Passing the ACSW Test!

On January 13, 2017, I passed my licensing exam in the State of California becoming a licensed clinical social worker.  This has been my long term goal since graduating from the masters program in 2009.  In California, the road to licensure is a bit daunting!  In my first job, I was not supported in finding or pursuing my LCSW.  So after gaining 4 years of experience, I left that job specifically moving to a job that would provide supervision required to become an LCSW.  So, after registering with the State of California as an ACSW, my journey towards the goal of licensing began for me.  Besides completing all of the supervision hours, social workers have specific CEUs that must be completed. I spent over 2 years accruing the required 3200 hours of supervised work experience.  I then completed the required additional coursework.  (I believe 32 CEUs).  I then applied for and passed the Law and Ethics exam.   One week after passing the Law and Ethics exam, I began studying for my final exam...The ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards).  I passed that exam on January 13, 2017. Within one month, I received my actual California registered license.

I have reached a major milestone in my career and my life.  And at this point, I am taking the time to savor the moment!  

Organizing my life

I do not work in a clinic on Fridays because I have chosen to work 4 ten hour days instead.  It is  lovely to have a 3 day weekend, but the 10 hour day can be grueling.   I realize as I am writing this that as social workers, we really do need excellent time management/organization skills.  I had a social worker spend the day with me last week learning about how to balance our workload and organize. Before this new social worker came to my clinic, I spent the prior day reflecting on the way I structure my work life so that I don't burn out.  Our caseloads are huge and the documentation is overwhelming.  This is the battlecry of all social workers!  However, I have found a way to minimize the impact of the crazy-making on my life.   There are time management skills that I suppose I have just picked up over the years.  One thing that I must have...a paper calendar/planner.  I am using a Filofax for my work life and an Erin Condren planner for the rest of my life.  Without these two tools, I would seriously be lost.  Don't get me wrong:   I do use my Outlook calendar too and depend on my iPhone to remind me of appointments and meetings!    But for some reason, I am more comfortable relying on my planners to keep me organized.  And there is something to be said for being able to check-off items from a list.  I used to believe I was just "old school", but then I am seeing the popularity of all the planners.
My Filofax is professional looking but in purple...just because it's me.  I use the page per day layout.  I have extra pages for adding lists of organizing meetings, addresses of clinics in my region, music I need to download, restaurants I want to eat at, and of course...any helps/aids for obtaining my LCSW license.  And yes, again, I can have all of this available electronically.  But there is something about the visual that helps me.  Filofax is definitely not a cheap system.  However I focus on the investment.  And if you have something that is beautiful, you just may enjoy using it!