Graduates of non-accredited Canadian and American Social Work Programs or Graduates of Degree Programs that are not in Social Work

If you have:

a) a social work degree from a social work program that is NOT accredited by the Canadian Association For Social Work Education (CASWE) or the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); or,

b) a social work degree from a country other than Canada or the United States that was evaluated by the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) as NOT being equivalent to the minimum of a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a social work program accredited by the CASWE; or,

c) a degree that is not in social work,

you may submit your combination of academic qualifications and practical experience for the Registrar’s consideration and determination that it is substantially equivalent to a degree in social work from a social work program accredited by the CASWE.

The Registration Policy sets out the following requirements to assist in the Registrar’s determination that you possess a combination of academic qualifications and practical experience that is substantially equivalent to a degree in social work from a social work program accredited by the CASWE:

• You must possess a minimum of a university level Bachelor’s degree, based on the norm of a four year first degree program, with a minimum of 40 per cent course credits in liberal arts, humanities, and social sciences.
• Included in this degree, or in some combination of acceptable education and training obtained outside of the degree, there must be content judged to be minimally equivalent to 10 undergraduate university level courses in 12 specific areas. (One full university level course is equal to approximately 75 hours. The Registrar will also consider two single semester courses that cover the content area.) 
• You must have practised in a situation where you performed the role of a social worker for one year, having had direct responsibility for providing social work services to individuals, groups and communities. 
• Within this year, 700 hours of your practice must have been supervised by a social worker.

The Registrar’s review is weighted on successful completion of university level courses which must cover ALL 12 content areas. For a complete and detailed list of the 12 content areas, please download our Criteria Information Sheet.

Seven course content areas are considered by the Registrar to be core components of a program that is substantially equivalent to a social work program accredited by the CASWE. Accordingly, the Registrar will assess whether you have completed one or more full university level courses which satisfy the requirements of each of these content areas. Of the remaining five content areas, the Registrar may consider whether a component of your practical experience in addition to university courses satisfies the criteria. However, substitution of practical experience for a university level course is limited. Therefore, in order for you to demonstrate course content which is minimally equivalent to ten undergraduate university level courses in the specified content areas, you are required to have successfully satisfied most of the required content through university level courses.

The Registrar may consider education or training obtained outside of your degree in limited areas. Any such education or training must be at a university level, and include an evaluation component.

Important information for applicants about the evaluation process

The Registrar’s evaluation of each application form and supporting documents strictly adheres to the criteria identified above. Please carefully review the requirements as they relate to your academic qualifications and practical experience prior to initiating the application process.

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.

Applicants should be aware that due to the large number of applications received by the College and the complexity of the evaluation of each application, there is generally a lengthy waiting time for processing applications. Once all required documents are received by the College, applications are processed in the order in which they are received. Typically once all documents are received it will take up to or more than 16 weeks for the Registrar to complete the review of the application form.

How to Apply

Before downloading the appropriate registration guide and application form, please ensure you read Information for All Applicants.

Arrange for your academic institution to forward directly to the College an official transcript(s) of courses and grades, signed by the Registrar with the institution’s seal and/or stamp.

Ensure that you enclose with your application form, a copy of the academic institution’s official course calendar for the year(s) in which the courses were completed and course credits obtained.

The College accepts only original documents. Fax, email attachments, or your own transcripts or photocopies of original transcript(s) are not accepted and will delay the application process.

Fees: The registration fee and non-refundable application fee must be enclosed with each application.

Mail your completed application form, the documents you submit yourself, and the full fees to the College. A photocopy of the application or sending the application by fax or email will not be accepted. Ensure that verification of your academic qualifications is sent directly from your academic institution to the College.

Ensure to forward the Length of Practice and Supervision Confirmation Form along with the College's Social Work Diagnosis Letter to other individuals to complete. They are required to mail the completed form directly to the College.

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 email Registration.

To download a registration package for a general certificate of registration in social work (combination of academic qualifications and practical experience), please click on the following links:

1. Registration Guide*
2. Application Form
3. Length of Practice and Supervision Confirmation Form
   To be forwarded by you to the individual(s) you have chosen to complete the form about your practice and supervision.
4. Social Work Diagnosis Letter
   To be forwarded by you to the individual(s) you have chosen to complete the form about your practice and supervision.
5. Criteria Information Sheet

* Before completing the application form, please read the registration guide for further requirements.