I'm scheduled for the ICDVP exam in about 10 weeks and having trouble finding detailed information about the actual format. The ICADV site has some info but it's thin on specifics. How many questions is it and is it all multiple choice?
I've been working in DV services for 4 years at a shelter in the Chicago area, so I feel like I have solid practical experience. But I know these exams can test specific legal and policy knowledge that doesn't always come up in day-to-day work. I'm particularly nervous about Illinois-specific statutes — things like mandatory reporting timelines and how VAWA provisions apply in our state.
My study plan right now is about 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. I've got roughly 100 hours before my exam date if I stick to that. Does that feel like overkill or about right for this one?
I took it two years ago and it was 150 multiple choice questions with a 3-hour time limit. Plenty of time — I finished in about 90 minutes and used the rest to review flagged questions. The format hasn't changed much based on what colleagues have told me recently.
Passed mine last fall. The practical experience definitely helps but you're right that the policy content needs specific study. I'd recommend making a one-page cheat sheet of all key Illinois DV statutes with dates and numbers — the act of writing it helped me memorize it.
Don't neglect the trauma-informed care and safety planning sections. I went in thinking those would be easy since we do that work every day, but the exam tests specific models and terminology, not just general competence. Lethality Assessment Protocol came up multiple times.
The Illinois statute questions were exactly what tripped me up the most. Know your 48-hour holds, the specific definitions under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, and the mandatory reporting requirements cold. Those came up way more than I expected — probably 25% of the questions had a legal element.
Your 100-hour study plan sounds solid. I did about 80 hours and passed with a score I was happy with.