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ASWB Masters Cheat Sheet

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Values & Ethics

  • 35% of exam
  • NASW Code of Ethics Confidentiality & Duty to Warn Supervision & Self-Care Mandated Reporting

Assessment & Planning

  • 33% of exam
  • Development & DSM-5-TR Assessment Tools Risk Assessment Mental Status Exam

Intervention & Practice

  • 32% of exam
  • Evidence-Based Interventions Therapy Models Crisis Intervention Case Management

Quick Facts

  • Exam ASWB Masters
  • Credential LMSW (MSW-level)
  • Questions 122 (110 scored)
  • Time 4 hours
  • Pass 66-78 of 110 (varies)
  • Format CBT, Pearson VUE
  • Level MSW graduate
  • Blueprint 2026 (since Aug 3 2026)

NASW Six Core Values ET

  • Service, Social Justice, Dignity, Relationships, Integrity, Competence
  • Service first Social justice Dignity and worth Human relationships matter Integrity always Competence maintained

Confidentiality vs Duty to Warn ET

Confidentiality

  • Default protection
  • Client controls disclosure

Tarasoff duty

  • Identified victim named
  • State law requires or permits disclosure
  • Danger breaks silence

Ethics Action Picker ET

  • Client threatens identified victim → Warn and protect (Tarasoff)
  • Suspect child or elder abuse → Mandated report immediately
  • Feeling attraction to client → Seek supervision, set boundary
  • Unsure how to handle case → Consult, don't just proceed
  • Subpoena for records arrives → Consult legal counsel first
  • Client requests self-harm secrecy → Assess risk, break confidentiality

NASW Code of Ethics ET

  • 1.06 Conflicts of interest
  • 1.07 Privacy and confidentiality
  • 1.09 Sexual relationships prohibited
  • 1.13 Payment and bartering
  • 1.17 Termination of services
  • 4.04 Dishonesty, fraud, deception
  • 4.05 Impairment self-report
  • 6.04 Social and political action

Supervision vs Consultation ET

Supervision

  • Hierarchical oversight
  • Evaluates performance

Consultation

  • Peer-to-peer input
  • No evaluative authority
  • Oversight vs advice

Confidentiality & Legal Duties ET

  • Tarasoff duty Protect identified victim per state law
  • Mandated reporting Suspected abuse or neglect
  • HIPAA minimum necessary Share only what's needed
  • Informed consent Voluntary, informed, competent agreement
  • Subpoena vs court order Subpoena alone is not an order
  • Privileged communication Protects client, not public

Supervision & Self-Care ET

  • Clinical supervision Oversight of practice skills
  • Consultation Peer input, no oversight
  • Countertransference Worker's reaction to client
  • Burnout Exhaustion from chronic stress
  • Secondary trauma Absorbing client's traumatic material
  • Self-care planning Prevent impairment, sustain practice

Erikson's 8 Stages AS

  • 8 stages, 8 conflicts, birth to late life
  • Trust vs mistrust Autonomy vs shame Initiative vs guilt Industry vs inferiority Identity vs confusion Intimacy vs isolation Generativity vs stagnation Integrity vs despair

Delirium vs Dementia AS

Delirium

  • Acute onset
  • Fluctuating attention
  • Often reversible

Dementia

  • Gradual onset
  • Stable attention early
  • Usually progressive
  • Sudden vs slow

Diagnosis Picker by Symptoms AS

  • 2+ weeks depressed mood → Major depressive disorder ( DSM-5-TR )
  • 2+ years mild depression → Persistent depressive disorder
  • 1 week elevated/irritable mood → Manic episode
  • 4 days elevated mood only → Hypomanic episode
  • 6+ months excess worry → Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Trauma symptoms over 1 month → PTSD

Erikson Psychosocial Stages AS

  • Trust vs Mistrust Infancy hope
  • Autonomy vs Shame Toddler will
  • Initiative vs Guilt Preschool purpose
  • Industry vs Inferiority School-age competence
  • Identity vs Confusion Adolescent fidelity
  • Intimacy vs Isolation Young adult love
  • Generativity vs Stagnation Midlife care
  • Integrity vs Despair Late life wisdom

DSM-5-TR Duration Thresholds AS

  • 4 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 6 months
  • Hypomania: 4 days Mania: 1 week MDD: 2 weeks GAD: 6 months PDD: 2 years ODD: 6 months

MDD vs Persistent Depressive Disorder AS

MDD

  • 2+ weeks
  • Episodic
  • Can be severe

PDD

  • 2+ years
  • Chronic, low-grade
  • Milder symptoms
  • Duration decides

Piaget Stages & Attachment AS

  • Sensorimotor Birth to 2 years
  • Preoperational Symbolic, egocentric thinking
  • Concrete operational Logical, concrete thinking
  • Formal operational Abstract, hypothetical reasoning
  • Secure attachment Comfort with closeness
  • Anxious attachment Fears abandonment
  • Avoidant attachment Dismisses closeness needs
  • Disorganized attachment Fear plus approach

