Weddingbee boards

I'm taking this exam on April 21st, and was just wondering if anyone on the 'bee has taken it before. I know we have some other people on here who work in the mental health field. 

I've never heard of it. But you must be getting licensed in a different field. I'm in Social Work so our exam is LMSW and ultimately the LCSW for mental health counseling. Good luck :)

@kperry3: Thanks! Actually, the license, which is an LMHC, is equivalent to an LCSW :) It's just a newer, and therefore lesser known degree. 

Cool! You learn something everyday! Do you know anything about the test? How long? What types of questions?

@kperry3: I'm not sure how many questions, but basically they give you 10 scenarios--like case vignettes, and you have to answer questions about them. For instance, "Please select which following modalities would be most helpful in treating this client. Select as many as you think would work." So there's not necessarily one right answer. The questions are graded on a scale of -3 to +3--certain answers you get 1, 2, or 3 points for, and if you pick things that are wrong, you either get 1, 2, or 3 points deducted. You have 4 hours total for the test, I believe. 

Basically, I'm pretty nervous about it!! 

@judithsr: Oh ethics... love it and hate it at the same time! I've also been told that every answer is ok, but what is the best answer. Or what would you do first. I can't wait to take the test and be done with it :)

@hilsy85: The scoring sounds interesting! You can choose as many as you like.. but be careful because we may deduct points. I'm sure once you look at the actual questions it will be easier! Practice exams are always good too. Let us know how you do! I can't take my licensure exam until after I graduate in May. Boo.

Could you ladies please share some more information about how to go about taking classes and such?  I work as a unit secretary at a psychiatric hospital, but my background is in medical coding/billing.  I see some MHA's at my facility, but sometimes they deal with such dirty work.  >.> 

@judithsr: That's good to know! Thanks for all your advice :) Unfortunately, I graduated almost two years ago from school (they actually recommend waiting until you have about two years of work experience), so I"m afraid that I"ve already become "tainted" by the real world, lol! I definitely need to brush up on my code of ethics and all that stuff. I did purchase some practice tests, and there are more online that I can buy if needed, so hopefully I will be okay. 

@DesireeAnne: In order to be eligible for mental health counselor licensure, you need to complete 60 credits from an accredited university/college, that has a specific program. These are all the requirements (although this is specific it NYS and to mental health counselors):http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/mhp/mhclic.htm

@PitBulLover: Thanks!

@kperry3: Ha that's exactly what the scoring is like. Good luck with your last few weeks of classes :) 

@L2sweetpea: Hmm, I haven't seen anything anywhere about long answer questions. And while it is recommended that you work for about 2 years/3000 hours prior to taking the exam, it's not required--you can actually take it at any time. I almost wish I hadn't waited as long, because my work doesn't really deal so much with clinical work, which is what the exam focuses on. I feel like I've forgotten a ton of information (hopefully it's just sitting in my brain somewhere, lol). It sounds like the LCSW is maybe more similar to the NCE (National Counseling Exam), which focuses more on broad theories, diagnositic categories, and interventions. 

@LaurenK0105: Yikes...that's discouraging :(

@hilsy85: Thank you!