| Applying for License |
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| Applying for, Obtaining and Renewing a License |
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The following forms are available for download at this web site. Printed copies of other forms (or, if you can not download these) must be requested from the State Board of Clinical Social Workers office:
State Board of Clinical Social Workers
3218 Pringle Road SE, Suite 240
Salem, OR 97302-6310
Phone: (503) 378-5735
Fax: (503) 373-1427
Toll Free Number: (866)-355-7050
E-mail: oregon.bscw@state.or.us
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| Forms |
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The requirements for Clinical Social Work Associate certification and LCSW licensing 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 above forms you need to complete for certification and/or licensing. After you have read these instructions, please review each of the forms 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. When a file has been closed, the applicant must reapply and resubmit the fees.
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| Fees |
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Fees are specified by rule and can be changed only by the rule making process. These fees are in effect as of October 1, 2005.
| Application fee |
$150 |
| Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) Fee based on Birth Month |
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Fee based on Birth Month |
| Initial certificate |
$60 |
Initial license |
$130 |
| Annual renewal |
$60 |
Annual renewal |
$130 |
When submitting a Plan of Supervision for Board approval, include $150.00 . When making application to become licensed (those licensed in another jurisdiction or seeking reinstatement), submit $150 . Cost of the written exam is paid directly to the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) after the Board has approved your eligibility to take the exam for licensing.
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| Transcript |
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An official transcript is required as part of the application process and must be mailed directly from your graduate school to the Board office at 3218 Pringle Road SE, Suite 240, Salem, OR 97302 (not the Portland address, which is for the application fee only). Please note on Form 1 if your transcript name is different from your current name.
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| Mailing Address |
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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 or business. It is your responsibility to notify the Board in writing of any changes in name, address and/or phone numbers. Licensing information is subject to public disclosure under ORS 192.420.
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| Associate Certificate or License |
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Form 1: Application
Each applicant seeking to become licensed must meet and/or complete the requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associates (CSWA) (ORS 675.530(4); (OAR 877-020-0009). The applicant for Associate must complete and submit Forms 1 and 2 with the appropriate fee for Board approval.
The applicant applying for a License must complete and submit Form 1 - and, where necessary, Forms 4 and 5 - with the appropriate fee. Also, if you are licensed in another jurisdiction, you must have that licensing agency complete Form 6 and mail directly to the Oregon Board office.
Form 2: Plan of Supervision
If your Plan involves more than one supervisor, submit a Plan of Supervision form for each supervisor. Make additional copies of the form if necessary. Provide complete information. Be sure all required signatures are in place (this includes the administrative supervisor). Plans should cover the required minimum practice (24 months full-time, or more if part-time), and the required number of supervision hours (minimum of 100 hours). It is best to set up your Plan for the full two years, but it is acceptable to begin your Plan with just individual or group supervision – remembering that only 50 hours can be obtained in group supervision. Upon Board approval of your Plan, you will receive official notification, including the Evaluation Report forms, which will be used by your supervisor to detail your progress.
Form 3: Responsibilities Form
Read this form carefully, obtain necessary signatures, and include one for each supervisor.
Form 4: Request for Supervision Exception
If your supervision was received in another Jurisdiction or if your Plan requires a supervision exception due to a geographic hardship (no LCSW supervisor within a 50-mile radius), you will need to complete this form. Read the instructions on this form to see if it applies to your situation.
Form 5: Supervision Documentation
This form is to be completed by your Clinical supervisor to document any previous supervision received from another jurisdiction. Submit a separate form for each supervisor if your supervision was received from more than one supervisor. Make additional copies as needed. Read the instructions on this form to see if it applies to your situation.
Form 6: Verification of License in Another jurisdiction
If you are licensed in another state/province/territory, and those requirements are equivalent to or exceed the requirements of the State of Oregon, you may request that the Board consider your license as evidence of qualification as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oregon 877-020-0016.
This form must be completed by your licensing agency and mailed directly to the Oregon Board office in addition to Form 1. You must ask your licensing agency to supply information on the supervision and practice requirements that you met for that license. This can be in the form of a copy of that law or rules, and/or a copy of your application. If the licensing agency cannot verify the practice and supervision information, you must complete Forms 4 and 5 for each supervisor. Also, whenever possible, please include a current resume with your application.
