Title 59 — Title 59 — Professions and Occupations

This act may be cited as the "Social Worker's Licensing Act". Added by Laws 1980, c. 124, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1980.

As used in the Social Worker's Licensing Act: 1. "Approved provider of continuing education" means an individual, group, professional association, school, institution, organization, or agency approved by the Board to conduct educational programs; 2. "Approved social work program"…

A. In order to safeguard the welfare of the people of the State of Oklahoma, no person shall engage in the practice of social work for compensation or hold himself or herself forth as performing the services of a social worker unless he or she is licensed under the Social Worker'…

Qualifications. A. There is hereby re-created, to continue until July 1, 2027, in accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Sunset Law, the State Board of Licensed Social Workers, consisting of seven (7) members. B. Three of the members of the Board shall be licensed social …

Staff. A. The members of the State Board of Licensed Social Workers shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. When a vacancy on the Board occurs or at the expiration of the term of a member, the Governor shall appoint, with the advice and cons…

A. The State Board of Licensed Social Workers shall biennially elect from its membership a chair and a vice-chair and such other officers as it deems appropriate and necessary to conduct its business. The chair shall preside at all meetings of the Board. Each additional officer e…

59 O.S. § 1256 Repealed by Laws 2003, c. 85, § 22, eff. Nov. 1, 2003

A. The State Board of Licensed Social Workers shall be responsible for the control and regulation of the practice of social work in this state and shall conduct its business in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act. The Board’s authority includes, but is not limited t…

A. A social worker shall report to the State Board of Licensed Social Workers information on the following conduct by an applicant or a licensee: 1. Sexual contact or sexual conduct with a client or a former client, only when the client consents to the report; 2. Failure to repor…

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 graduate…

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 re…

59 O.S. § 1261.3 Repealed by Laws 2003, c. 85, § 22, eff. Nov. 1, 2003

A. Any person who becomes a resident of this state and who is or has been, immediately preceding the person's residency in this state, licensed to practice social work by another state which grants a like privilege of reciprocity and who meets the educational and work experience …

Upon certification by the State Board of Licensed Social Workers, the Board shall authorize the issuance of provisional licenses to persons who have met all qualifications for licensure under provisions of the Social Worker's Licensing Act except passage of the required examinati…

No person licensed under the provisions of the Social Worker's Licensing Act or secretary, stenographer or clerk of such a licensed person or anyone who participates in delivery of social work services or anyone working under supervision of a person licensed under these provision…

licensed social worker associate. The applicant shall receive a license when the State Board of Licensed Social Workers has determined that the applicant meets the requirements for licensure, and the Board shall provide the applicant with a license or other suitable device to ide…

A. The State Board of Licensed Social Workers may assess such fees as it deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Social Worker's Licensing Act. Fees shall be assessed according to the fee schedule in the rules promulgated by the Board. B. There is hereby created in the …

Any person who has received a license as a licensed social worker shall have the right to use the title, Licensed Social Worker, and the abbreviation, LSW. No other person shall assume such title, use such abbreviation, or any word or letters, signs, figures or devices to indicat…

Any person who has received a license as a licensed clinical social worker shall have the right to use the title, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and the abbreviation, LCSW. No other person shall assume such title, use such abbreviation, or any word or letters, signs, figures or…

Any person who has received a license as a licensed master’s social worker shall have the right to use the title, Licensed Master’s Social Worker, and the abbreviation, LMSW. No other person shall assume such title, use such abbreviation, or any word or letters, signs, figures or…

Any person who has received a license as a licensed social worker with administration specialty shall have the right to use the title licensed social worker with administration specialty, and the abbreviation LSW-ADM. No other person shall assume such title, use such abbreviation…

Associate. Any person who has received a license as a licensed social work associate shall have the right to use the title Licensed Social Work Associate, and the abbreviation, LSWA. No other person shall assume such title, use such abbreviation, or any word or letters, signs, fi…

59 O.S. § 1266 Repealed by Laws 2003, c. 85, § 22, eff. Nov. 1, 2003

reprimand, restrict or limit license – Fines - Judicial review – Definitions. A. The State Board of Licensed Social Workers may refuse to issue or renew the license of, or may suspend, revoke, censure, reprimand, restrict or limit the license of, or fine, any person pursuant to t…

No license or specialty certification shall be suspended or revoked until notice is served upon the person licensed under the Social Worker’s Licensing Act and a hearing is held before the State Board of Licensed Social Workers. The notice shall be served by registered mail and s…

The Board shall adopt rules for its proceedings that will enable it, without undue delay, to competently determine the facts in each matter brought before it, and to render a decision in writing consistent with the intent of this law. The Board shall have the right to issue subpo…

