Post-EPPP

After settling down after the holidays, I realized that I forgot to actually publish on here that I passed the EPPP! So while my EPPP journey is at an end, my path to licensure, my first job, and other firsts are still on the way.

Last week I received my first job offer with the VA, which I was happy to accept. I'm currently going through the credentialing process, which I will discuss more on a later post for those individuals interested in getting a job (or continuing) with the VA system.

In other news, I was originally planning to pursue licensure in a "new law" state that counts pre-doctoral practicum hours, however, the rules were incredibly strict, and none of my practicum hours counted towards licensure. As a result, I have decided to pursue licensure in an easier state (i.e. nothing beyond the EPPP) like Kansas or Hawaii. But more on that later. Expect some new posts soon!

Keep studying!

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!

Weekly Inspiration and Motivation

I gotta admit, after studying for roughly 2 months, it's tough to stay motivated, especially when you are working a full-time job already. Back in college during finals time, I made it a tradition to play motivating and inspirational movies in the background while completing those never-ending term papers. They somehow kept me feeling optimistic and fostered that fighting spirit needed to push through a lengthy and grueling task. Each week or so, I hope to share some motivation with you.

This week I share one of my all-time favorite movie series, Rocky. If you haven't gotten a chance to see any of the Rocky movies (all are good except Rocky V), they can be very motivating. The general synopsis of each film is as follows: Rocky is struggling with his will to beat his opponent, who seems to be unbeatable. Typically this struggle stems from his wife Adrian's concerns about him getting hurt fighting. After resolving Adrian's anxiety, there comes a moment in each film where Rocky finally commits 100% to training and beating his opponent with Adrian's support. It is these montages in each film that gets me pumped and motivated to beating my opponent, in this case, the EPPP. Here is a montage clip from my favorite Rocky, Rocky II. Happy Friday!

Back from a brief hiatus

Hi Everyone,

My apologies for not writing much on the blog lately - I have been amidst a multiple state move and trying to get my life settled at my new post-doc.

I have some how managed to (barely) keep up with my study schedule using PsychPrep. I've actually been surprised at my test scores and have remained on par for where I should be, regardless of my minimal study time and adjusting to a new job.

Also, the winds appear to be changing as to where I will be applying for licensure. I originally was going to apply with Iowa since they have no written or oral exam beyond the EPPP. You pass = you're done and licensed. Now though, I have been told by those applying for jobs that being licensed prior to completing post-doc could be a serious advantage, and I am looking at applying in Ohio, one of the many "new law" states that allows pre-internship hours to count towards licensure. (If anyone has feedback on this, please comment!) I'm not sure yet whether this is do-able since the documentation my academic program may not be sufficient, but hopefully I can press forward. Either way, I am still looking to take the EPPP in November.

I'm hoping to do some more upcoming posts on additional resources for EPPP studying, ABPP, applying for licensure in a "new law" state, and my process in completing my application with the National Register. What would you like to hear more about?

Practice Tests

Hi All,

I had a suspicion that this might happen, but the practice tests have been taken down due to possible copyright issues, as warned to me by moderators of Yahoo's EPPP group. I think it's a bit unfair since people can instead sell copies of these same tests to multiple individuals and make money doing it, but unfortunately there is nothing I can do about this, and I am not looking for any legal trouble.

Test Questions

I've been busy studying using my materials from PsychPrep, including their online tests. I have been tracking my progress over time, and I am already surprised at how many improvements I have made. Since I have only gotten through 4 sections of study materials, I don't believe this is because I know more content. I believe it's because I know how to answer test questions better. Here are some of the common errors I noticed I was making at the beginning, but have remedied over time with continued practice.

1. Read the ENTIRE question and ALL of the answers. So many times, I think when we think we know what the question is asking, and we miss some key words. Same deal with the possible answers - I read one that sounded good and kind of ignored the rest. Now, when I look at answers, I try to figure out how the question would have to be reworded to make this answer correct, or what concepts the distractor items are referring to that make them incorrect.

2. Carefully read the EXACT wording of the questions. I got burned sooo many times initially because I did not read into the importance of a single word. From undergrad, we might have remembered those terms as "always" or "never", but now you have to look even harder at the one word that could potentially be the difference between the right and wrong answer. At times I feel like the people who write these exam questions enjoy finding little ways to throw you off course.

3. Use common sense. In reading a question which concepts are a completely mystery to you (which I am sure will happen to anyone taking the EPPP), take some time to think and remember what you even remotely know about this particular subject, and what common sense would tell you from what you know. While this is no guarantee, it's better than guessing blindly.

4. With ethics questions, I visualize myself in the potential dilemma and I answer what I would instinctively do in that situation. Ethics are about avoiding those "icky" situations we don't want to find ourselves in, and most of us have a pretty good conscience. Again, it's no absolute winning strategy, but I find when I trust my judgment and experiences as a clinician already, I pick the correct answer most of the time. Especially with ethics questions, the situation presented to you will not likely match up with any ethics standard you would find in the APA ethics code.

5. Read and master explanations when you get questions wrong. Hopefully, this should be obvious, but I think the MASTERY part is key. Take the time after you answer the question to read it through until it seems clear and you could explain it in your own words to someone not in psychology.

Overall, I do agree with most that the practice exams are invaluable tools in teaching you HOW to take the EPPP. While the content is equally important, we all know that some people are better test takers than others due to those particular skills.

Got a study strategy you would like to add? Comment below!