{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-59-59-1256.1","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 59-1256.1","heading":"Powers and duties of Board","body":"A. The State Board of Licensed Social Workers shall be\n\nresponsible for the control and regulation of the practice of social\n\nwork in this state and shall conduct its business in accordance with\n\nthe Administrative Procedures Act. The Board’s authority includes,\n\nbut is not limited to, the following:\n\n1. The licensing by examination or by reciprocity of applicants\n\nwho are qualified to engage in the practice of social work under the\n\nprovisions of this act;\n\n2. The renewal of licenses to engage in the practice of social\n\nwork;\n\n3. The establishment and enforcement of compliance with\n\nprofessional standards of practice and rules of conduct of social\n\nworkers engaged in the practice of social work;\n\n4. The determination and issuance of standards for recognition\n\nand approval of degree programs of schools and colleges of social\n\nwork whose graduates may be eligible for licensure in this state,\n\nand the specification and enforcement of requirements for practical\n\ntraining;\n\n5. The investigation of any activities related to the practice\n\nor unauthorized practice of social work. In conducting such\n\ninvestigations, the Board shall have the power to subpoena and to\n\nbring before it any person and to take testimony either orally or by\n\ndeposition, or both, in the same manner as prescribed in civil cases\n\nin the courts of this state. Any member of the Board, hearing\n\nofficer, or administrative law judge shall have power to administer\n\noaths to witnesses at any hearing which the Board is authorized to\n\nconduct. Following such investigation, the Board may suspend,\n\nrevoke or restrict licenses to engage in the practice of social\n\nwork;\n\n6. With probable cause that an applicant or licensee has\n\nengaged in conduct prohibited by this act or a rule promulgated by\n\nthe Board, the issuance of a request that the applicant or licensee\n\nsubmit to a mental or physical examination or chemical dependency\n\nevaluation. If the applicant or licensee refuses to submit to the\n\nexamination or evaluation, the Board shall issue an order requiring\n\nthe licensee or applicant to show cause why he or she will not\n\nsubmit to the examination and shall schedule a hearing on the order\n\nwithin thirty (30) days after notice is served on the applicant or\n\nlicensee by personal service or certified mail. At the hearing, the\n\napplicant or licensee and the applicant or licensee’s attorney are\n\nentitled to present any testimony to show why the applicant or\n\nlicensee should not be required to submit to the examination. After\n\na complete hearing, the Board shall issue an order either requiring\n\nthe applicant or licensee to submit to the examination or\n\nwithdrawing the request for the examination. The license in\n\nquestion may be suspended until the results of the examination are\n\nreceived and reviewed by the Board;\n\n7. The collection of professional demographic data;\n\n8. The issuance of licenses of all persons engaged in the\n\npractice of social work;\n\n9. The inspection of any licensed person, at all reasonable\n\nhours, for the purpose of determining if any provisions of the laws\n\ngoverning the practice of social work are being violated. The\n\nBoard, its officers, inspectors, and representatives shall cooperate\n\nwith all agencies charged with the enforcement of the laws of the\n\nUnited States, of this state, and of all other states relating to\n\nthe practice of social work;\n\n10. The promulgation of such rules as may be deemed necessary\n\nby the Board for the proper administration and enforcement of this\n\nact in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act;\n\n11. The administration of examinations for licensure pursuant\n\nto the following:\n\na. any examination for licensure required under this act\n\nshall be given by the Board at least two times during\n\neach year. The Board shall determine the content and\n\nsubject matter of each examination and the place,\n\ntime, and date of administration of the examination,\n\nand\ne with the Administrative Procedures Act;\n\n11. The administration of examinations for licensure pursuant\n\nto the following:\n\na. any examination for licensure required under this act\n\nshall be given by the Board at least two times during\n\neach year. The Board shall determine the content and\n\nsubject matter of each examination and the place,\n\ntime, and date of administration of the examination,\n\nand\n\nb. the examination shall be prepared to measure the\n\ncompetence of the applicant to engage in the relevant\n\npractice of social work. The Board may employ,\n\ncooperate, and contract with any organization or\n\nconsultant in the preparation, administration and\n\ngrading of an examination, but shall retain the sole\n\ndiscretion and responsibility for determining which\n\napplicants have successfully passed such an\n\nexamination;\n\n12. The establishment of such requirements for supervised\n\npractice or any other experiential program necessary to qualify an\n\napplicant for any licensure examination under this act, including\n\ndetermination of the qualifications of supervisors used in\n\nsupervision programs;\n\n13. The acquisition of a membership in such professional\n\norganizations and associations organized exclusively to promote the\n\nimprovement of the standards of the practice of social work for the\n\nprotection of the health and welfare of the public or whose\n\nactivities assist and facilitate the work of the Board;\n\n14. The establishment of a “Bill of Rights” for clients\n\nconcerning the services a client may expect in regard to social work\n\nservices; and\n\n15. In addition to the fees specifically provided for in this\n\nact, the establishment of fees including, but not limited to, the\n\nfollowing:\n\na. issuance of duplicate certificates or identification\n\ncards,\n\nb. copies of any documents,\n\nc. certification of documents, and\n\nd. issuance of licenses by reciprocity.","path":["OK Code","Title 59"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os59.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"b52f3f840b875b3d94a1cb26a62140d32fa56e988317366317dde400cc4267be","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-59-59-1255","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-59-59-1256.2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}