Oregon LCSW Requirements & Hours Tracker

In Oregon, licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is a two‑stage process regulated by the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers (BLSW). You must first become a Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA), complete a board‑approved plan of practice and supervision, and then qualify for the LCSW.

Below is a step‑by‑step outline of what the Board itself requires, with special attention to the hour types and board terminology.

---

1. Regulatory framework and basic route

Oregon’s rules for CSWAs and LCSWs are contained in Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) Chapter 877, Division 20, “Procedure for Certification of Clinical Social Work Associates and Licensing of Licensed Clinical Social Workers.” (secure.sos.state.or.us)

To be eligible for an initial LCSW, an applicant must:

• Complete the requirements in OAR 877‑020‑0009 to receive and hold a current CSWA certificate, or have an equivalent credential from another state. (secure.sos.state.or.us)
• Be “fit to practice social work in Oregon,” including good moral character as defined by the Board. (secure.sos.state.or.us)
• Complete an approved “plan of practice and supervision” (the supervised clinical experience). (secure.sos.state.or.us)
• Pass both the Oregon statutes and rules exam and the ASWB Clinical exam. (secure.sos.state.or.us)

---

2. Educational requirement (pre‑CSWA)

To qualify as a CSWA (the prerequisite credential for LCSW), you must:

• Hold a master’s degree in social work from a program accredited (or in candidacy) by a credentialing body recognized by the Board (Council on Social Work Education or Canadian Association for Social Work Education, or CSWE‑recognized foreign equivalency). (secure.sos.state.or.us)

This is your qualifying degree; the clinical hours described below are post‑MSW hours earned while you are a CSWA under an approved plan.

---

3. Required clinical “practice hours” (the 3,500 hours)

The Board’s rules define your clinical experience in terms of “practice hours” under a Plan of Practice and Supervision approved while you hold a CSWA.

3.1 Minimum total practice hours

Your CSWA plan must:

• “Require a minimum of 3,500 practice hours of which at least 2,000 hours must involve direct contact with a client of the agency.” (secure.sos.state.or.us)

From this, the key numerical requirements are:

• 3,500 total post‑MSW practice hours, all occurring under your approved plan as a CSWA.
• Of those, at least 2,000 hours must be direct client contact (“direct contact” is defined elsewhere in rule as direct interaction with clients while practicing clinical social work). (secure.sos.state.or.us)

The Board’s supervision guidance repeats this in plainer language, stating that associates must document “a minimum 3500 hours of supervised work experience of which 2000 hours are direct client hours.” (oregon.gov)

3.2 Setting and nature of work

Your plan must show that you will meet these practice requirements “while working in an agency” that: (secure.sos.state.or.us)

• Provides sufficient support for you to progress toward licensure.
• Screens patients served by the agency and by you.
• Is either licensed by the Oregon Department of Human Services or, if not required to be licensed, lawfully doing business in Oregon.

In addition, the plan must:

• Provide that “all clinical social work practice by the associate” is supervised under OAR 877‑020‑0012 (Requirements of Supervision). (secure.sos.state.or.us)

Practically, this means your 3,500 practice hours:

• Must be clinical social work as defined in statute (assessment, diagnosis, treatment, etc., not just case management), and
• Must occur in an agency setting that meets the rule’s criteria, not in independent private practice as a CSWA.

3.3 Timeframe for accumulating hours

Your practice hours and supervision must be completed within a defined window:

• The Board’s rules require that the 100 supervision hours (see below) occur over not less than 24 consecutive months and not more than 60 consecutive months. (secure.sos.state.or.us)
• The Board’s supervision guidance emphasizes that associates must complete their approved Plan of Supervision within five years. (oregon.gov)

In practice, this means:

• Minimum time: 24 months (two consecutive years).
• Maximum time: 60 months (five consecutive years), unless the Board approves an extension of the plan.

You cannot begin counting hours until:

1. You are formally credentialed as a CSWA, and
2. The Board has approved your Plan of Practice and Supervision. (secure.sos.state.or.us)

---

4. Supervision requirements (the 100 hours and how they must look)

Beyond practice hours, the Board separately requires defined supervision hours and patterns.

4.1 Total supervision hours, type, and timing

Under OAR 877‑020‑0010, to satisfactorily complete your plan: (secure.sos.state.or.us)

• You must meet with a plan supervisor for a total of 100 supervision hours over a period of no less than 24 and no more than 60 consecutive months.
• Of those, at least 50 hours must be individual supervision.
• You must meet with a plan supervisor at least twice each month for a minimum of one hour per meeting while working toward the 100 hours and practice‑hour requirements.
• After you have completed the required practice hours and the 100 supervision hours, you must continue to meet with a plan supervisor at least once each month for a minimum of one hour until you are licensed, if you continue practicing under the plan.

The Board’s supervision page restates this as requiring “an average of one hour twice per month of face‑to‑face supervision for two cumulative years, for a minimum total of 100 hours of supervision with at least 50 hours of face to face individual supervision.” (oregon.gov)

4.2 Distribution of supervision hours among supervisors

OAR 877‑020‑0010 and 877‑020‑0012 further specify: (secure.sos.state.or.us)

• At least 50 of the 100 supervision hours (individual or group) must be with a supervisor who is:
  • An Oregon‑licensed LCSW approved by the Board, or
  • An out‑of‑state LCSW meeting substantially equivalent licensure requirements (if authorized), as outlined in OAR 877‑020‑0012(1) and (3)(a).
• No more than 50 of the 100 supervision hours may be with a supervisor who is an Oregon‑licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, as defined in OAR 877‑020‑0012(2)(b).

