Dear members of the social work community and other interested parties:

The Board of Licensed Social Workers has updated its proposed rules reflecting new social work regulations, implementing Senate Bill 177 and House Bill 2345, and extended the comment period on the proposed rules to December 2, 2010.  The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking extending the comment period has been posted at http://www.oregon.gov/BLSW/pdfs/Rulemaking_notice_10_15_10.pdf and the full text of the proposed rules can be found at http://www.oregon.gov/BLSW/pdfs/Rules_Proposal_SB177_HB2345_09.2010_AMENDED.pdf).  Senate Bill 177 mandates licensure, with some exceptions, for those practicing clinical social work, and allows the Board for the first time to issue voluntary licenses for non-clinical social workers at the Bachelor (RBSW – Registered Bachelor of Social Work certification) and Masters-level (LMSW – Licensed Master of Social Work).   The bill also includes a provision restricting the title “social worker” for use only by those who hold certification or licensure from this Board.  For those of you not yet familiar with the new law, please refer to the bill summary (http://www.oregon.gov/BLSW/pdfs/SB_177_Fact_Sheet.pdf) and PowerPoint overview (http://www.oregon.gov/BLSW/pdfs/Regulation_Changes_Overview_09_2010.pdf).  The Board’s web site is continually updated with new information implementing these new regulations.

The proposed amended rules cover fees and requirements for application and renewal of  the new RBSW and LMSW licensing options, and propose a substantial increase in the late fee for LCSW licensure renewals (from $50 to $200, reflecting the increased importance of maintaining a current license once the practice act is in effect).  No other currently existing fees are proposed to increase under the proposed rules.  In addition, the proposed rules as amended define certain terms used in the statutory definition of clinical social work [ORS 675.510(2)], and propose a rule to implement the statutory exemption from mandatory licensure for MSW students engaging  in clinical social work during their required MSW supervised practicum.

The proposed amended rule also consolidates existing mandatory reporting requirements in law and rule, including those required by House Bill 2059 (2009), into one section of the Board’s Ethics Code, and applies the Ethics Code to all regulated social workers.  The proposed amended rules would further adopt the temporary rule to implement House Bill 2345 (which eliminated authority of the Board to run its own Impaired Professional Program),  and adopt the definition of impairment required by HB 2345.

The Board invites your review of the proposed rules as amended.  Any written comment on the amended proposed rules submitted by December 2, 2010, will be considered by the Board at its December 7, 2010 Board meeting.  The Board expects to adopt a final version of the proposed rules at that meeting, with an effective date of January 1, 2011.

In addition, I again request your assistance with distributing this message to any managers, supervisors and supervisees affected by these new social work regulations, and invite your consideration of the additional steps the Board has taken to ease the transition to the new regulations.

For those of you who are affected by the mandatory clinical social work licensure requirement, or have colleagues or supervisees affected by the clinical licensure requirement, the Board has changed its year-end holiday schedule and added a Board conference call on December 30th 2010 to approve any CSWA and LCSW applications that are completed and meet requirements.  The Board office will be open on December 31, 2010, to issue approved licenses and certifications.  Key for anyone who must be licensed by January 1, 2011 is to start the criminal background check process now (see form and instructions at  http://www.oregon.gov/BLSW/pdfs/fingerprinting_ID_form.pdf) and submit their application and fees (instructions at http://www.oregon.gov/BLSW/apply.shtml).  The Board cannot approve applications that do not have the background check completed, or are otherwise incomplete or fail to meet requirements.

For those of you who are waiting to apply for the non-clinical LMSW or RBSW license / certification options, or have colleagues in that position, the Board does not have statutory authority to issue these new license and certification types before January 1, 2011.  Prospective LMSW and RBSW applicants can e-mail the Board office now to get on a list (oregon.blsw@state.or.us), and receive notification once application packets are available (likely by November 19th or sooner).  The criminal background check process can be started now for those who would like to have their LMSW or  RBSW in place as close as possible to January 1, 2011 (http://www.oregon.gov/BLSW/pdfs/fingerprinting_ID_form.pdf).

Thank you for your consideration, and your help in spreading the word!

Sincerely,

Martin Pittioni
Executive Director
Oregon State Board of Licensed Social Workers
3218 Pringle Road SE, Suite 240
Salem, OR 97302
Phone: 503-373-1163 (direct)
Fax: 503-373-1427
www.oregon.gov/blsw