little burned out after taking three 4 hour long practice exams (different days of course) but kept in mind that it was only to help prepare me for the actual exam. Also, please remember your self-care throughout this studying journey. Take some time to relax a bit in between study sessions, during days off, as well as the day before your exam. Good luck to all of you and remember, you got this!! :)
I PASSED!!!! That felt amazing to walk in and out with complete confidence. I was feeling unsure and not confident due to the unknowns. However, through the audios and rationalizations provided I could hear myself talking through the process. With that came the confidence. I had the knowledge, however, why did I know that answer was unclear to me at times. After studying with this program I understood why I did. I would review the questions I answered incorrect as well as the ones I got correct to develop a deeper understanding. I highly encourage same practice. Yes, it took more time but was worth it. In addition, the suggestion of drinking of apple juice really was solidified as I practiced. There was a difference in my answers being correct after a break with some juice. I discovered this through the mocks. Highly recommend, DRINK THE JUICE! Also, one of the key aspects that was significant was anytime I had a question I could email. The response was always very quick which allowed me to move forward and gather more clarity. When studying solo with a book I didn't have that kind of support. This program gave me confidence. Actually it helped me find my confidence within the unknown areas. I went in with full confidence and did not experience the levels of anxiety as I usually do. It felt amazing to move along the exam without worry. I took four breaks and had 15 minutes remaining. I am thankful for this program and recommend anyone to invest. The peace that resided in me as I arrived on exam day was priceless.
While I have always been a strong test taker, it is hard to not be intimidated by this exam. With people whispering in your ear, "you know 75% of people fail on the first try," and "I'm on my 3rd (4th,5th) try," it is hard not to let that get to you. When I first started studying, I ordered a 2019 book and SLAM, it hit my table and my spirit like a brick. I remember by the end of my first day using it, I had filled out a pack of note cards and felt ten times more anxious than when I first sat down to study. Then, several of my co-workers told me about the Therapist Developmental Center. They did not say things like, "It's good," or "it was helpful." In fact they said, "this program changed the way I study and look at this test," and "I passed on the first try using JUST this program." They were so pumped up about the TDC that I could not help but try it out. YES, it costs money, but my co-workers passed on the FIRST TRY. In the long hall, how much money are you actually saving by not having to take it over and over again? So, I bought it, put my ear phones in and started. -From the first module I started feeling my stress ease away. I know that sounds corny, but for someone who takes tests as serious as I do, I have never felt that feeling before. The study materials are thorough but also given in a way that is understandable. Amanda walks you through step by step every question, every rationale, every technique in such a rational way that, after a while, all of the material seemed easy. So easy, in fact, that by the third month I was concerned that there was no way I knew everything I needed to know. But I did. I took Amanda into the test with me, like she suggested and, right before I went in, I asked for both my Higher Power and, of course, Amanda, to be by my side. In the four hour time allowed, I finished in TWO hours and with an 80% passing score. Now I am so close to full licensure I can taste it and I, truly, have TDC to thank for it. You have helped more people reach their dreams than you can ever imagine and I will forever be grateful for this program.
I took the exam actually three times and wanted to give up. I purchased other study materials, and failed the exam. I purchased an in-person weekend course in Atlanta, then failed the exam. I committed to FaceBook study groups and was given tons of materials from colleagues, and still did not pass the exam. But when I purchased TDC after a recommendation from another colleague, it changed my life. From the moment Amanda and Bethany began to speak, I felt this would be different. I realized quickly so many ways I'd gone wrong in the past. I studied for eight weeks and followed everything Amanda and Bethany told me to do. I PASSED! Thank you for making the course so easy to follow and for all of your guidance and support. I literally felt like you two were there with me while I was testing. I completely recommend TDC 100%!!
Before learning about TDC, I used another well known program to study for the law and ethics portion of the lcsw exam. It was so monotone! I somehow managed to pass that exam anyhow. But I was nervous about even attempting to study for the lcsw clinical exam since I graduated 9.5 years ago and never did therapy! I’m a children’s social worker so all of the material felt overwhelming at first! I felt like without TDC I would have felt much more overwhelmed and less focused on what was really important! TDC helped me to review all the topics I needed to study and focus on only on certain sections at a time. As we know, breaking goals into smaller tasks helps reduce anxiety. I found myself listening to the audios again and again! It was so easy to drive and listen that it didn’t even feel like studying! And the community support and tips for studying in Facebook really helped too! Thank you TDC! I feel very fortunate to have found out about this program before failing while using another program!
