OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives this week passed House Bill 2261, authored by Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, to address the state’s critical shortage of social workers by allowing Oklahoma to join the Social Work Licensure Compact.

HB2261 would allow social workers licensed in any compact member state to practice in Oklahoma without obtaining an additional state license. With the state currently meeting only 67% of its estimated need for licensed clinical social workers, the bill aims to break down barriers to recruitment and expand access to behavioral health services.

“Oklahomans shouldn’t have to wait for critical mental health and case management services simply because we don’t have enough providers,” Miller said. “Right now, our state is only meeting about two-thirds of the need for licensed social workers. Removing unnecessary licensing hurdles will make it easier to recruit and retain professionals ready to serve our communities.”

The legislation would preserve Oklahoma’s authority over social workers practicing in the state. Through the compact’s data system, regulators would have access to information about out-of-state licensees, including investigative records and disciplinary actions, ensuring continued oversight.

“Streamlining the licensing process doesn’t mean lowering standards,” Miller said. “Oklahoma will still enforce its own laws and regulations while opening the door to a larger pool of qualified social workers.” 

HB2261 follows a nationwide model established by the Council of State Governments’ National Center for Interstate Compacts. To ensure Oklahoma’s eligibility, no substantive changes can be made to the bill’s language. 

The Social Work Licensure Compact currently includes 22 states, including Kansas, Missouri, Colorado and Louisiana. By joining, Oklahoma would gain access to a national pool of approximately 500,000 licensed social workers to help fill critical workforce gaps. 

HB2261 is now eligible to move to the Senate for further consideration.