Mania vs Hypomania AS

Mania

  • 1+ week
  • Marked impairment
  • May need hospital

Hypomania

  • 4+ days
  • No major impairment
  • No psychosis
  • Severity and duration

DSM-5-TR Duration Thresholds AS

  • MDD 2+ weeks symptoms
  • Persistent depressive d/o 2+ years chronic
  • Manic episode 1 week (or hospitalized)
  • Hypomanic episode 4+ consecutive days
  • GAD 6+ months worry
  • Acute stress d/o 3 days to 1 month
  • PTSD Symptoms over 1 month
  • Adjustment disorder Within 3 months onset

PTSD vs Acute Stress Disorder AS

PTSD

  • Over 1 month
  • Chronic course possible

Acute stress disorder

  • 3 days to 1 month
  • Resolves or becomes PTSD
  • Timing after trauma

Key DSM-5-TR Categories AS

  • Schizophrenia 1mo active, 6mo total
  • Bipolar I Requires 1 manic episode
  • Bipolar II Hypomania plus depression
  • BPD Instability, fear of abandonment
  • ASPD Pattern disregard for others
  • Delirium Acute, fluctuating attention
  • Dementia (NCD) Gradual, stable attention
  • ODD 6+ months defiance

Assessment Tools & Scales AS

  • PHQ-9 Depression severity screen
  • GAD-7 Anxiety severity screen
  • C-SSRS Suicide risk screen
  • SCID-5 Structured diagnostic interview
  • MSE Appearance, mood, cognition, insight
  • Biopsychosocial assessment Bio + psych + social

Risk & Safety Assessment AS

  • Suicide risk factors Prior attempt, means, plan
  • Protective factors Reasons for living
  • Stanley-Brown Safety Plan Structured safety planning tool
  • Means restriction Limit access to lethal means
  • Homicidality assessment Specific plan, means, intent
  • Danger to others Duty to warn triggers

First-Line Treatments by Diagnosis IN

  • PTSD=CPT/EMDR | OCD=ERP | OUD=Buprenorphine | AUD=Naltrexone
  • PTSD: CPT or EMDR OCD: ERP OUD: buprenorphine/methadone AUD: naltrexone/acamprosate BPD: DBT

Intervention Picker by Presentation IN

  • PTSD symptoms → CPT, PE, or EMDR
  • OCD compulsions → ERP
  • Opioid use disorder → Buprenorphine or methadone
  • Alcohol use disorder → Naltrexone or acamprosate
  • Pursue-withdraw couple cycle → EFT
  • Active suicidal ideation → Safety planning, means restriction

Evidence-Based Interventions by Condition IN

  • PTSD CPT, PE, or EMDR
  • OCD ERP (exposure response prevention)
  • OUD Buprenorphine or methadone (MOUD)
  • AUD Naltrexone or acamprosate
  • BPD DBT, MBT, or TFP
  • Child trauma TF-CBT
  • Adolescent anorexia FBT (family-based treatment)
  • Panic disorder CBT with exposure

Therapy Models & Theories IN

  • CBT Reframe distorted thoughts
  • MI Explore ambivalence, roll resistance
  • SFBT Focus on solutions, exceptions
  • EFT De-escalate attachment cycles
  • Bowen family systems Differentiation of self
  • Structural family therapy Realign family hierarchy
  • Psychodynamic Insight into unconscious patterns
  • Strengths-based practice Build on client capacities

Crisis & Case Management IN

  • Crisis intervention Stabilize, safety, short-term
  • Tuckman stages Form, storm, norm, perform
  • Case management Link, coordinate, monitor services
  • Discharge planning Aftercare and follow-up
  • Termination readiness Goals met, client stable
  • ROM/FIT Track outcomes each session

Common Traps

Confidentiality vs Mandated Reporting

  • Confidentiality protects client ≠ Reporting duty overrides it

MDD vs Persistent Depressive Disorder

  • MDD is 2+ weeks ≠ PDD is 2+ years

Mania vs Hypomania Duration

  • Mania needs 1 week ≠ Hypomania needs 4 days

Supervision vs Consultation Role

  • Supervision evaluates performance ≠ Consultation just advises

Self-Determination vs Duty to Protect

  • Client chooses own path ≠ Danger overrides autonomy

Delirium vs Dementia Onset

  • Delirium is acute ≠ Dementia is gradual

Last Minute

  • 1. Content weights 35-33-32%
  • 2. MDD needs 2+ weeks symptoms
  • 3. Mania needs 1+ week duration
  • 4. Duty to protect follows state law
  • 5. Mandated reporting is not optional
  • 6. 122 total questions, 110 scored
  • 7. 4-hour computer-based Pearson VUE exam
  • 8. Pass/fail; generally 66-78 correct
  • 9. Read vignette twice, pick BEST
  • 10. Safety planning beats no-suicide contracts

ASWB Masters Examination

  • Practice Questions 135 questions Study Guide 33 topics Cheat Sheet 86 facts Flashcards 50 cards Videos 1 video Blogs 1 blog 2 Job Wiki Free CE Podcast