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 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 two (2) years of full-time 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 two (2) years of full-time 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 two (2) years of full-time 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

2. Continues to meet continuing education requirements set by the Board.

G. Any qualified person who files by February 1, 2012, a sworn statement with the Board stating that the person has met the definition of a qualified person under this section shall, upon approval of the statement by the Board, be entitled to engage in the independent practice of social work without having to meet the two-year postgraduate supervision requirement specified in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of subsection C of this section.

H. 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.

I. As used in this section, "qualified person" means a person who:

1. Currently holds an active social worker license from the Board; and

2. Has held a social worker license from the Board continuously during the ten-year period immediately prior to November 1, 2011.

J. 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.