LEAP's Top 10 Tips for the Social Work Exam

Kym Meyer, M.B.A., C.B.E.P

Have you wondered how one social work licensure exam preparation provider differs from another?

This week, we have an interview with Kym Meyer, M.B.A., C.B.E.P, a former NASW state executive director and NASW Executive Director of the Year, and one of the founders of LEAP, a top social work licensure exam preparation firm.

This is the fourth interview in Social Work Career Development’s series of interviews with top social work licensure course providers. Earlier interviews were conducted with SWTP, SWE and TDC.

One distinguishing feature you will see that stands out about LEAP is that all three of its founders have noteworthy strong social work backgrounds illustrating both marked commitment and excellence in the field. In addition, it has a long-standing history within the test preparation realm.

LEAP was only officially created in 2003 but its second founder, Dr. Jannah Mather, Dean of the University of Utah’s College of Social Work, has been working in test preparation since the early 80s.

Its diagnostic tool/guide is also rather unique; it enables you to see where your specific weak points are and what study areas you want to focus on. It also tries to appeal to different types of learners by making the social work exam materials available in multiple formats: online study exam/study guide, an audio course and a live class.

Finally, in true social work spirit, LEAP gives back a portion of its proceeds to those in need.

So without further ado, Kym, how did the LEAP social work licensure exam preparation firm come about?

LEAP founders are a former NASW state executive director and NASW Executive Director of the Year (Kym Meyer); a NASW state president and Utah Social Worker of the Year (Dr. Susan Middleton); and the dean of the University of Utah social work program (Dr. Jannah Mather).

Through student and member feedback, we recognized that there was a need for higher quality products and services in the marketplace. We set out to offer competitive pricing, honesty in product marketing, and up-to-date materials that are written by social workers. Its sole mission is to help colleagues pass and, subsequently, reach their career goals.

How is LEAP different from other test preparation courses?

LEAP’s materials are written by well-established social worker leaders, updated at least twice per year, and pass rates are tracked by an independent company. We monitor the ASWB social work test trends and our materials follow the actual exam content outlines specifically identified by the exam development company, ASWB (BBS for California test-takers).

We also believe that as a social work organization, we have an ethical responsibility to support communities across the world. Therefore, a portion of each sale goes back to those in need. LEAP is committed to having integrity in every aspect of business operations.

What is the rate of success amongst your participants?

Our pass rates are between 94 – 99% depending on product used and exam level.

LEAP is the only company that tracks ALL customers and uses an INDEPENDENT company to track these pass rates. Since 2003, LEAP has helped over 15,000 social workers pass their exams!

Do your online exams prepare social workers for both the LMSW and the LCSW exams?

LEAP online exams are offered for all exam levels, including, but not limited to, the LMSW (Masters) and the LCSW (Clinical) levels.

The exams contain detailed answer rationale for the right and wrong answers. Practice questions are related to the content in the study guide for a holistic study approach.

Has it been your experience that non-U.S. born social workers tend to have a harder time passing the LMSW exam? What special advice that you would offer them?

A non-U.S. born social worker whose first language is not English may have a more difficult time passing any exam since there are typically linguistic and cultural issues that can come in to play in the exam questions.

For a social worker whose first language is not English, special arrangements may be available through ASWB, as discussed on their website.

We provide free coaching for LEAP customers and specific strategies are shared with ESL students. These strategies have proven to be very helpful in passing various social work exams.

What advice would you give to social workers who have taken the exam but failed it despite studying and taking a prep course?

Failing the exam is discouraging and we are here to help. LEAP encourages previous test takers to put together a list of topics that challenged them on the exam.

We help customers identify areas of content weakness and potential test-taking anxiety. LEAP also offers a free assessment tool that allows customers to identify their learning style so that study time is well utilized .

In partnership, the LEAP staff and customer create a plan that fits the customer’s study needs, budget, and timeline.

In July of 2015, the licensure exam is expected to include the DSM-5. What are your plans to adapt your materials to address this change?

LEAP will offer both a DSM-V and a DSV-IV study guide in December 2014. Customer product selection will be based on the customer’s preferred test date.

We also offer an entire book, called the LEAP Diagnostic Summary Guide, for individuals who prefer additional study in this content area. This book will be available in both a DSM-V and a DSM-IV version.

Since most successful test takers study between two and three months we recommend that individuals consider study time when selecting the product versions.

Looking ahead five years from now, what changes are you anticipating in the way social workers get licensed and/or the licensing exam itself (other than the inclusion of the DSM-5)?

The trend in licensing is toward uniformity across all states and among nations. Specifically, consumers will likely see more uniformity in the acronyms used for licensing (e.g. the clinical level license will generally be referred to as the LCSW rather than the many acronyms now being used around the world).

There will also be greater portability of a license from one state to another as licensing laws are revised. This will be valuable for social workers who move mid-career, work in several states, or provide online services.

We know that California will be switching to the national exam in 2016 and we expect this trend to be reflected on a worldwide level. One of LEAP’s co-founders was heavily involved in licensing laws and follows the trends very closely.

In terms of the actual exam, one can expect to see more issues related to cultural competence since we are moving toward a more global marketplace. Given the accessibility of information on the Internet, issues related to confidentiality will be a hot topic and a clear understanding of the relevant legal and ethical issues will be expected.

Lastly, what would be the top ten tips that you would offer to social workers in preparation for their licensure exam?

1. Acknowledge that you absolutely have what it takes to pass this exam.
2. Identify a test prep company that aligns with your standards of quality in all relevant areas.
3. Take an exam (online or in the study guide) to get a baseline for content knowledge. This will also allow you to determine the time needed for preparation.
4. Develop a timeline and daily study schedule.
5. Choose a place of study that is free of distractions.
6. Study exam material daily for 2-3 months prior to taking exam.
7. Read a comprehensive study guide three times completely through.
8. If you are an auditory learner, consider utilizing an audio course.
9. Take a live class, if you do best in a live environment.
10. Be good to yourself. Take breaks when needed and acknowledge your progress along the way. You will SUCCEED!