Apply for a License

Starting Your Application

Begin or continue your application using the Board of Licensed Social Workers Applicant Portal.

When creating your account, use a personal email address you can always access.
Do not use third-party services. The board is not responsible for delays or security issues caused by shared access.

Emergency Authorization for Executive Order No. 26-10

If you are in need of an emergency authorization to practice clinical social work in the state of Oregon, please see the Emergency Authorizations section of this page to submit your emergency authorizations application.

NOTE: This application is only for those that hold an out of state clinical social work license or have an expired Oregon LCSW license and will be providing clinical social work to Oregonians affected by Executive Order N. 26-10 as announced by Governor Kotek on June 15, 2026. Additional information can be found on the Governor's Office Site.

Important Information

Not sure what license to apply for? Use the What License Should I Apply for? page to determine which license you should apply for.
Your application is considered complete and will be reviewed after:

All required documents/items are received
All sections are completed

If you already have a CSWA certificate with the Oregon BLSW, do not apply for the LCSW license. Staff will reach out to provide next steps.

Application Fees

Fees for each application type can be found below.

Please note: Application fees are non-refundable and due prior to application approval.

To maintain your license/certification, you will need to renew by your renewal date (last day of your birth month).

Application Checklist

Please be aware that these instructions were created as a guide, and may not encompass all required steps to complete your application. To ensure your application is reviewed in a timely manner, make sure to submit all required items and that your application is complete.

You can also use our fillable application checklist to assist you in completing your application.

Official Transcripts

An official transcript is required for all applicants. Please have your transcripts sent to us using email or mail, our email address and mailing address can be found below:

Email Address: oregon.blsw@blsw.oregon.gov

Mailing Address:

Board of Licensed Social Workers
3218 Pringle Rd SE, Suite 240
Salem, OR 87302-6310

Please note if the name printed on your transcript is different from your current, legal name, you will need to provide additional legal documentation showing your name change. We can accept one of the following documents:

Marriage license
Divorce decree
Birth certificate
Court order signed by a judge
Court documents

Licensure History

All applicants who have held or currently hold a professional licenses in another state or jurisdiction must submit a license verification with their application. To do so, please follow the instructions below:

Use the online verification service provided by the state or jurisdiction you already hold a professional license in to download an official copy of your license verification.
Then upload the official copy of your license verification to the Licensure History tab of the Applicant Portal.

If you have already submitted your application, please email a copy to our general inbox: oregon.blsw@blsw.oregon.gov.

Out of State Hours (if applicable)

Previous hours are required for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license application and can be added to a Clinical Social Worker Associate (CSWA) application if they have already accumulated hours in another state or jurisdiction but do not meet our requirements yet.

Click on the button that applies to your situation, and follow the instructions to send us your previous hours.

Instructions: Sign and upload the Oregon BLSW Experience Affidavit to the Licensure History tab of your application.
Required Documents: Experience Affidavit

Instructions: Fill out and sign the Oregon BLSW Previous Hours Form. Then upload it to the Licensure History tab of your Applicant Portal.
Required Documents: Previous Hours Form

Instructions: Fill out and sign the Oregon BLSW Previous Hours form with any and all hours that you have completed so far. Then upload the form to the Licensure History tab of your Applicant Portal.
Required Documents: Previous Hours Form

Fingerprinting and Background Check

All applicants are required to complete a background check. This can be completed using the LiveScan instructions below or by going through your local law enforcement office.

To schedule a fingerprinting appointment for Live Scan, please use the following instructions:

Go to the Fieldprint website.
Click on the "Schedule an Appointment."
Create an account.
Enter the Fieldprint Code: FPORSocialWorkersDAS
Schedule your appointment

Please be aware that background check and fingerprinting results may take 2-6 weeks to be received by the Oregon BLSW.

Oregon Rules and Laws Exam

Every applicant is required to take and pass the Oregon rules and laws exam. This exam is currently a downloadable PDF. You can follow the steps below to complete and upload your exam to your application:

Download the Oregon BLSW Rules and Laws Exam
Fill out the top of the answer page.
Choose your responses based on the Oregon BLSW laws and statutes. These can be accessed on the Laws and Rules page.
Make sure to sign and date your exam.
Then upload a copy of your completed exam answer sheet to the Oregon Laws and Rules Exam tab of your Applicant Portal.

Supervision Plan

If you are applying for the CSWA, then you are required to have a plan of supervision entered into your application prior to being able to submit and pay for it.

A CSWA supervision plan needs to include the following:

Your supervisor(s) name
Your worksite

To help you find a supervisor, you can use the Oregon BLSW Supervisor Search.

National Exam Requirements

Applicants who are applying for an LCSW, LMSW, or RBSW application must have their ASWB social work exam scores transferred to the Oregon BLSW for their application to be considered complete. Only the CSWA application does not require an ASWB social work exam score to be considered complete.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): Clinical Exam
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW): Masters Exam
Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker (RBSW): Bachelors Exam
Clinical Social Worker Associate (CSWA): No ASWB exam required

To send your ASWB social work exam scores to the Oregon BLSW, please use the ASWB Score Transfer page.

If you have not yet taken an ASWB exam, you can still apply for your chosen license. When your application is reviewed and approved, you will receive exam authorization from our staff. All initial authorizations to test are valid for one year.

Additional Questions?

You can request assistance by phone, email or using the Help Request form.

Phone: 503-378-5735

Email: oregon.blsw@blsw.oregon.gov

Emergency Authorizations for Executive Order No. 26-10

As of June 15, 2026, Governor Kotek has declared a state of emergency due to the imminent threat of wildfire. For additional information about this declaration, please visit the Governor's Office Website.

In response to this executive order, OAR 877-020-0071 and OAR 877-020-0081, allow the Board to issue emergency authorizations for individuals that will be working with and assisting during this state of emergency.

Depending on the duration of the state of emergency, the authorization may end at any time.

All emergency authorizations will end 90 days from the date the emergency was declared.
You may request to renew your authorization for an additional 90 days if the state of emergency is still active. Please email the Board directly if you wish to extend your emergency authorization.

Emergency Authorization Application

Use the Oregon BLSW Emergency Authorization Application Form to submit your application. Once approved, your Emergency Authorization will end on September 13, 2026.

Please make sure to provide all of the required documentation. Once submitted our staff will review your application and send you an approval letter to the email you provide.

The emergency authorization is based on the State of Emergency determined by the Governor of Oregon. Once the state of emergency has ended, so will the emergency authorizations.

Emergency Authorization Extension

If you wish to extend this emergency authorization for another 90 days, email the Board at oregon.blsw@blsw.oregon.gov by September 1, 2026.

Any licensee interested in continuing to provide services to clients in Oregon after the expiration date of their authorization are welcome to apply for an Oregon social work license. Please see our Apply for a License page for additional information.

If you have any questions about this emergency authorization, please contact our office at oregon.blsw@blsw.oregon.gov or via phone at 503-378-5735. Our phone hours are Monday-Friday, 8 am - 4 pm PST.

Emergency Authorization Verification

If you need to confirm that a social worker has been authorized to practice due to an emergency authorization please contact our office directly either via email oregon.blsw@blsw.oregon.gov, or calling our office at 503-378-5735.

If emailing, please make sure to title your subject line: Emergency Authorization Verification Request. We will also need to know the name of the individual you wish to verify.

All verifications of emergency authorization will provide the following information:

If an out of state, or Oregon expired licensee has applied for an emergency authorization
If an out of state or Oregon expired licensee was approved to practice clinical social work in Oregon during the period of the emergency