Week 1: Welcome and Introductions

Core social work curriculum, the social work code of ethics, cultural competency, and evidence-based practice create the foundation of professional identity. In addition, licensure is a part of a professional social work identity.

This week, you learn about the licensing and regulations within your state and discuss strategies you will use to prepare to take the licensure exam. You will learn more about the licensure test and test-taking strategies in a face-to-face session during Week 4, so come prepared with your questions!

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Identify expectations for the Skills Lab
• Identify preparation strategies for and potential challenges related to the social work license exam

Photo Credit: sturti/E+/Getty Images

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Association of Social Work Boards. (2016a). About licensing and regulation. Retrieved from https://www.aswb.org/licensees/about-licensing-and-regulation/

Association of Social Work Boards. (2016b). Exam content outlines. Retrieved from https://www.aswb.org/exam-candidates/about-the-exams/exam-content-outlines/

Kirmayer, L. J. (2012). Cultural competence and evidence-based practice in mental health: Epistemic communities and the politics of pluralism. Social Science & Medicine, 75em>(2), 249–256. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.03.018

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Reamer, F. G. (2015). Clinical social work in a digital environment: Ethical and risk-management challenges. Clinical Social Work Journal, 43(2), 120–132. doi:10.1007/s10615-014-0495-0

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.       

Required Media

Laureate Education (2017f). Welcome to the Master of Social Work Skills Lab II [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note:  The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes.

Accessible player –Downloads–Download Video w/CCDownload AudioDownload Transcript

Discussion 1: Introduction Video

When you attend the on-ground portion of the Skills Lab in Week 4, you will meet colleagues and Instructors from the Master of Social Work program. Some may be familiar to you from other courses, including the cohort in this course. You may also be traveling for the first time to a city you’ve never visited, be away from your family and community, or be overwhelmed by what seems a daunting, immersive experience.

You won’t be alone.

This Discussion introduction, similar to your other courses, allows you to make connections with the students in this section and share your expectations for the exciting weeks to come.

To upload your media to this discussion thread, use the Kaltura Media option from the mashup tool drop-down menu. Refer to the Kaltura Media Uploader area in the course navigation menu for more information about how to upload media to the course.

By Day 3

Post a 3- to 5-minute video introducing yourself to the class. Please include:

• Your name
• Your geographic location
• Your thoughts, expectations, and anticipated challenges for this course
• Other background information that you would like to share with your colleagues and instructor
• Your expectations for the Skills Lab

By Day 5

Respond to at least one of your colleague’s postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Validate an idea with your own experience.
• Make a suggestion.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:
Week 1 Discussion Rubric

Post by Day 3

To participate in this Discussion:
Week 1 Discussion

Discussion 2: Preparation for Licensure

Licensure is an important step on the path to becoming a licensed social worker. In this Discussion, you identify best practices for licensure preparation.

To prepare, review the materials on ASWB’s website about licensure and regulations in your state.

By Day 3

Identify the state in which you plan to seek social work licensure.

• Name three things you will do to prepare to take the social work license exam in your state.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two peers with:

• One potential challenge to obtaining licensure
• At least one strategy to address that challenge

Response 1

 Anthonia Ogbuka RE: Week 1 Discussion 2COLLAPSE

The plan is the seek the social work licensure in the state of Maryland. The three things needed to take the licensure exam in the state of Maryland are:

1. To submit application of LMSW to the board and request transcript from own school to the board.
2. Submit a copy of criminal background check
3. Pass the board exam and receive the LMSW licensure from the board

Reference

Social Work Guide, (2020). Maryland Social Work Licensing Requirement. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkguide.org/licensure/maryland/

Response 2

 Sharon Turner RE: Week 1 Discussion 2COLLAPSE

The State of Maryland 

Currently, this writer resides in Buffalo, New York.  Once this writer has successfully completed the Master of Social Work (MSW) program, the goal is to relocate to the Baltimore, Maryland area. Therefore, this writer needs to have an understanding of what needs to be done to seek licensing in the state of Maryland. 

Licensed Master of Social Work

According to the Social Work Guide (2019), one must complete the MSW prerequisites through a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program.  When completing the application through the Association of Social Work Boards (ABSW), one must provide official transcripts, complete a criminal background check and pay a fee of $130 (Social Work Guide, 2019). Once the ABSW has accepted the application, one must take a 170-item multiple-choice ABSW Master’s exam, which will cost $230 (Social Work Guide, 2019).  After one has passed the exam, it will cost a $75 fee to receive the license (Social Work Guide, 2019). Upon receiving the LMSW license, the social worker has three years to obtain permission to work independently.  Within those three years, the LMSW must complete 4,500 hours of supervision under an LCSW or LCSW-S (Social Work Guide, 2019). 

To prepare for the Maryland state exam, one could complete the MSW education with a CSWE accredited program, such as what is offered at Walden University.  Addictaionllay, one can join a study group to help prepare them for the exam.  One can also purchase the ABSW study guide material, which includes practice exams to prepare the social worker better.  Finally, one can download the ABSW MSW free app to their smartphone to help prepare them for the exam.  The ABSW MSW app can ask you daily questions to help one better prepare for the exam. 

Conclusion

This research intends to provide one with the necessary tools and information they will need to obtain the LMSW.  If one would like to study and prepare alone or with study partners, the goal is to be prepared to pass the exam and become an LMSW. 

Reference

Social Work Guide. (December 2019). Maryland Social Work Licensing Requirements.

https://www.socialworkguide.org/licensure/maryland/