I received my license in the mail so I’m all official now!
When studying for the exam, I noticed a lack of centralized study guides, reviews of un-official study materials and answers to general exam questions. I added to the mess with my last post but it would be really nice if state NASW sites would create a better exam prep page/site. Right now on the NASW-IL site, there is a general page about exam requirements and NASW sponsored test prep sessions. Same info that has been up since I started grad school.
Now that I am licensed, I’m looking liability(malpractice) insurance so I can go from being a volunteer therapist to a part time contractual therapist at the agency I’ve been finishing my clinical hours at. No surprise, I’m encountering the same lack of information. Luckily, my clinical supervisor has a private practice and I can ask him my questions.
From what I’ve read so far, I have to be a member of the NASW to get liability insurance. NASW membership – $190. Insurance – varies depending on FT/PT and how many years you’ve been in practice. Don’t think you get a discount for experience, the price goes up each year.
So now I have to calculate how much I can make with a couple contractual clients vs how much it will cost to get insurance. I’m already seeing clients that don’t pay a fee. I tried to get all of my clients to see me on Saturdays when I started and slowly all of my clients migrated to a weeknight. People’s schedules change so I have to be somewhat flexible but I don’t want to end up making multiple trips to see one client at a time.
So as I find out more about insurance and being a contractual therapist, I will post more. I can try to make this blog at least a little useful :)
Thank you thank you thank you! I am in the process of studying for my exam and your blog gave me hope! Thanks again! I will come back and read more when I have more time. Human Behavior has killed me tonight!