If you have a diploma from a social service work program in Ontario at a college of applied arts and technology, or a diploma from a program that has been approved as equivalent to a social service work program in Ontario at a college of applied arts and technology, you will likely meet the academic requirements for a general certificate of registration for social service work.
Click here for a list of past and current approved programs.
Please note: Programs from career colleges do not meet the education requirements for registration in either category of the College (SSW or SW). This applies to any application for registration. Accumulating post-graduate work experience does not alter this.
How to Apply
Please ensure you first read all information related to the requirements for registration found on the Information for All Applicants webpage.
Applicants with a social service worker diploma from a college of applied arts and technology in Ontario can apply through the College’s Online Portal.
If you are a graduating student and require College registration prior to your convocation, but after you have completed all academic and practicum requirements of your social service worker diploma, the College may issue a general certificate of registration provided all other registration requirements are met, and you agree to a term, condition and limitation on your certificate of registration. (This term, condition and limitation will be removed once the College receives verification from your academic institution that you have obtained a social service worker diploma).
Please follow these steps to be registered prior to your convocation:
- Once you have completed your application through the College’s online application portal, contact the program coordinator of your social service work program and request that they complete the “Confirmation of Completion of Requirements for a Social Service Worker Diploma” form. Program coordinators of Ontario-approved social service work programs will have access to this form. Ensure the program coordinator forwards the completed, dated and signed form directly to the College.
- Once the College receives the completed form from the program coordinator and reviews your application, we will send you a “Student/Applicant Declaration, Consent and Undertaking Regarding a Diploma in Social Service Work” form.
- Read, complete, date and sign the form and forward it to the College by mail, fax or email.
- When the College receives your signed form, your application will continue to be reviewed.
- If the College issues you a general certificate of registration for social service work, with the term, condition and limitation outlined to you, you are then required to provide the College with confirmation that you have obtained your social service worker diploma within the time frame specified in the term, condition and limitation.
- Once your diploma has been conferred, arrange for your academic institution to forward an official transcript directly to the College. Failure to do so, within the required time frame specified in the term, condition and limitation, will result in the cancellation of your certificate of registration.
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. Documents submitted to the College become property of the College.
If you have questions about the application process, please contact the Registration Department at registration@ocswssw.org.