How to Get Your Oregon Social Work License: A Guide for 2026
A career in Oregon social work offers four distinct professional credentials that provide increasing levels of independence and responsibility. The options range from Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker (RBSW) to Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), each marking a different milestone in your professional path. Oregon’s RBSW credential remains quite exclusive with fewer than 100 registered professionals statewide.
Your social work career in Oregon starts with understanding the license requirements. The educational path includes accredited programs that take 9 months for an online MSW from select institutions. Students with a BSW can complete an Advanced-Standing MSW in 12 months. The process requires passing specific exams from the Association of Social Work Boards. LCSW candidates must complete 3,500 hours of clinical practice and 100 supervised hours. The Oregon Board of Social Work manages applications and continuing education, requiring 40 contact hours to renew your license.
Let this comprehensive guide help you handle each requirement as you build your social work career in Oregon. You’ll find detailed information about getting and keeping your license current.
Education Requirements
Your Oregon social work license starts with the right educational background. The Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers accepts degrees from programs with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation. This ensures high quality standards for all educational paths.
Each license level needs specific educational qualifications:
- Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker (RBSW): You’ll need a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program. This credential lets you practice general social work including assessment, planning, case management, and advocacy.
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW): A Master of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution is required. You can practice advanced assessment, treatment planning, and policy development with this credential.
- Certified Social Work Associate (CSWA): You must have an MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program. This credential helps you work toward clinical licensure while you get supervised experience.
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): An MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program plus extensive supervised clinical experience is needed. This top-level credential allows independent clinical practice.
Oregon’s laws strictly protect clinical social work practice under ORS 675.523. Your out-of-state license won’t transfer directly – you’ll need to apply through Oregon’s licensing process.
Students with international degrees must get a formal review through CSWE’s International Degree Review service. The board will accept your international degree only after CSWE approval.
You’ll find several CSWE-accredited social work programs in Oregon. Portland State University runs the state’s only public MSW program, which ranks #36 nationally according to US News. Private schools like Pacific University, George Fox University, and the University of Portland offer accredited programs with different specialties and formats.
The MSW path gives you plenty of flexibility. Full-time programs usually take 2 years, but BSW graduates can finish in 8-12 months through advanced standing options. Many schools now offer online and part-time studies. Eastern Oregon University plans to launch a fully online MSW program with CSWE accreditation by June 2025.
Field education plays a vital role in social work training. BSW students typically complete 400-450 hours of supervised field placement. MSW programs need more hours – Portland State University’s MSW students must finish 1,000 field practice hours.
Programs offer specialized tracks that match Oregon’s workforce needs. Portland State has a Child Welfare Certificate, George Fox focuses on trauma-informed practice, and Pacific University teaches Latino culture.
Pacific University’s MSW program also covers all coursework needed for Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) standards. This helps students interested in school social work.
Your accredited education, supervised fieldwork, and specialized training prepare you for the next steps to get your Oregon social work license – passing exams and completing supervised practice.
Exam Requirements
Your Oregon social work license journey depends on passing two key exams. The Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers requires you to clear the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam for your license level and the Oregon Rules and Laws Exam.
The ASWB exam you’ll take depends on your credential:
- For RBSW: Bachelor’s Level Exam ($230.00 fee)
- For LMSW: Master’s Level Exam ($230.00 fee)
- For LCSW: Clinical Level Exam ($260.00 fee)
Oregon doesn’t accept the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam. You’ll need to apply for your social work license and get the Oregon Board’s approval before you can register for any ASWB examination.
Clinical social worker candidates have specific exam timing requirements. You must get CSWA status and start gathering supervised experience first. You can take the ASWB Clinical exam after documenting 75 hours of supervision and completing 18 months of licensure. The Board might give early approval if you ask through the ASWB exam request form. This works if you’ll complete all LCSW requirements within six months.
The exam process has two steps once you get Board approval. You’ll need to contact ASWB to register for your exam. Then you can schedule your test date and location at Pearson VUE testing centers. ASWB offers study resources like exam guides and practice tests that show content areas and exam structure.
Every social work license applicant must pass the Oregon Rules and Laws Exam too. This open-book test has 32 questions based on Oregon Administrative Rules and Oregon Regulated Statutes. You can take this test multiple times until you score 90% or higher. The exam makes sure you understand Oregon’s social work practice regulations.
Changes in state regulations during your application might mean retaking the Rules and Laws Exam before getting your license. This keeps all new licensees up to date with current requirements.
Passing both exams along with meeting other license requirements marks a big step toward getting your Oregon social work license.
Supervised Experience
Your path to clinical licensure in Oregon starts with supervised clinical experience. The Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) designation helps aspiring clinical social workers get their practice hours under qualified supervision.
Oregon Board of Social Work requires LCSW candidates to complete 3,500 hours of supervised clinical experience. At least 2,000 hours must focus on direct client contact. The supervised work takes a minimum of 24 months. This timeline ensures candidates build lasting clinical competence instead of gathering hours faster.
Your supervision must meet these requirements:
- 100 total supervision hours during the supervised period
- 50 hours minimum of individual supervision
- Two supervision sessions monthly, each lasting at least one hour
The CSWA credential does not allow independent practice. Clinical social work associates must work in an agency setting. The board needs to approve their supervision plan. Any hours from private or independent practice won’t count toward licensure.
