Frequently Asked Questions

REGISTRATION

Q. I am currently enrolled in a social work/social service work program. Can I join the College as a student member?

The College does not have a student member category. However, if you are graduating with a degree in social work or a diploma in social service work, as the case may be, and you require membership in the College prior to convocation, but after you have completed all the academic and practicum requirements of your program, the Registrar may issue a general certificate of registration provided all other registration requirements are met, and you agree to a term, condition and limitation on the certificate of registration. Please note that this is a two step process and is not a required step to registration. To issue a certificate of registration on this basis, the following must be submitted at the College:

• a completed application form for registration as a social worker or social service worker, as the case may be;
• non refundable application fee and registration fee;
• Confirmation of Completion of Requirements for a Social Work Degree Form completed by the Dean/Director of your social work program or Confirmation of Completion of Requirements for a Social Service Work Diploma Form completed by the Coordinator of your social service work program, as the case may be, and forwarded directly to the College;
• Student/Applicant Declaration, Consent and Undertaking Regarding a Social Work Degree Form or Student/Applicant Declaration, Consent and Undertaking Regarding a Social Service Work Diploma, as the case may be, signed by you agreeing to the Term, Condition and Limitation on your certificate of registration.

Note that due to the multiple steps in this process, it may take six weeks to process your application. If you will be obtaining your social work degree, or social service work diploma, as the case may be, within approximately six weeks from the date the application is received at the College, please apply to the College without initiating this process.

A detailed description of the steps to apply for registration on this basis can be found in the section of the College website which corresponds to your academic qualifications.

Q. Do I need to pass an entry to practice examination in order to join the College?

Not at this time. The entry to practice examination for the social work category and the entry to practice examination for the social service work category are not currently in place.

Q. How long will it take to process my application?

For the majority of applications for a general certificate of registration (where an applicant has obtained a degree from an accredited social work program or a diploma from an approved social service work program, as the case may be) it typically takes 4-6 weeks. If the Registrar requires further information, it can take 7-16 weeks. For those applicants who submit an application for a general certificate of registration based on a combination of academic qualifications and experience (substantial equivalence), it will take more than 16 weeks to process the application.

Q. I am currently registered as a social worker in another province. Can I transfer my membership to the OCSWSSW?

The Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009 (the “OLMA”), which came into effect on December 15, 2009, is legislation that facilitates the process of becoming registered to practise a regulated occupation in Ontario, including social work, for those who are already registered to practise that occupation in another Canadian province or territory. The Act was passed as part of a nationwide initiative to support labour mobility that was agreed to by all Canadian provinces and two of the territories under the Agreement on Internal Trade.

On August 13, 2010, the Registration Regulation (O.Reg 383/00) made under the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998 was amended. One of the purposes of the amendments was to make the College registration requirements comply with the OLMA.

If you are currently registered as a social worker in another Canadian province, the Northwest Territories or the Yukon, please go to the section of the website Applicants Registered as a Social Worker in a Canadian Province (Other than Ontario), the Northwest Territories or the Yukon for further information and to download the required documents.
Note: The OLMA does not apply to applicants applying for a certificate of registration in social service work.

MEMBERSHIP

Q. What are the specific functions under the Health Care Consent Act and the Substitute Decisions Act for which College membership is required?

Effective May 15, 2000, members of the College who are registered as social workers are authorized to be evaluators under the Health Care Consent Act, 1996. An evaluator is the person who is authorized to determine whether a person is capable with respect to his or her admission to a care facility (which includes a long-term care facility). An evaluator is also authorized to assess whether a person is capable with respect to a personal assistance service (as defined in the Health Care Consent Act).

Effective May 15, 2000, members of the College who are registered as social workers are also authorized to do capacity assessments for the purposes set out in the Substitute Decisions Act, provided they comply with any additional requirements of the Substitute Decisions Act and its regulations. Capacity assessments under the Substitute Decisions Act include assessments of whether a person is capable of managing property or whether a person is capable of performing their own personal care. If you are currently on the roster of capacity assessors, the Capacity Assessment Office will require evidence of your registration as a social worker in the College in order to maintain your status as a capacity assessor under the Substitute Decisions Act.

Q. What is my responsibility as a member of the College?

As a member of the College, you are accountable to the professional standards and ethical standards established by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

The Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice have been approved by the Council and have been distributed to members.

Q. How does the College benefit the professions?

The establishment of the College gives social workers and social service workers status comparable to other regulated professions in Ontario, such as accountants, lawyers, physicians and nurses.

The establishment of the College may build public confidence in the value of the social work and social service work professions. The existence of a College to ensure competence may strengthen credibility for both professions.

As a professional, you are concerned about the well being of your clients. Until the College was established, anyone, regardless of academic credentials or experience, could call themselves a social worker or social service worker and practise either profession. This legislation helps ensure that your clients receive the same professional service from others who hold themselves out as social workers or social service workers as they have come to expect from you.

Q. As a member, what professional designation will I use?

As a member of the College, if you are a registered social worker, you are obliged to use the designation RSW or TSI in documentation used in connection with your practice of social work and you are required to use either the title "social worker" or "registered social worker" (or their French equivalent) in connection with your practice of social work. If you are a member of the College who is registered as a social service worker, you are obliged to use the designation RSSW or TTSI in documentation used in connection with your practice of social service work and you are required to use either the title "social service worker" or "registered social service worker" (or their French equivalent) in connection with your practice of social service work.

Q. How do I verify if my register information is correct or inquire about another member’s register information?

If you wish to receive a copy of your register information, make the request in writing to the College (e-mail: info@ocswssw.org, fax: 416-972-1512 or mail to our street address) including your name and registration number.

If you wish to receive a copy of the part of the register pertaining to another member, make the request in writing (see above) and include the name of the other member and sufficient identifying information to facilitate the delivery of an accurate copy of the part of the register.

Q. What are the continuing competence (quality assurance) requirements?

The Standards of Practice Committee developed a Continuing Competence Program (CCP) to ensure that members meet professional and ethical standards and that practice enhancement takes place in an ongoing way. The CCP was the result of a multi-phase consultation with members and stakeholders and was approved by Council in 2008.

The program was introduced in April 2009 and all members are required to participate in order to maintain their membership in the College. The program is based on an adult education model. It requires members to review their professional responsibilities, conduct a self-assessment, identify learning objectives, develop and implement a learning plan, and evaluate their progress. Members are required to make an annual declaration to the College of their participation in the program. Visit our Continuing Competence Program section for more information.

Q. Will the College be offering professional liability insurance to members?

The mandate of a regulatory body, such as the College, is to protect the public interest. One of the objects of the College is to receive and investigate complaints against members of the College and to deal with issues of discipline, professional misconduct, incompetency and incapacity. One purpose of professional liability insurance is to provide coverage to offset costs of disciplinary defense associated with malpractice, errors or mistakes in the course of professional duties. Thus it would be a conflict of interest for the College to provide professional liability insurance to its members. Typically, professional associations, whose mandate is to promote the profession and the interests of those in the profession, offer professional liability insurance as one of the benefits of membership.

While in some provinces the regulation of a profession has been delegated to a professional association, this is not the case in Ontario, where to date, regulation of a profession has been delegated to the profession through the creation, by statute, of specific professional regulatory bodies.