Oregon Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker (RBSW) Guide - 2024

Oregon Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker (RBSW) Licensure Process

The RBSW is the entry-level license for social workers in Oregon. It permits them to perform non-clinical services such as:

• Assessments
• Planning
• Interventions
• Evaluations
• Case management
• Counseling
• Consultations

Education Requirements

A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is required to become an RBSW. You must earn the degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) approved program or school.

Find all schools offering accredited social work degree programs in Oregon.

Background Check

Licensure applicants are required to take a fingerprint-based criminal records check. You’ll have to register on the Fieldprint Oregon website to schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints taken. You can find a location in your area by entering your zip code in the search box. It can take 3-5 weeks to receive the results, so schedule your appointment as early as possible. The Board views your application as incomplete until the background check results are received. You can find further instructions on the Board’s website.

Examination Requirements

You must register for and pass the ASWB Bachelor’s exam to be given an RBSW license. The test consists of 170 multiple-choice questions that assess your knowledge of bachelor’s-level social work.

You’ll also have to send in the Statutes and Administrative Rules exam as a qualifying step toward licensure. The exam is open-book and comprises the rules and regulations associated with social work in Oregon. The results from the exam will be sent to you via postal mail.

Applying for Licensure as a Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker

Licensure begins with submitting an application to the Board online. The packet contains a request for the background check and your official BSW transcripts to be obtained. The application fee included the background check cost and amounts to $150.

Next, the Board will complete the review of your application once the results from your background check are available and both exam scores are received.

When your Board approves your application, you can register to take the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Bachelor’s exam. The ASWB automatically transmits your scores to the Oregon Board after the test. Your RBSW license is issued once the Board has all of the documentation needed for the credential.