The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) is pleased to share the following information in collaboration with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the association that develops entry-to-practice exams for social workers and social service workers.
Invitation to Share Your Feedback
The ASWB is inviting feedback from registered social workers and registered social service workers through their newly launched Social Work Census.
It is important to note that the ASWB is also seeking feedback from social service workers even though they are referencing this initiative as the “Social Work Census.”
As College registrants, we hope you will consider taking part in this census as your feedback is important to us.
ASWB’s census is a North American initiative, spanning across states throughout the United States as well as provinces and territories in Canada.
As the only social service work regulator in North America, we recognize that this census is not wholly inclusive in terms of referencing both social work and social service work. In many cases, references to social work should also include social service work, and can be answered as such.
What is the ASWB?
The ASWB is a nonprofit organization composed of and owned by the social work regulatory boards and colleges of all 50 U.S. states and all 10 Canadian provinces, including the College. They develop and administer entry-to-practice exams for the professions of social work and social service work. It is a requirement that member organizations – including the College – use the ASWB exams when they implement an entry-to-practice or other exam requirement.
What is the Social Work Census?
The Social Work Census will be the largest survey of social workers and social service workers in Canada and the United States ever undertaken. The data from this survey will be aggregated and used to develop a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of who social workers and social service workers are and what they do. The census can be completed in English and French.
The census has two sections:
- The first section is a workforce study that asks for information about social workers and social service workers’ education, employment, licensure, demographics and intersectionality.
- The second section is a practice analysis that asks about the knowledge needed to practice social work and social service work safely and ethically at entry to practice.
Developing Entry-to-Practice Exams
Results from the practice analysis section of the census will be used to build the blueprint for the next iteration of the social work exams, as well as in the development of the new social service work exams. These will be the versions of the exams that the College will be using when the entry-to-practice exam requirement is implemented in 2027.
The ASWB is committed to ensuring that the exams reflect the diversity of Ontario and the clients that registrants serve. Although current registrants will not have to take the exams once implemented, we encourage all registrants to participate so their voices can be heard and they can help inform the exams of future College applicants.
Participation and the CCP
Registrants can use their participation in filling out the census towards the completion of their 2024 Continuing Competence Program (CCP).
More Information
For questions or comments about the census, contact the ASWB at info@aswb.org.
For inquiries related to the College’s eventual implementation of entry-to-practice exams, contact the Communications Department at communications@ocswssw.org or visit the College’s dedicated entry-to-practice exams webpage for the most up-to-date information.