I just graduated with my MSW and I’m starting to prep for the LSW exam here in Indiana. I’ve been looking into study materials, but a lot of what I’m finding is heavily focused on practice questions and mock exams.
I’m definitely going to use those—but I’m really looking for something deeper.
Specifically, I’m trying to find study resources that include:
Clear definitions of key social work concepts (theories, ethics, interventions, etc.)
Breakdowns of real-life social work scenarios (like “what would you do?” and why)
Clinical reasoning explanations (not just the correct answer, but the thought process behind it)
Application of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics in practical situations.
Differences between similar concepts (like transference vs countertransference, CBT vs other modalities, etc.)
I want to actually *understand* the material—not just memorize answers.
If you’ve taken the exam (especially recently), what helped you most in terms of truly learning the content? Books, apps, programs, or even YouTube channels?
Also—if you’re in Indiana or took the exam here, I’d love to hear if anything felt state-specific or different.