Toll-Free: 1.877.828.9380 P: 416.972.9882 F: 416.972.1512 E: General Inquiries W: www.ocswssw.org
If you are already registered as a social worker with one or more Canadian social work regulatory authorities1, you may find it easier to become registered as a social worker in Ontario.
According to the Act, applicants who are currently registered as a social worker with a Canadian social work regulatory authority are eligible to become registered in Ontario without any “material additional training, experience, examinations or assessments”, provided that they meet certain criteria for registration.
The Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009, 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.
In the case of applicants who are currently registered as social workers by the Alberta or Saskatchewan social work regulatory authority, the College will also assess their academic qualifications as permitted by an exception approved by the Ontario Government under the labour mobility chapter of the Agreement on Internal Trade.2
If you are currently registered as a social worker with one or more Canadian social work regulatory authorities, the following are required to become registered in Ontario:
$75 application fee, $270 registration fee, must be able to speak and write either English or French with reasonable fluency unless the Canadian social work regulatory authority with which you are registered had language proficiency requirements for registration that are equivalent to the requirements of the College, must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or be authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) to engage in the practice of social work, must disclose any current proceeding in relation to professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity and other similar proceeding (for example, a complaint or discipline proceeding) in any jurisdiction, must disclose any findings of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity in any jurisdiction, must disclose any findings of guilt in relation to criminal or other offences, your past and present conduct must afford reasonable grounds to believe that you – are mentally competent to practise social work – will practise social work with decency, integrity and honesty and in accordance with the law – have sufficient knowledge, skill and judgment to practise social work.
The review process will only begin after the College has received all your documents and fees. The College will contact you if more information is required. Once the College has all your documents, it typically takes four to six weeks to process your application. The process may take longer if the College requires more information.
If you have questions about the application process, you may contact the College at 416-972-9882, or toll free 1-877-828-9380, or by email at registration@ocswssw.org.
If the Registrar issues a certificate of registration to you, certain information provided on the application, including your name, business address(es), business telephone number(s) and name of your employer or business, will, in accordance with the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998 and the by-laws of the College, be contained in the register of the College. Information on the register is information that is available to the public.
Please note that if you provide your home address as your business address, your home address is information which will be available to the public. If disclosure of your business address(es), business telephone number(s) or name of your employer or business may jeopardize your safety, please advise the Registrar in writing. The Registrar will assess whether there is a basis for the information not to be made public. In addition, if you use a pseudonym in your practice of social work because it is necessary for your personal safety, please advise the Registrar in writing. In both cases, provide written details.
You must demonstrate the ability to speak and write either English or French with reasonable fluency unless the Canadian social work regulatory authority with which you are registered had language proficiency requirements for registration that are equivalent to the requirements of the College. If you answer “No” to all 6 questions (and depending on the language proficiency requirements of the regulatory authority with which you are registered), you are required to undertake additional language proficiency testing and submit the scores to the College.
You must be a Canadian citizen, or a permanent resident of Canada, or be authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) to engage in the practice of social work in Ontario. If you answer “None of the above”, provide further information with your application form. The College may contact you for further information.
If you are authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) to engage in the practice of social work in Ontario, you must submit with your application form a copy of your valid work permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Please indicate whether or not you consent to the release of information pertaining to you for the purpose of research by checking the appropriate box. If you do not complete this section, the College will assume that you do not consent. Completion of this section enables the College to respond to requests for information contained in the Register from persons or organizations conducting research. In accordance with the policy approved by Council respecting such requests, with your consent, the only information contained in the Register that may be released includes some or all of the following: your name, category of membership, name of your business or employer, your business address and your business telephone number.
This question asks you to list the Canadian social work regulatory authorities with which you are currently registered as a social worker and provide a copy of every licence, permit and/or certificate of registration issued to you by each such Canadian social work regulatory authority. You must ensure that the College receives a completed In Good Standing Certificate from each Canadian social work regulatory authority with which you are currently registered.
This question asks you if you have been engaged in the practice of social work within the five years immediately before the date of your application. If your answer is “yes”, you must provide the name(s) of your employer(s); their address(es); your dates of employment; your position title(s); and your duties and responsibilities within the last five years. If you engaged in the practice of social work in private practice within the last five years, you must provide the name of your private practice; your business address; the dates of your private practice; the nature and focus of your private practice; the average number of clients seen by you each month. You must also enclose an original business card, letterhead or other original evidence that confirms your private practice.
If your answer is “no”, you must download, complete and submit with your application, the Supplemental Form Regarding Competence to Perform the Role of a Social Worker.
Part A of this question must be completed if you are an applicant who is registered as a social worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers or Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers.3
This question asks you to list the degrees you have obtained from a social work program or equivalent program.
It is your responsibility to contact the academic institution from which graduation occurred and request that ORIGINAL verification of academic qualifications be forwarded directly to the College by Canada Post. A photocopy, facsimile or electronic copy of the documentation will not be accepted.
Note: Academic institutions may request your written authorization in order to release the academic verification to the College.
The College requires only one relevant degree or diploma for each class of registration.
The College accepts original transcripts with the institution seal and/or stamp.
If your social work program has been submitted to the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) for an evaluation, make certain the CASW forwards the written evaluation directly to the College by Canada Post.
Part B of this question asks you to list the academic credentials you have obtained. This information will not be used to assess your eligibility for registration. It will be used for statistical purposes.
If you answered ‘”yes” to any of the questions, you must provide full details respecting the matter to which you answered ‘yes’ on a separate sheet of paper and attach it to your application.
A total fee of $345 ($75 non-refundable application fee + $270 registration fee) must be submitted with the completed Application Form.
Payment may be made by cheque or money order, payable to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, or through Visa or MasterCard.
A charge of $25 will be levied on each cheque/credit card that is not honoured.
Applicants are responsible for all costs associated with the application.
Upon review of the application form and any supporting documents, the Registrar may:
Download a Registration Guide*, Application Form and Supplemental Form, if applicable, for a general certificate of registration in social work.
*Before completing the application form, please read the Registration Guide for further requirements.
For more information please contact:
OCSWSSW Toll-Free. 1-877.828.9380 P. 416.972.9882 F. 416.972.1512 General Inquiries
March 23, 2012 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
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