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| Special Notes |
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Plans of Supervision
Prior Board approval is required on any changes to a Plan of Supervision; i.e., employer, supervisor. All Plan changes and/or modifications require prior Board approval and are reviewed under the rules in effect at the time of the change or modification.
Current rules require all applicants to submit a Plan of Supervision (which begins at the time it is approved by the Board). If you have previous out-of-state supervised face-to-face Clinical work experience that meets the requirements of OAR 877-020-00, the Board may consider this Clinical work experience and supervision hours as part of your Plan. Therefore, in addition to Forms 1 and 2, you will need to complete Form 4 and Form 5. Acceptance of any previous practice and supervision is at the discretion of the Board.
How to request a Plan Change or Modification
All requirements of the Plan must be completed, and all Evaluation Reports received and approved by the Board, for eligibility to take the examination to become licensed.
Make a copy of your completed application for your records and retain the ORS and OAR for future reference. Upon Board approval of your application and/or Plan of Supervision, you will receive an official notification letter that will provide information on the next step of the process for licensing or identify your approved Plan dates, your certification number and the months in which the evaluation reports are due. Also included is a copy of your Plan, a set of six-month Evaluation Report forms with specific instructions in a cover letter; a wall-type certificate, and your official Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate. This official Certificate is to be displayed in a conspicuous place at your work site.
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| Applicants with Previous Experience |
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Current rules require all applicants to submit a Plan of Supervision (which begins at the time it is approved by the Board). If you have previous out-of-state supervised Clinical Social Work experience that meets the requirements of OAR 877-020-0010, the Board may consider this Clinical work experience and supervision hours as part of your Plan. Therefore, in addition to Forms 1, 2, and 3, you will need to complete Form 4 - and, if applicable, Form 5. Acceptance of any previous practice and supervision is at the discretion of the Board.
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| About the Exam |
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The Oregon exam is presented in two parts – the ASWB Clinical and the Oregon Section (laws and rules). When the Board has approved a completed Plan or license application, notification will be sent to you and will include the Oregon Section and the ASWB Candidate Handbook. You must complete the Oregon Section and return it to the Board office before the license is issued.
The ASWB Candidate Handbook contains specific instructions on how to proceed to take the Clinical exam. You will need to follow these instructions explicitly. The fee for the Clinical exam is paid directly to the ASWB. All information about the Clinical exam is contained in the Candidate Handbook. Once you have taken the entire exam and the Board has received notification of successful completion, your license number will be assigned and your license issued.
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| Miscellaneous Information |
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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Coming Soon
English as a Second Language
The Board will assist those exam candidates for whom English is a Second Language by providing appropriate accommodations. Board approval is required prior to being granted ESL accommodation. Contact the Board office for further information.
Continuing Education
Renewal of the license requires 40 hours of continuing education reported every two years based on an odd/even license number. New licensees are exempt from the requirement until the month following their first renewal. Associates are not required to meet the continuing education requirement.
Renewals
Renewal notices for the certificate and license are mailed the month prior to the individuals birth 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 $50 is required and must be included with your payment.
Late Fees
A $50.00 late fee is required on all renewals postmarked after the last day of the license/certificate renewal birth month. As a courtesy, a final notice is mailed if your renewal has not been recieved by the first day of the
month following your birth month. Certificates and Licenses lapse 30 days after the last day of your birth month. Once you allow your certificate or license to lapse, you cannot represent yourself as an CSWA or LCSW by title or number (see ORS 675.570). The Board may consider reinstatement of your CSWA Certificate if your Plan of Supervision is approved by the Board. For Licensees, there is a reinstatement process, see OAR 877-020-0036
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| Instructions for Mailing |
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Make check payable to the State Board of Clinical Social Workers. Mail your application and check to:
State Board of Clinical Social Workers
Unit 03
P O Box 4395
Portland OR 97208-4395
Do not send it to the Board office address. All cashiering is done through a lock box system. 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 this application or process, please call the Board office at (503) 378-5735.
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