I honestly do not believe I would have passed if not for this program. I purchased the ASWB exam guide book and was immediately overwhelmed by the amount and scope of topics. This course broke the test down into easy to remember steps and the "common sense" approach to the question stem helped me succeed. I listened to the DSM What's the Difference at least three times and it really assisted in those questions where it could be one or the other (ODD VS Anti-social is a great example that I saw on the exam). The quizzes really helped with my confidence level. Lastly, I wasn't going to listen to the final pep talk, but I am glad I did! It really put me in the mindset to test and I walked in with confidence, took it one question at a time, and did not allow myself to panic if I did not know the answer to one of the questions. This course truly prepared me for success on the exam and I will be recommending it.
I am very happy to share that I passed my California clinical licensing examination to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)!!! I think it is also important to share that the process to get to this point was not easy. This journey started way back in 2006 when I started my Masters of Social Work Program and graduated in 2008 from San Jose State University with my (MSW). After graduate school, I accumulated over 5,000 hours of clinical work experience and supervision in the mental health field. The first time I took the LCSW clinical exam was in 2018 but I did not give myself sufficient time to study and review the entire Therapist Development program but was trying to be optimistic and took it anyway and did not pass. In 2018 prior to taking the test I remember I had to pump (because at that time I was still breastfeeding/pumping) every 3 hours, therefore, prior to taking my test I pumped in my car, took the test then after the test had to pump again and wash all the pump parts. Since I did not pass the exam in 2018, I made sure that if I was going to take it again, I had to give myself more time to study, review and complete the entire Therapist Development Study Program. After experiencing postpartum depression/anxiety (ppd/ppi) I decided to take a long break from studying until I felt better. I received support from my parents, seeked my own therapy, attended therapy support groups, postpartum support groups, and once a week/every two weeks took a salsa class to rejuvenate my soul. Once I felt like myself again and felt 100% better in December 2018-March 2019 I prepared and studied for the LCSW clinical exam using the Therapist Development Center which was the best program I could use for both the Law and Ethics exam and the LCSW clinical exam. After taking additional pre-requisite online courses, trainings, and passing the Law and Ethics Exam in 2017 I can finally say I have completed the last step of this this journey. On March 2nd 2019 after having test and overall exhaustion I received the best news that I passed the exam! Set goals and trust the process! Achieving this goal is a reminder that I would not be here today if it weren’t for my parent’s unconditional support, the TRIO 3-1-3 pre-college program I was in during high school and my husband’s encouragement and 100% support. I want to give a special thank you to my husband Alfredo, my sister, and my parents who supported me during this process and took care of Zanaira so I could focus and study. Thank you to my former co-workers who I would consult with about cases or talk about ways to better our communities. Thank you to all of my clinical supervisors and program managers who I learned from and who guided me during my career! Thank you to the amazing study program, Therapist Development Center!! Lastly, a big thank you to all of my former clients and their families who gave me the opportunity to learn from them, work with them and trust me to be their therapist/counselor. I hope where ever my former clients and their families may be that they are doing well! By obtaining my LCSW I hope in the future this can help me make a bigger impact in our community and help those in most need. “The harder you work for something the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.”
I was very anxious and nervous about passing the exam. My job is dependent on my passing this exam and I was very worried about my career being in jeopardy. I didn't leave myself with a lot of time to study, but after hearing all the positive reviews of TDC I decided to give it a try. The program was organized and thorough. The Facebook group was also a great support and resource while studying. I followed the program as prescribed and took and passed my LCSW exam today. I used no other study materials. As I began my exam I felt like it was another TDC mock exam and that helped my confidence in answering the questions and knowing that I was prepared for the exam. I now have passed the LCSW Exam and feel like a more competent Social Worker. Thank you TDC for the program and support. It means so much to have accomplished this milestone in my career.
This was the most interactive study guide and it was perfect for my learning style. I am hands on, I need to interact and have discussion. The fact that the answers get explained, BOTH right and wrong answers are explained and that helps with getting into the mindset of which answers the tests are looking for. I love the quick study guides so there isn't an overwhelming amount of information and a 300 + pages book to read. The quizzes are great! I love that there are 2 mock tests plus 2 tests that are 85 questions. I had to take an ASWB exam to get my LMSW in a previous state and it took me twice to pass. Going for my LCSW I was nervous I was about to spend over $500 just for testing attempts and I ended up passing on my first time! I would recommend this to anyone!
