Oklahoma § 59-1261.1 - Issuance of licenses - Qualifications - Types of

§ 59-1261.1. Issuance of licenses - Qualifications - Types of

license - Private practice – Definitions.

A. To obtain a license under the Social Worker's Licensing Act,

an applicant shall:

1. Submit a written application in a form prescribed by the

State Board of Licensed Social Workers;

2. Have attained the age of majority;

3. Have graduated and received a degree in social work from an

approved social work program;

4. Have completed any necessary post graduate experience and

supervision in the practice of social work;

5. Have passed the necessary examination and paid all fees

required by the Board; and

6. Submit to a national criminal history record check, as

defined by Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The

costs associated with the national criminal history record check

shall be paid by the applicant and submitted to the Board at the

time of application. With the required fee, the applicant shall

provide to the Board two classifiable sets of fingerprints to be

provided to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

B. If the results of the national criminal history record check

required by subsection A of this section reveal that the applicant

has been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, any

felony crime that substantially relates to the occupation of a

social worker and poses a reasonable threat to public safety, the

individual's application for licensure may be disapproved and no

further action shall be taken on the application.

C. Upon certification by the Board, the Board shall authorize

the issuance of social work licenses to persons who qualify as

follows:

1. As a licensed social work associate (LSWA) who has a

baccalaureate degree in social work from an accredited institution

or an approved social work program or both and has passed the

examination provided for under these provisions or who has a

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

doctoral or master's degree in social work from an institution with

a program accredited by an approved social work program and has

passed the examination provided for under these provisions;

2. As a licensed master's social worker (LMSW) who has a

master's degree in social work from an accredited institution or an

approved social work program or both and has passed the examination

provided for under the Social Worker's Licensing Act;

3. As a licensed social worker (LSW) who has a master's degree

in social work from an accredited institution or an approved social

work program or both and has three thousand (3,000) hours of

postgraduate experience in the practice of social work under

professional supervision of a person licensed under those

provisions, and who has passed the examination provided for under

the provisions of the Social Worker's Licensing Act;

4. As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who has a

master's degree in social work from an accredited institution or an

approved social work program or both and has three thousand (3,000)

hours of postgraduate experience in the practice of clinical social

work under professional supervision of a person licensed by the

Social Worker's Licensing Act, and who has passed the examination

provided for under the Social Worker's Licensing Act; and

5. As a licensed social worker with administration specialty

(LSW-ADM) who has a master's degree in social work from an

accredited institution or an approved social work program or both

and has three thousand (3,000) hours of postgraduate experience in

the practice of administrative social work under professional

supervision of a person licensed by the Social Worker's Licensing

Act, and who has passed the examination provided for under the

Social Worker's Licensing Act.

D. Applicants who have been licensed as an LSWA, LMSW, LSW,

LCSW or LSW-ADM in good standing in another state for a minimum of

three (3) years continually since the time of initial full licensure

post-provisional term and comply with all other state requirements

shall be licensed by the Board.

E. No person may engage in the private practice of clinical

social work unless that person:

1. Is licensed under the Social Worker's Licensing Act as a

licensed clinical social worker (LCSW); and

2. Continues to meet continuing education requirements set by

the Board.

F. No person may engage in an independent social work practice

unless that person:

1. Is licensed under the Social Worker's Licensing Act as a

licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed social worker with

administration specialty (LSW-ADM) or licensed social worker (LSW).

This specifically and intentionally excludes licensed social work

associates (LSWA) and licensed masters social workers (LMSW); and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

2. Continues to meet continuing education requirements set by

the Board.

G. Any person seeking to pursue postgraduate supervision for

the licensed social worker (LSW), licensed social worker with

administration specialty (LSW-ADM), or licensed clinical social

worker (LCSW) must hold licensure status of licensed social work

associate (LSWA) or licensed masters social worker (LMSW) prior to

board approval of postgraduate supervision for licensure as

specified in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of subsection C of this section.

H. As used in this section:

1. "Substantially relates" means the nature of criminal conduct

for which the person was convicted has a direct bearing on the

fitness or ability to perform one or more of the duties or

responsibilities necessarily related to the occupation; and

2. "Poses a reasonable threat" means the nature of criminal

conduct for which the person was convicted involved an act or threat

of harm against another and has a bearing on the fitness or ability

to serve the public or work with others in the occupation.

Added by Laws 1980, c. 124, § 8, eff. Oct. 1, 1980. Amended by Laws

1982, c. 122, § 4, operative July 1, 1982; Laws 1987, c. 108, § 3,

eff. July 1, 1987; Laws 2003, c. 85, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws

2011, c. 146, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2011; Laws 2014, c. 95, § 3, eff.

Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2018, c. 310, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2018; Laws 2019,

c. 363, § 43, eff. Nov. 1, 2019; Laws 2024, c. 109, § 1, eff. Nov.

1, 2024.

§59-1261.1a. License renewal - Continuing education Reapplication.

A. Licensees shall be required to renew their license at such

time and in such manner established by the State Board of Licensed

Social Workers by rule, including the form of application and

payment of the applicable renewal fee. Under no circumstances shall

the renewal period exceed two (2) years.

B. As a requirement for license renewal, each licensee shall

provide evidence satisfactory to the Board that such licensee has

annually completed at least sixteen (16) hours of a program of

continuing education as prescribed by the Board.

C. The Board shall also provide procedures by rule to ensure

that license renewal candidates maintain the qualifications to

practice social work, as set forth in this act.

D. If a social worker fails to make application to the Board

for renewal of a license within a period of ninety (90) days after

the expiration of the license, such person must reapply as an

initial applicant for licensure and pass the current licensure

examination; however, a person who has been licensed under the laws

of this state and the license has expired, but who has continually

practiced social work in another state under a license issued by the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

authority of such state, may renew the license upon completion of

the continuing education requirements set forth by the Board and

payment of the designated fee.

E. Any licensee who allows their license to expire after

January 1, 2012, shall, in addition to any other requirements for

reinstatement, be required to submit to a national criminal history

record check as defined by Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma

Statutes, and pay the fee for the record check. However, the

individual shall be allowed to practice with the expired license

pending receipt by the Board of a complete and satisfactory national

criminal history record check. If the Board does not receive two

classifiable sets of fingerprints taken by a local, state or federal

law enforcement agency or a civilian entity approved by the Oklahoma

State Bureau of Investigation and the required fee within thirty

(30) days from the date the license was reinstated, the license

shall be suspended until receipt by the Board of the sets of

fingerprints and the fee for the record check.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 85, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 2003. Amended by Laws

2011, c. 146, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2011.