59 O.S. § 1269 Repealed by Laws 2003, c. 85, § 22, eff. Nov. 1, 2003

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. Us…

59 O.S. § 1271 Repealed by Laws 2003, c. 85, § 22, eff. Nov. 1, 2003

Notwithstanding any provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, the State Board of Licensed Social Workers may, without a hearing, temporarily suspend a license for not more than sixty (60) days if the Board finds that a person licensed under the Social Worker’s Licensing Ac…

A. No provision of the Social Worker’s Licensing Act shall be construed as prohibiting any person, whether or not that person may be licensed under the provisions of this act, and who is in fact a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, from continuing to use the title…

59 O.S. § 1272.1 Repealed by Laws 2003, c. 85, § 22, eff. Nov. 1, 2003

The Board shall enforce the provisions of this law and they shall be exempt from providing surety for the costs in connection with the commencement of any legal proceedings under this law. Laws 1965, c. 140, § 23.

The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate interstate practice of Regulated Social Workers by improving public access to competent Social Work Services. The Compact preserves the regulatory authority of States to protect public health and safety through the current system of St…

As used in this Compact, and except as otherwise provided, the following definitions shall apply: A. “Active Military Member” means any individual with full-time duty status in the active Armed Forces of the United States including members of the National Guard and Reserve; B. “A…

A. To be eligible to participate in the Compact, a potential Member State must currently meet all of the following criteria: 1. License and regulate the practice of Social Work at either the clinical, master’s, or bachelor’s category; 2. Require applicants for licensure to gradua…

A. To be eligible for a Multistate License under the terms and provisions of the Compact, an applicant, regardless of category must: 1. Hold or be eligible for an active, Unencumbered License in the Home State; 2. Pay any applicable fees, including any State fee, for the Multista…

Authority. A. Upon receipt of an application for Multistate License, the Home State Licensing Authority shall determine the applicant’s eligibility for a Multistate License in accordance with Section 4 of this Compact. B. If such applicant is eligible pursuant to Section 4 of thi…

A. Nothing in this Compact, nor any Rule of the Commission, shall be construed to limit, restrict, or in any way reduce the ability of a Member State to enact and enforce laws, regulations, or other rules related to the practice of Social Work in that State, where those laws, reg…

A. A Licensee can hold a Multistate License, issued by their Home State, in only one Member State at any given time. B. If a Licensee changes their Home State by moving between two Member States: 1. The Licensee shall immediately apply for the reissuance of their Multistate Licen…

An Active Military Member or their spouse shall designate a Home State where the individual has a Multistate License. The individual may retain their Home State designation during the period the service member is on active duty. Added by Laws 2025, c. 121, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 2025.…

A. In addition to the other powers conferred by State law, a Remote State shall have the authority, in accordance with existing State due process law, to: 1. Take Adverse Action against a Regulated Social Worker’s Multistate Authorization to Practice only within that Member State…

A. The Compact Member States hereby create and establish a joint government agency whose membership consists of all Member States that have enacted the compact known as the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission. The Commission is an instrumentality of the Compact States acting…

A. The Commission shall provide for the development, maintenance, operation, and utilization of a coordinated Data System. B. The Commission shall assign each applicant for a Multistate License a unique identifier, as determined by the Rules of the Commission. C. Notwithstanding …

A. The Commission shall promulgate reasonable Rules in order to effectively and efficiently implement and administer the purposes and provisions of the Compact. A Rule shall be invalid and have no force or effect only if a court of competent jurisdiction holds that the Rule is in…

termination. A. Oversight: 1. The executive and judicial branches of State government in each Member State shall enforce this Compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to implement the Compact. 2. Except as otherwise provided in this Compact, venue is proper and judi…

A. The Compact shall come into effect on the date on which the Compact statute is enacted into law in the seventh Member State. 1. On or after the effective date of the Compact, the Commission shall convene and review the enactment of each of the first seven Member States (“Chart…

A. This Compact and the Commission’s rulemaking authority shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes and the implementation and administration of the Compact. Provisions of the Compact expressly authorizing or requiring the promulgation of Rules shall not be co…

A. A Licensee providing services in a Remote State under a Multistate Authorization to Practice shall adhere to the laws and regulations, including laws, regulations, and applicable standards, of the Remote State where the client is located at the time care is rendered. B. Nothin…

A. Sections 1301 through 1341 of this title shall only apply to the regulation of bail bonds for crimes, the punishment of which may be in excess of Twenty Dollars ($20.00) fine or twenty (20) days in jail, or both such fine and imprisonment. B. As used in Sections 1301 through 1…