I was born and raised in Japan which means English is not my first language. I am a single mother of a 7 year-old boy whose father has minimal involvement in his life which means I have him almost all the time, probably like 98%. My biggest challenge was to find the time to study. I work full time. My son is still needy so it was impossible to study at home when he is with me at home. (I tried a few times, but he would come to get my attention every five minutes saying “I’m hungry” or something.) I took every opportunity to study no matter where it was and what time it was. I studied at the PlayPlace at McDonald’s many times while he was playing there. I studied sitting on a bench at the playground while he was playing. I woke up 4 in the morning while my son was still sleeping until he wakes up at 6:30 am. I asked my friends to watch my son so that I can study. I took some days off to just take the full mock exams because it was the only way for me to secure the whole four hours with no distractions. It took me five months to finish the whole program. I know it is probably longer than what the most people would take, but that’s what I needed. I needed to reschedule my exam date one time because I was not ready a month ago. I’m glad I rescheduled it. I know I wouldn’t have passed if it was a month ago. I utilized the TDC coach whenever I was not clear about anything. Some questions were really hard for me to understand due to my limited English knowledge and my cultural background differences, but Heidi always helped me out. Thank you Heidi for answering all my questions with clear explanations and rationales. It really helped me to attack the exam correctly. I went over the half mock exams and the full ones about three times each. I came to the point where I was able to pick up some key words in the question stem and guess the right answer without reading the answer options. I listened to the final pep talk four times within the last 48 hours prior to my exam. I followed what Amanda said; had a walk with my son the day before the exam, had a hot steamy bath to relax, had a good sleep (although I woke up 3AM and studied for a few hours), had a good breakfast (carbs and protein) and had some fruits right before the exam. Because I didn’t want to be in rush I arrived at the test center an hour prior to my test time. I was able to review for the last time in my car while waiting. During the exam, I was allowed to have some cough drops. It really helped me to get through the whole exam. Although I did not step out of the testing room, I closed my eyes for a minute to reset my mind after question 86. On the white board, I wrote 2 columns of numbers; one indicating question numbers, and the other is for the time remaining. They were 43, 86, 129, and 170 (question numbers) and 184, 128, 72, and 15 (minutes remaining). I checked these numbers frequently to pace myself. I tried to have 15 minutes left after I answered all the questions and I did pretty well. I had about 12 minutes left when I finished the last question. I did not have enough time to check all the answers that I marked. I probably checked 10 or so and changed 2 or 3 answers. Throughout the exam I told myself to “stay focused and present”. It helped me a lot to keep moving. There are some questions that I had no idea what the right answer was but I stayed calm. I didn’t panic. This program works. I truly believe that if I can pass it you guys can pass too! I wish the best for all of you.
5 STARS FOR THIS PROGRAM!!! I would like to say that I could not have passed the LCSW Clinical Exam without TDC. I felt as fully prepared as I could ever be, despite my nerves and anxiety about the exam (my score was 126/150). TDC provided a concise study process and program, touching on all the pertinent areas. I truly feel every section of the material was carefully developed and designed to support me in this process. A few key things that were helpful for me was reviewing the material twice, transcribing/typing the information while listening to the audios and reviewing the rationals of each test so I would understand why I missed a question. During the test, I took Amanda's wise words with me, visualizing myself in the moment, and asking myself what I would do next if I the client was actually sitting in my office. I would recommend this program to anyone and am eternally grateful for the support I received!!! THANK YOU!!!!
My name is Addison Jackson Jr. and I passed my LCSW because of the awesome exam prep program from Therapist Development Center. When I began my study regimen, I started with an app that simply asked questions and gave rationale for the answers. From the moment I started with TDC I knew that I was on my way to success. The first test I did not do as well as I thought I should. From there on, I gained knowledge and confidence!! Not only are you given explanations for answers, you are taught HOW TO TEST!! The best part about taking the test and passing is because I felt confident in my answers. Even though I was nervous at the start of the exam, I quickly got into my zone and knocked the test out!! Thank you so much TDC for offering this to veterans for free! I want to give veterans and those who would have to pay the confidence that this system WORKS!! All you have to do is the program in its entirety.