Your clinical supervisor needs board approval and must be an Oregon licensed clinical social worker who meets these criteria:
- Two years of licensed practice experience
- 15 hours of continuing education in supervision techniques
- Passed Oregon rules and statutes exam within five years before supervision starts
The board might allow supervisors from other states, clinical psychologists, or psychiatrists. All the same, these alternative supervisors must meet Oregon’s requirements and pass the rules examination.
Your supervisor submits progress reports to the board every six months. These reports track your progress and confirm your hours. The board requires notification if supervision stops for more than two weeks. This might lead to inactive status.
CSWAs can request permission to take the ASWB Clinical exam after completing 75 supervision hours and 18 months of supervised experience. You must finish all requirements within six months. Once you complete all supervised experience requirements, you automatically get permission to take the clinical exam and move to Candidate status.
The supervision relationship stays professional. Supervisors review caseloads and treatment plans. They decide appropriate client populations based on your expertise. Each supervision session includes case discussions and reviews of your assessments, diagnoses, and treatment plans.
Application Process
The Oregon social work license application process requires careful attention to detail. Your desired credential determines which application pathway you’ll need to follow through the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers.
The application process starts with a complete form submission through the Board’s online portal. You should use your personal email address that you can access anytime. Third-party email services might create security issues or cause delays. The Board will review your application once you submit all components and supplemental information.
Application fees vary by credential type:
- RBSW: $150.00
- LMSW: $200.00
- CSWA: $260.00
- LCSW: $460.00
Your application needs these additional documents:
Official Transcripts: The Board office must get transcripts directly from your educational institution by mail or email. You’ll need extra documentation if your transcript name is different from your current legal name.
License Verification: The issuing board must verify all your professional licenses directly. This rule applies to all licenses you currently have or had before, including Quality Mental Health Professional certifications.
Fingerprint-Based Background Check: A nationwide fingerprint-based criminal records check is mandatory in Oregon. Fieldprint, Oregon’s Live Scan vendor, handles this process which takes 3-5 weeks.
Oregon Rules and Laws Exam: This self-administered, open-book exam covers Oregon’s social work statutes and rules. A 90% score is needed to pass. You must upload your completed exam answer sheet to the applicant portal.
The Board will let you know when they approve your application, including any practice and supervision plans. CSWA applicants should verify their out-of-state licensure hours. This verification can come from the State Board or supervisors who complete the “Previous Hours From Another Jurisdiction” form.
Current CSWA holders who’ve completed their hours shouldn’t apply for an LCSW. The CSWA Information Page FAQs outline your next steps.
Your application stays pending until you meet all requirements.
Continuing Education
Your Oregon social work license requires ongoing professional development through continuing education (CE). The Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers has specific CE requirements that vary by credential level.
License renewal requires these CE hours every two years:
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW): 40 total hours, including 6 hours in ethics, 6 hours in cultural competence, and 2 hours in suicide risk assessment, treatment, and management
- Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW): 30 total hours, including 4 hours in ethics, 4 hours in cultural competence, and 2 hours in suicide risk assessment, treatment, and management
- Registered Baccalaureate Social Workers (RBSW): 20 total hours, including 3 hours in ethics, 3 hours in cultural competence, and 2 hours in suicide risk assessment, treatment, and management
Clinical Social Work Associates (CSWAs) don’t have any continuing education requirements currently.
You must complete your CE before your renewal month ends. The Board performs routine, random audits to check CE requirement compliance, so keeping accurate records is significant. Keep your completion certificates and program information at least 24 months after reporting.
The Board accepts these CE activity types:
- Conferences, seminars, workshops provided or approved by recognized credentialing bodies
- College or university courses related to social work
- Agency-sponsored in-service programs (limited to half of required hours)
- Study groups (limited to half of required hours)
- Supervision of social work practicum students (maximum 6 hours per academic year)
Your CE activities must relate to your work practice. Note that you need to upload your continuing education certificates during license renewal. Each training activity requires its own certificate, and renewal isn’t possible without these uploaded documents.
Life circumstances can sometimes prevent completion of CE requirements. The Board may reduce required hours if you submit a timely written request explaining circumstances beyond your control.
You can carry over up to 10 excess completed hours to your next reporting period. This flexibility helps with your professional development planning.
The Oregon Board’s CE requirements help social workers stay current with their knowledge and skills while building expertise in vital areas like ethics, cultural competence, and suicide prevention techniques.
Additional Information
Oregon’s social work licensing system provides different credentials based on practice levels and career goals. The state strictly regulates who can use the title “social worker” – you’ll need proper credentials and state approval to practice.
Licensed social workers from other states can get Oregon credentials through endorsement. This requires meeting Oregon’s education standards and proving fitness to practice. You must complete requirements equal to Oregon’s standards and pass the state’s rules exam.
The Oregon Board lets you put your license on hold if needed. CSWAs must deactivate their license when they don’t practice under approved supervision for long periods. You can request this change through your license portal with proper documentation.
Every applicant needs fingerprinting, which costs $61.00 and goes through eLicensing. The background check process usually takes 3-5 weeks.
CSWAs don’t need a new application when moving to LCSW status after meeting requirements. The CSWA Information Page FAQs outline the steps. Your status changes automatically to LCSW Candidate once your hours get approved.
A multistate licensing compact for social workers is in development, with new legislation coming soon. This system wants to make practicing across states easier, like PSYPACT does for psychologists.
The Board specifically defines clinical social work as “the assessment, diagnosis or treatment of mental, emotional or behavioral disorders or conditions”. This means only supervised CSWAs and LCSWs can legally practice clinical social work in Oregon.