Whether or not you believe in New Year’s Resolutions or think they’re arbitrary celebrations of planetary rotations around the sun, a new year often brings some voluntary (or semi-involuntary) reflection. This often involves taking inventory of where things are at in your life. This can include a relationship or a job. It may also involve re-evaluating any of your values or needs in general. What are you happy with or grateful for, and what do you feel unhappy with or frustrated by?

For many social workers reading this blog, your goal will probably be to get licensed this year. Many of you want your LMSW/LSW to land your first social work job. Many others will aim for the LCSW gold. The LCSW brings the expansive possibilities of senior supervisory roles, private practice, and consulting. In either case, the slowness of the beginning of January is the best time to plan ahead.

It’s important to make your goals realistic (and by extension self-compassionate) by breaking it down into smaller steps. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t meet them right away or at the ideal pace. So, swat that judgmental superego away).

If you’ll be graduating in May and going for your LMSW (Masters Exam):

• In your last semester, check your state’s requirements for licensure. See if you can start working on any of it. This will be the best time to take the stress out of the state paperwork. You can do this by knowing what to expect. Have all your forms ready so that you can hit the ground running after graduation. Fun fact: In New Jersey, you can take the licensure exam during your last MSW semester.
• If you’re eligible for any accommodations, make sure to have needed docs so that you can advocate for the resources you need (e.g., more test time).
• Take advantage of any LMSW boot camp or workshop your school offers. Many of them will offer them toward the end of the semester or have library resources to help you prepare. It’s best to study while the material is fresh.
• Invest in the relationships that made a difference. I don’t believe in superficial networking, but when I genuinely stayed in touch with my closest MSW friends and the professors, a whole world opened up. It gave me many unexpected future opportunities. It’s also just good to stay connected to people who will support you throughout your career.

If you’ve been in the field for some time and are going for your LCSW (Clinical Exam):

• Keep accurate records of any jobs you’ve worked at to make sure you meet state requirements for clinical and supervision hours. Note not all settings will count toward your clinical hours.
• If you’ve taken the test and failed, it’s ok to feel frustrated, but don’t beat yourself up. It’s important to take some time to process it, unlearn any narratives about the test being a measure of your clinical skills (spoiler alert: supervision is), and gather any resources you need to help you pass. There’s a reason why the ASWB has had to change the test format and re-evaluate test construction.
• If you’ve been out of school for some time, avoid going back to random textbooks and focus on more comprehensive guides. The test is more about your global skills used across various professional settings (engagement/assessment/intervention/ethics) than it is about niche knowledge like Carl Jung’s favorite color or outfit.

Don’t over study (more than a few weeks would lead to burn out) and at the same time, avoid rushing (a one week cram marathon would also be harmful). Remember that if you earned your degree, you have the knowledge to pass the test.

And if you need extra help, I’m here to support you with 1:1 tutoring and to direct you to resources (practice exams) to assess where your strengths/weaknesses and help you pass!

Happy 2025! Remember, whether you become a therapist, a case manager, an administrator, a policy-worker, or an organizer: You’re needed!