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Board of Licensed Social Workers

Applying for License
Before You Apply
For New Licensees/Applicants: Overview of Basic Licensing Concepts 
 
New Social Work Regulations

 
Applying for Licensure or Certification
The Board offers four licensing programs: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Social Work Associate, Licensed Master's Social Worker, and Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker.  Each program has a different licensing or certification process. For application information, including forms and fees, please select the program you are interested in:
 
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - for applicants who have taken the ASWB clinical exam and have met Oregon's requirements, or who have held a license in another state or jurisdiction.
 
Clinical Social Work Associate - for applicants working towards licensure and have not yet met the requirements to become a LCSW.
 
Licensed Master's of Social Work - for applicants who have a Master's and wish to practice non-clinical social work.
 
Registered Baccalaureate Social Work - available for applicants who have a Bachelor's in social work.

 
Forms
The requirements for licensing and certification are contained in ORS Chapter 675 (Item 7) and OAR Chapter 877 (Item 8). Read these statutes and rules and retain them for future reference. The rules identify which of the forms you need to complete for certification and/or licensing. After you have read these instructions, please review each of the application forms for your chosen license/certificate carefully and become acquainted with them. Make additional copies if your documentation requires it. Documents with original signatures are required. In order to avoid processing delays, please be specific with totals, dates, places and names in completing all forms. Make sure all necessary signatures are obtained.
 
NOTE: An application file is closed when there has been no activity by letter or telephone after 120 days of receipt. 

 
Exams
LCSW's who have not completed the ASWB National Clinical Exam in another jurisdiction will be required to pass the exam prior to licensure. Applicants will be issued the CSWA certificate, until the passage of the Clinical exam. For further information contact the Board office.
 
CSWA candidates are eligible to take the National Clinical Exam upon completion of 75 supervision hours.

The Oregon examination for licensure consists of two separate exams:
  1. National Exam by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
  2. Oregon Jurisprudence Exam (current law and rules; a self-test)

The National Clinical Exam is administered electronically by Pearson at test sites in Portland, Beaverton, Salem, LaGrande, and Medford. Test centers are open weekly. Specific information about the testing is provided at the time of registration with the ASWB. A passing score of 70 is required. Instructions on the ASWB website will provide all necessary information on how to make a reservation.

Upon successful completion of the National Clinical Exam, notification is sent to the Board office by Pearson. An official license will be issued after payment of the appropriate license fee and completion of remaining hour requirements. 
 
The Oregon Jurisprudence Exam, together with Oregon's Rules and Statutes, is available for download, or can be mailed upon request. This exam is an open book self-test. Once completed, the exam is mailed, faxed, or emailed back to the Board's office for scoring. As applicable, the Oregon Jurisprudence Exam may be required a second time if there are any changes to Oregon's Rules and Statutes prior to licensure. It is the policy of the Board that all applicants pass the Jurisprudence exam prior to issuance of a license or certificate.
 
 
 
Online Payment and Processing
The Board office will mail out a notice of renewal 1 to 2 months prior to your birth month. All renewals are processed through the Online Payment and Processing. If you would like a paper renewal iycontact the Board office at (503) 378-5735.

 
Your Mailing Address

This is the address that appears on your official certificate or license and to which all communications from the Board office are sent. Please make a conscious decision about this – home, place of business, or other. 

It is the responsibility of each licensee or certificate holder to notify the Board in writing of any changes in name, address and/or home and work phone numbers.

OAR 877-010-0040  Publications - The Board shall make available, upon request and payment of a fee, a list of the names and addresses of all persons who have been registered, certified, or licensed under ORS 675.510 to 676.600

A Change of Address form is available here. Licensing information is subject to public disclosure under ORS 192.420.

 
Miscellaneous Information
Continuing Education

Renewal of a license requires continuing education reported every two years based on an odd/even license number.  New applicants are exempt from the requirement through their first renewal. Associates are not required to meet the continuing education requirement.
 
LCSW 40 credit hours every 2 years
(6 of the 40 hours must be in ethics coursework)
LCSW - Semi-Retired 20 credit hours every 2 years
(6 of the 20 hours must be in ethics coursework)
LSCW - Inactive No CEUs required
CSWA No CEUs required
LMSW 30 credit hours every 2 years
(6 of the 30 hours must be in ethics coursework)
RBSW 20 credit hours every 2 years
(6 of the 20 hours must be in ethics coursework)
Supervisors

Supervisors must complete 6 hours of supervision related coursework every 5 years in order to supervise CSWA's.

Note: The 6 hours needed for "Supervisors" and "Ethics" are counted as two separate requirements.

Ethics​ 6 hours of ethics coursework must submitted every two years when reporting continuing education. These hours cannot be used for the Supervisor requirement.​

Renewals
Your birth month is your renewal month.  Renewal notices for the certificate and license are mailed one to two months prior to the renewal month to the last mailing address on record. Renewals must be complete and received postmarked no later than the last day of the individuals birth month or a late fee of $200 will be assessed for Active LCSWs. CSWAs, LMSWs, and RBSWs, Semi-Retired, and Inactive LCSWs will be assessed a $50.00 late fee. This fee must be included with your payment.  Licenses and Certificates expire 30 days after the last day of the renewal month.

Late Fees
A $200.00 late fee for LCSWs, and a $50.00 late fee for CSWAs, LMSWs, and RBSWs is required on all renewals postmarked after the last day of the license/certificate renewal month. As a courtesy, a final notice is mailed if your renewal has not been recieved by the first day of the 30-day period prior to expiration. Licenses and Certificates expire 30 days after the last day of your renewal month. Once you allow your certificate or license to expire, you cannot represent yourself as an LCSW, CSWA, LMSW or RBSW by title or number (see ORS 675.570). The Board may consider reapplication of your CSWA Certificate if your Plan of Supervision is approved by the Board. For LCSWs, LMSWs and RBSWs there is a reapplication process, see OAR 877-020-0036. 

 
Instructions for Mailing
Make check payable to the State Board of Licensed Social Workers. Mail your application and check to:
State Board of Licensed Social Workers
3218 Pringle Road SE Suite 240
Salem Oregon 97302-6310
 
Retain a copy of your completed application for your own records. When all necessary documentation has been received, the Board will review your application for approval or denial. If you have any questions regarding the application or process, please call the Board office at (503) 378-5735.