Yesterday, I PASSED the LMSW exam on my first try! It is a surreal experience! Thank you Therapist Development Center for this program. I can honestly say if it were not for this program, I would not have passed the exam. I was using a very popular study book to prepare for the exam before I purchased the study system. Compared to the program, the book alone was simply not enough. This test is challenging! It definitely required a lot of mental energy. I have never been, the strongest test taker, so I was a bit anxious about the type of questions I would see. Amanda will prepare you though. Before I purchased the program I had heard about it from a classmate of mine. I remember reading the reviews and contemplating whether I should purchase it or not. If that's you now, please do not hesitate any more! It is more than just a "study" system. It is preparation for working in the field. You will not regret purchasing it! Thank you again!!!!
I had zero direction on this test. I had a class mate that said he went in and passed by luck. The first time I felt like I could do the same. The other two online programs helped with definitions or hours spend. One was to take the test 15 times and read the volumes of books. Every time I would get closer but not feel like I had a grip on the endless material or logic. Amanda's outline for the reasoning for her creation made sense and I took a leap of faith to try something different. From the second I registered I felt like someone actually taught me why I'm taking the test, what I should know and know it, and I saw through each question this time. Too bad it took me this long to find it. Not even my college could guide me in steps for the LCSW. I am spreading the word to all my colleagues. One was there on test day and I gave her your info just in case she didn't pass. Another LCSW has to move and retake the test and wanted this program. The third graduates from MSW in May and praised me for the insight to this program!!! THANKS AMANDA FOR BEING SMART AND TEACHING ME WHAT I NEEDED TO KNOW! I am still in shock and never worked harder to find your course but I"m glad I ended understanding the test. I feel more prepared to be a LCSW and know why!
I used TDC for my Law and Ethics Exam and for the LCSW Clinical Exam. I passed each exam on the first try. This was remarkable because I prepared myself for the possibility of having to take the exams again if I did not pass. However, I kept telling myself and telling others that I planned on passing. That was another thing, I did not keep my exam date a secret. I told everyone the dates I would be taking the exam. This helped me deal with anxiety over and over and slowly the pain in my stomach reduced. TDC prepared me in ALL areas. My highest recommendation is to work on test anxiety and anxiety in general when preparing for this exam. The practice exams helped me to always work on my thoughts and my ability to remain present even when things felt extremely difficult. I also highly recommend a study partner because accountability with another person working toward the same goal is key. My study partner lived in the same state but too far away to meet in person and we meet weekly on the phone for 8 weeks. Thank you TDC. This was exactly the study material I needed. I did view briefly another study program and it was overwhelming. The only other material I used was occasionally google to understand a concept further and I took the ASWB practice exam. Totally worth the money. Thank you again. I highly recommend your program.
I used other study material for my prior test and did not pass. There was just too much information. With Therapist Developmental Center I found it to make a huge difference in my learning. The biggest asset was learning about test strategy and how to understand the question stems in order to understand the right answer. The program was very easy to use and it was structured in a way that helped me maintain focus and know what I needed to do. The audio lectures were awesome detailing not only study content but test strategy. The quizzes, Top 50 Topics, and study guides were immensely helpful. The mock exams solidified understanding what the test is about and how to tackle it. I went through the program about three times before I tested, I made flashcards out of the quizzes and study guides, and I made posters to really help me understand the material. This program really focused my studies and I passed after using TDC. Only supplement I really used was the ASWB practice exam. I also feel that I have increased my clinical understanding significantly after completing the program. Thank you so much TDC! So grateful to have completed this final step in my licensing journey!
The Therapist Development Center is an outstanding comprehensive study solution for students and professionals who are preparing for the ASWB Clinical exam. They provided a thorough, consolidated review of topics associated with the four content areas of the exam. The mini-quizzes, two-half and two-full mock tests provided invaluable opportunity to practice and learn both rationales and critical thinking. They offered high standard methods of teaching in a supportive environment with stand-by coaches and peer support. I would recommend this program to anyone, new graduates as well as seasoned professionals who are now pursuing licensure. The program builds confidence as you master the material one step at a time.
This prep-course was amazing. I failed the exam 2x prior to this prep-course. I am a 44 year old full time working mom of 12 year twins. I work at a school and would like to be a school social worker. I took a boot camp class before my first exam and did not feel as prepared as I was for this exam by the Therapist Development Center. I will take this course again before my clinical exam when I am ready. This pre-course was structured, detailed and so informative. I actually looked forward to studying :) Thank you so much Amanda! I feel so relieved and good about my accomplishments.