Oklahoma § 59-1270 - Unlawful acts - Penalties

§ 59-1270. Unlawful acts - Penalties

A. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to:

1. Use in connection with his or her name any designation

tending to imply that he or she is licensed under the Social

Worker’s Licensing Act unless he or she is duly and respectively

licensed under the provisions of this act;

2. Use in connection with his or her name any designation

tending to imply that he or she is licensed under the provisions of

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

this act during the time his or her license shall be suspended or

revoked; or

3. Otherwise violate any of the provisions of this act.

B. 1. Except as otherwise provided, it shall be unlawful for

any individual to engage in the practice of social work unless duly

licensed under this act.

2. Except as otherwise provided, it shall be unlawful for any

individual to engage in the practice of Clinical Social Work unless

duly licensed as a Clinical Social Worker under this act.

3. No individual shall offer social work services or use the

designation social worker, licensed social work associate, licensed

master’s social worker, licensed social worker, licensed clinical

social worker or the initials LSWA, LMSW, LSW, or LCSW or any other

designation indicating licensure status or hold themselves out as

licensed to practice social work unless duly licensed.

4. The provision of social work services to an individual in

this state, through telephonic, electronic or other means,

regardless of the location of the social worker, shall constitute

the practice of social work and shall be subject to regulation.

5. Any individual who, after hearing, is found by the State

Board of Licensed Social Workers to have unlawfully engaged in the

practice of social work or to have violated other provisions of this

act shall be subject to a fine to be imposed by the Board not to

exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each offense. Each

violation of this act or Board rules pertaining to unlawful practice

of social work shall also constitute a misdemeanor.

6. Nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent members of

other professions from performing functions for which they are duly

licensed; provided, however, such professionals shall not hold

themselves out or refer to themselves by any title or description

stating or implying that they are engaged in the practice of social

work or that they are licensed to engage in the practice of social

work.

7. Students currently participating in an approved social work

program are exempt from licensure under this act when enrolled in or

participating in an internship, externship, or other social work

experience requirements for such programs.

Added by Laws 1965, c. 140, § 20. Amended by Laws 1980, c. 124, §

17, eff. Oct. 1, 1980; Laws 2003, c. 85, § 19, eff. Nov. 1, 2003.