Professor Wally Gingerich,
MSW, PhD, LISW-S, ACSW
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What is licensing?
What is required to be licensed?
Should you get a license?
What is the process?
Which exam should you take?
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Types of professional credentials
◦ Academic degree, e.g., B.S.W., M.S.S.A., M.S.W.
◦ Professional certification
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Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW)
NASW Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW)
Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (BCD)
Other certifications, e.g., Certified Chemical
Dependency Counselor
◦ License to practice social work
 Required to practice social work in all 50 states
 Intended to protect consumers (of mental health
services in particular)
 Requires adherence to the code of ethics (in the law)
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Ohio – LSW, LISW
Pennsylvania – PSW, LSW, LCSW
New York – LMSW, LCSW
Association of Social Work Boards lists
requirements for all 50 states.
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Licenses social work practice at BSW level and
MSW prior to 2 years experience
◦ BSW
Bachelors exam
◦ MSSA (MSW)
Bachelors, Clinical, or Advanced Generalist exam
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Licenses practice at masters + 2 years exper.
◦ MSSA (MSW)
◦ Clinical or Advanced Generalist exam
◦ 2 years (3000 hrs) of supervised experience
 1 hr. of supervision for every 20 hrs. of practice
 You must have the LSW during this time
 Supervisor must have LISW-S and be competent to
supervise in your area of practice
 CSD applicants need to show how psychosocial
interventions were used in their supervised practice
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Direct practice students
◦ Required for many jobs
◦ Civil service employees in Ohio are exempt, but that
is likely to change
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Community and Social Development students
◦ LSW is a good idea
◦ LISW may be worthwhile – it’s a widely recognized
professional credential, even though it’s not needed
for CSD practice
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Prepare for the exam
◦ Purchase ASWB Study Guide - $30
◦ MSASS Licensure Review Course - $40
 March 27 – Dr. Strom-Gottfried, Ms. Stevens
◦ Online ASWB practice exam - $75
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Submit application to Ohio CSWMFT Board - $60
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Must be in your final semester at MSASS
LSW Application form
Request for Exam Pre-Approval
Unofficial transcript of MSASS studies
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Take an ASWB exam
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Call ASWB to register for an exam
Make appointment to take exam at an ACT test center
Bachelor’s exam – $230
Clinical or Advanced Generalist – $260
Obtain a Criminal Records Check - $46+
◦ Get fingerprinted at a Webcheck location
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Take online Ohio CSWMFT exam – $10
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Wait until you receive your license – only then may
you use the initials after your name.
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In Ohio the choice is yours – Bachelors or
Clinical (or Advanced Generalist)
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Covers foundation social work practice
Questions are mainly recognition and recall
Does not assume any practice experience
ASWB recommends this exam for the LSW
license
MSASS students have very high rate of
passing Bachelor’s exam
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Cumulative social losses experienced by a
person in the aging process MOST OFTEN
lead to which condition?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Alzheimer’s disease
Senescence
Depression
Age-related cognitive decline
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Covers advanced practice content
Questions require analysis and application of
knowledge
Are designed for people who have their
Masters plus 2 years experience
ASWB does not recommend that LSW
applicants taking these exams
MSASS students have lower rate of passing
these exams
Passing this exam now means you don’t need
to take it again for your LISW
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A client who has received services for several years in a
dialysis unit appears for a routine visit. The nurse
notices that the client’s affect is markedly different from
the last visit. After ruling out compliance concerns, the
nurse refers the client to the unit social worker. When
seeing the social worker, the client seems detached,
self-absorbed, and tearful. The social worker should
FIRST:
A. Assess changes in the client’s life situation
B. Schedule a family conference
C. Explore the client’s concerns about dying
D. Discuss the client’s feelings about dialysis
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Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and
Family Therapist Board
◦ www.cswmft.ohio.gov
ASWB (Association of Soc Work Boards)
◦ www.aswb.org
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Ohio Webcheck
◦ www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Services/Business/
WebCheck
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Marcia E. Holleman
◦ Social Work Licensure Examiner
◦ Marcia.holleman@cswb.state.oh.us
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Jennifer Kreinbrink
◦ Registration contact person
◦ Jennifer.kreinbrink@cswb.state.oh.us
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CSWMFT Office
◦ (614) 466-5465