The Board’s public guidance aligns with this by noting that clinical psychologists and psychiatrists may provide up to half of the required supervision hours. (oregon.gov)

4.3 How supervision can be delivered

Required supervision may occur: (secure.sos.state.or.us)

• In person, in a professional setting, or
• By electronic video‑conferencing or telephone, provided appropriate privacy, consent, and security safeguards are in place (see OAR 877‑020‑0012(9)).

4.4 Supervisor qualifications (Board terminology)

To be approved to supervise a CSWA, a supervisor must, among other things: (secure.sos.state.or.us)

• Be an Oregon‑licensed LCSW, or a licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist (with limits on hours as above).
• Have at least two years of licensed clinical practice before beginning supervision.
• Hold an active or semi‑retired Oregon license that is kept current through renewal and continuing education.
• Have completed at least 15 hours of continuing education in supervision techniques before starting supervision and at least 6 hours of supervision‑focused CE every five years thereafter.
• Have passed the Oregon Rules and Laws exam within the last five years.
• Be free of conflicts of interest (e.g., not a spouse, close relative, or former therapist of the CSWA).

---

5. Reporting and documentation during the CSWA period

While completing your plan:

• Supervisors must submit to the Board evaluations at intervals not to exceed six months documenting your progress toward completion of the plan, on Board‑provided forms. (secure.sos.state.or.us)
• You must maintain accurate logs of:
  • Total practice hours (must reach 3,500).
  • Direct client contact hours (must reach at least 2,000).
  • Supervision hours (must reach 100, with at least 50 individual and at least 50 with an LCSW‑type supervisor).

The Board’s supervision guidance notes that supervisors sign off that the hours reported are “accurate and reasonable to the associate’s clinical experience.” (oregon.gov)

---

6. Examinations required for LCSW

Under OAR 877‑020‑0008(4), LCSW applicants must pass two examinations: (secure.sos.state.or.us)

1. Oregon statutes and rules exam (“Oregon Rules and Laws Exam”)

   • Administered by the Board.
   • Self‑directed, open‑book exam covering:
     • ORS 675.510–675.600 and OAR Chapter 877 (standards and responsibilities of LCSWs).
     • Other Oregon mental health statutes relevant to clinical practice.
   • You must score at least 90%.
   • Required of every new applicant and of LCSWs who wish to supervise CSWAs.

2. ASWB Clinical Examination

   • The national clinical‑level exam of the Association of Social Work Boards.
   • The OAR lists its major content domains (human development and diversity; assessment and diagnosis; psychotherapy and interventions; professional ethics and values). (secure.sos.state.or.us)
   • CSWAs are generally authorized to sit for the exam once they have met specified portions of their hours and time requirements, per Board policy. (oregon.gov)

---

7. Fitness, character, and final LCSW application

In addition to hours and exams, the Board applies a fitness to practice standard for LCSW licensure:

• The applicant must have “good moral character” and a personal history of conduct consistent with standards in Division 30 (professional conduct rules). (secure.sos.state.or.us)
• The Board considers investigations or disciplinary actions by other licensing bodies and any remedial or compensatory measures taken. (secure.sos.state.or.us)

After:

• Completing the CSWA requirements (education, plan of practice and supervision, 3,500 practice hours including 2,000 direct client hours, and 100 supervision hours within 24–60 months), and
• Passing both the Oregon Rules and Laws exam and the ASWB Clinical exam,

you submit your LCSW licensure application to the Board, which then determines your eligibility under OAR 877‑020‑0008. (secure.sos.state.or.us)

---

8. Numeric summary of Oregon LCSW hour requirements

From the Board’s rules and official guidance, the minimum quantitative requirements for an Oregon LCSW (via the CSWA route) are:

Practice / experience hours

• 3,500 total post‑MSW practice hours under an approved Plan of Practice and Supervision.
• Of these, at least 2,000 hours must be direct contact with clients.
• All 3,500 hours must be supervised clinical social work practice in an approved agency setting. (secure.sos.state.or.us)

Supervision hours

• 100 total supervision hours over 24–60 consecutive months.
• At least 50 hours must be individual supervision.
• At least 50 hours must be with an LCSW‑type supervisor as defined in rule; no more than 50 hours may be with an Oregon‑licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.
• During the primary accumulation period, you must meet with a supervisor at least twice per month for at least one hour each meeting; after meeting hour and practice requirements, you must continue at least monthly one‑hour supervision until licensure, if still practicing under the plan. (secure.sos.state.or.us)

In other words, Oregon’s breakdown is:

• 3,500 supervised clinical practice hours total
  • 2,000+ of those are direct client contact hours
• 100 clinical supervision hours total
  • 50+ of those are individual supervision hours

all completed under a Board‑approved plan over at least two and no more than five consecutive years, with additional requirements for exams and fitness to practice.