Electronic Practice

Social workers registered with the College and/or registered or licensed in other Canadian provinces or territories can exclusively provide electronic services to clients in Ontario, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria below.

What is electronic social work practice?

Electronic social work practice is the delivery of social work services using electronic devices (computer, tablet or phone) or though an electronic format (internet, social media, online chat, text, video and email).

Eligibility

To practise electronically in Ontario, registrants must:

Be registered and in good standing with another Canadian social work regulatory authority.
Hold a valid certificate of registration, license or permit for social work that has been issued by a Canadian social work regulatory authority which authorizes them to practise the profession of social work or to use a title or designation relating to the profession, or both.
Live in a province or territory other than Ontario.

“In good standing” means a registrant:

Has met all obligations to their regulatory authority, including paid all fees;
Is not the subject of any current discipline or fitness to practise order;
Is not involved in any ongoing investigation or interim order or agreement that came from a complaint, investigation or proceeding; and
Has complied with all continuing competence and quality assurance requirements of their regulatory authority.

The electronic practice annual renewal fee is $50.

Important Note: College registrants who live in Ontario must maintain their registration in the general class of registration. Electronic practice is not an option.

Moving from the General Class of Certificate of Registration to Electronic Practice

Are you:

A College registrant registered in the general class?
Now residing outside of Ontario, but within Canada?
Registered in good standing with another Canadian social work regulatory body?

If the answer is “Yes” to all three questions, you are eligible to transition from the general class of certificate of registration to electronic practice. To make this change:

Email your request to info@ocswssw.org.
- Download and complete Part A of the In Good Standing Certificate form. Send the In Good Standing Certificate form to the other Canadian social work regulator where you are currently registered. They must then complete Part B and email the completed form directly to the College at info@ocswssw.org.
Complete and sign the Acknowledgement and Undertaking form and email it to info@ocswssw.org. By signing the undertaking, you agree to restrict your practice in Ontario exclusively to electronic social work practice and deliver these services from another Canadian jurisdiction. This information will be made available to the public on the College’s Online Register.

Note: Registrants who already renewed their registration with the College and paid the full registration fee will not receive a refund if they choose to transition to electronic practice during the year.

Moving from Electronic Practice to the General Class of Certificate of Registration

Are you:

A College registrant currently registered in the electronic practice category?
Now residing in Ontario?

If the answer is “Yes” to both questions, you must transition to the general class of certificate of registration. To make this change, follow these steps:

Email your request to info@ocswssw.org.
Pay the registration fee applicable to the general class.

The College will review your request. Once completed, the notation indicating that your practice is restricted to social work electronic practice will be removed from the Online Register.

Renewing the Electronic Practice Certificate of Registration

To maintain their electronic practice registration with the College, registrants must:

Remain in good standing with the Canadian social work regulatory body in their home jurisdiction ;
Live outside Ontario, but within Canada;
Continue to meet all conditions outlined in the Acknowledgement and Undertaking they signed;
Immediately notify the College of any changes to their status or registration in their home jurisdiction;
Notify the College or update their contact information in the Online Portal within 30 days of any changes to their contact information; and
Renew their registration with the College every year. For more information on renewals, visit the Annual Renewals web page.