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Oklahoma State Licensing Requirements

Oklahoma has much to offer potential social workers, therapists, counselors and psychologists. There are great schools in the state, such as the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, but there are also many other reputable institutions of higher learning. But what degree will you need to earn, and what do you need to do to get licensed to practice in the helping professions?

If you would like to get the knowledge and skills to help people cope with life issues such as depression, anxiety and relationship problems, overcome more serious mental-health problems, and just generally improve the quality of their lives, keep reading to learn about going to psychology school in Oklahoma.

Getting Licensed to Practice in Oklahoma

Licensing is an important step before you can become a practicing social worker, psychologist, therapist or counselor.

Once you’ve earned your degree, you’ll need to pass a state and/or national exam and meet other licensing requirements in your particular field of study. Here are some of the requirements to practice in the following fields, according to the Oklahoma Board of Examiners of Psychologists and other licensing entities. Make sure to consult the appropriate licensing boards for the full requirements.

Psychologist

• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-accredited university
• Two years of post-doctoral experience supervised by a mentor in the same or a related area. One of the two years can be a pre-doctoral internship if in the areas of clinical, counseling, or school psychology. An internship is required in those three areas.
• Passing score on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) with a scaled score of 500 or better
• Pass the OK Jurisprudence Examination with 70% or better
• Pass an oral examination administered by the OK Board of Examiners of Psychologists

Clinical psychologist salary in Oklahoma

Licensed Professional Counselor

• Master’s in counseling or a related mental health degree
• Passing score on the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE)
• Three years or 3,000 clock hours of full-time, on-the-job experience supervised by an approved LPC supervisor; for every 1,000 hours, 350 hours must be direct face-to-face client contact

Marriage and Family Therapist

• Master’s or doctorate in marriage and family therapy or equivalent mental health degree
• Passing score on the Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards Exam and the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE)
• Supervised work experience over at least two years. This supervised experience must include a minimum of 1,000 hours of direct client contact. Candidates must have a minimum of 250 relational hours with two or more members of the relational system present in the sessions.

Social Worker

There are three levels of social work licensure in Oklahoma: LSW, LCSW and LSW-ADM. To become a licensed clinical social worker, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• Master’s degree or higher in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
• Prospective LCSWs must be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker. They must do 3,000 of their required 4,000 hours in direct client care.
• You must get a passing score of one of four ASWB exams, depending on your level of licensure: bachelor’s, master’s, clinical or advanced generalist.

Making the Most of Your Degree

As you enter a program to earn your degree, you should learn about the professional associations that accept students. Membership in organizations such as the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers offers great benefits:

• Access to job databases and community resources
• Information about legislation that affects your work, and what you can do in response to new laws affecting your specialty area
• Forums for interacting with peers and experts in your field
• Consultation with advocates in your profession regarding legal and ethical issues

So which field of psychology is right for you: counselor, therapist, social worker or psychologist? Make sure to get off on the right foot, and research your degree options and licensure requirements early to ensure that you’ll be efficient in your studies and can get into the right helping profession for you.

_{Sources: www.ok.gov/OSBEP, www.ok.gov/behavioralhealth, www.ok.gov/socialworkers}