DSM-V and the EPPP

For those of you looking for take the EPPP some time in the next year or two, here is yet another reason to take it ASAP - After July 31, 2014, all questions on the test will be subject to the DSM-V, and no longer use the DSM IV.

And remember, in March of this next year the cost of the EPPP will increase as well!.

Post-EPPP

I did it! I took the EPPP on November 19th. I am still awaiting word on my results, but I do feel I prepared adequately for the exam.

Thankfully, nothing went wrong the day of - I got there on time, I wasn't sick (save that for later in the week). Tips:

• You need two forms of ID with a signature on it. I used my state ID and a credit card. 
• Go find the testing center ahead of time. You never know where it might be hiding and the last thing you need at 7 in the morning is to be lost before a life-changing exam.
• Feel free to bring food/drink, you just can't bring it into the actual testing room. I definitely took a meal replacement bar with me to have the energy to get through a four hour exam.
• Wear something comfortable, preferably open layers or maybe a thin sweatshirt if you get cold easily like me. The testing center will have very odd rules, one being that you cannot remove any items of clothing once you enter the testing room. 

I had about 30 minutes to spare after going through all the questions, and I took about 20 minutes to review my flagged questions.
Other Advice:

• Your first gut instinct is probably the right answer. The agonizing part of reviewing answers is questioning yourself and getting lost in other possible answers. Overall, I felt my first answer was the most correct. 
• The four hours and fifteen minutes will go by quickly! The first fifteen minutes involve completing a tutorial to show you how to flag and review questions (This doesn't count towards the 4 fours and 15 minutes for the exam). Be sure to keep monitoring your time/pace at answering questions.
• I did like that you are able to "cross out" any of the multiple choice answers by simply clicking on them, which just puts a line through a potential answer. These were especially useful in questions that I didn't know the answer definitively.
• I took one break during the exam, which was sufficient for me. When I came back from the break, everything started "flowing" better and I got much better/quicker at answering questions (from my subjective point of view). Taking breaks is important for your mental state!

I'm starting to look to preparing for my oral exam for the state in ethics, which hopefully should be easier than this exam, however, it seems like its more memorization. I've also gotten job interviews in the mean time, which only adds to the additional stress of getting licensed ASAP!

I'll be sure to post here when I hear of my results!