Professional Corporations

College registrants are allowed to incorporate for the purpose of practising social work or social service work. To do so, registrants must follow all conditions and requirements in both the Business Corporations Act and the College bylaws (Bylaw No. 46), which includes obtaining a Certificate of Authorization from the College.

The College does not provide any legal, accounting, tax or financial advice related to the professional corporations and the issuance or renewal of Certificates of Authorization. We strongly recommend that registrants seek legal and accounting professional advice to decide whether to practise social work or social service work through a professional corporation.

Fees

The fee to set up a professional corporation is $500. The annual renewal fee for a professional corporation is $400.

Steps to Establish a Professional Corporation

There are three steps to establish a social work or social service work professional corporation:

  1. Choosing a corporation name. The name must follow certain requirements set out in the Business Corporations Act and College bylaws.
  2. Incorporate with the Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery.
  3. Apply for a Certificate of Authorization from the College.

For detailed instructions on how to establish a professional corporation, click on the sections below.

Step 1: How to Chose a Professional Corporation Name

The name of a corporation must meet the requirements set out in section 3.2 of the Business Corporations Act and College bylaws. These requirements include the following:

  • The corporation must not have a number name.
  • The corporate name must include the words ‘Professional Corporation” or « Société professionnelle ».
  • The corporation name must include the last name of one or more shareholders of the corporation. The last name must be the same as what is listed on the College’s Online Register.
  • The corporation name can also include the shareholder’s first name, one or more of the shareholder’s initials or a combination of their first name and initials.
  • The corporation name must include “Social Work” or “Social Service Work” or the French equivalent.

Example of a corporation name that follows the requirements: J. Doe Social Work Professional Corporation.

If registrants want to confirm that the proposed name of their professional corporation will meet College requirements before incorporating with the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery, they can request a review of the name by logging into the Online Portal and clicking on the “Verify My Professional Corporation Name” tab.

The College will let a registrant know whether the proposed name meets the corporate name requirements.

Important Note: If a registrant wants the practice to have a different name than the professional corporation name, the business name must also be registered under the professional corporation name.  Registrants are required to attach the certificate of registration to the application submitted to the College. For example: J. Smith Social Service Work Professional Incorporation (professional incorporation name), Main Street Counselling (business name).

Step 2: Incorporate with the Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery

Once the professional corporation name has been chosen, registrants must then incorporate with the Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (MPBSD). For help incorporating with the MPBSD, contact the Companies Branch Help line at 416-314-8880 or toll free at 1-800-361-3223 or on their website.

Please note that the College is unable to provide registrants with assistance on incorporating with the MPBSD.

When incorporating, there are key points that must be included in the articles of incorporation: 

  • All of the shares of the corporation must be owned by one or more social workers (for social work corporations) or social service workers (for social service work corporations) who hold a general certificate of registration issued by the College and are in good standing.
  • All officers and directors of the corporation must be shareholders of the corporation.
  • The articles of the professional corporation must state that the corporation cannot carry on a business other than the practice of social work or social service work and activities related to the practise of such professions.

Failure to include the points above in your articles of incorporation will result in the professional incorporation application being rejected.

Step 3: Apply for a Certificate of Authorization from the College

Registrants can submit their application for a Certificate of Authorization through the Online Portal. Log in and navigate to the “Professional Corporations” tab and then click on “Professional Corporation Application.”

  • To apply for a Certificate of Authorization from the College, complete the application and upload the following required documents before submitting the application:
    • Undertaking dated and signed by each shareholder of the corporation: Each shareholder must be listed in the application. Each shareholder must hold a general certificate of registration in the category in which you wish to incorporate (social work or social service work) and be in good standing with the College. We recommend that all shareholders obtain independent legal advice before signing the undertaking.
    • Statutory declaration of each director of the corporation: The declaration must be completed no more than 15 days before the application is submitted, must be completed by each director of the corporation and must be sworn before a commissioner for taking affidavits in Ontario.
    • Copy of Certificate of Status of the corporation issued by the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery: The Certificate of Status must be dated no more than 30 days before the application is submitted to the College.
    • A copy of every certificate of the corporation: For example, the Certificate of Incorporation and every Certificate of Amendment that has been endorsed under the Business Corporations Act at the date the application is submitted.
    • Confirmation that the practice name meets the requirements of the Business Names Act and College bylaws.

Fees  

The professional corporation application fees is $500. Applications are not considered complete until the fee is submitted.

After the application is submitted, the College will review it and request clarification or information if needed. Once the application is approved, registrants can print their receipt from “My Invoices” under their profile name on the Online Portal.

Renewing a Professional Corporation’s Certificate of Authorization

The Certificate of Authorization issued by the College must be renewed annually on or before the corporation’s anniversary date. The anniversary date is available on the corporation’s profile on the  Online Register under the “General” tab.

The primary director of the corporation will receive email reminders from the College 60 days before the corporation’s anniversary date. The renewal process can only be done within this 60-day period.

To renew a Certificate of Authorization, log into the Online Portal, click on the “Professional Corporations” tab and then click “Renew Professional Corporation.”  

The following documents are required to be submitted before completing the renewal:

  • Updated Undertaking dated and signed by each shareholder of the corporation Each shareholder of the corporation must sign and date the Undertaking.
  • Updated Statutory declaration of each director of the corporation The declaration must be completed no more than 15 days before the renewal is submitted.
  • Updated Copy of Certificate of Status of the corporation issued by the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery. The certificate must be dated no more than 30 days before the renewal is submitted.

The annual renewal fee for professional corporations is $400. The renewal will not be considered completed until the fee is paid.

Once submitted, the renewal will be reviewed. If additional information is required, the College will contact you directly. After the renewal has been approved, registrants can print their receipt from “My Invoices” under their profile name on the Online Portal.

Note: Incomplete renewal submissions in “Draft” and “Validated” statuses will not be reviewed. 

Questions?

Contact the College’s Registrant and Renewals Department:

Related FAQs

  • You may wish to seek advice from a qualified professional such as a lawyer or accountant with experience You may wish to seek advice from a lawyer and accountant with experience in corporations to provide you with the benefits. Generally, some benefits may include tax deferral and favourable small business corporate tax rates.

  • Registrants who want to practise social work or social service work through a professional corporation must complete the following steps:

    • Step 1 - Choose a professional corporation name
    • Step 2 – Incorporate with the Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (MPBSD) 
    • Step 3 – Apply for a Certificate of Authorization with the College 

    More information on what is required for each of these steps can be found on the webpage above.

  • The certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

  • The renewal date is the anniversary date of when the Certificate of Authorization was issued. The anniversary date is posted on the corporation’s profile on the College’s Online Register (see “General” tab).

  • A late fee of $50 will be charged.

  • College registrants must follow the Business Corporations Act and College bylaws naming convention.

    The name of the professional corporation must include:

    • The surname of one or more shareholders of the corporation. The surname must match what is on the College’s Online Register. It may also include the shareholder’s given name, one or more of the shareholder’s initials or a combination of given name and initials. 
    • The name must include “Social Work Professional Corporation” / « Société professionnelle » or “Social Service Work Professional Corporation”/ « Société professionnelle de techniques de travail social ».
    • The corporation must not have a number name.

  • The College can issue a revised Certificate of Authorization to a professional corporation if the corporation changes its name.

    The corporation must notify the College in writing within thirty days of the change and provide copies of the documents showing the change.

  • If the professional corporation does not renew the Certificate of Authorization annually, the College will revoke the professional corporation’s Certificate of Authorization. The revocation will happen 60 days after notice is sent that the certificate is going to be revoked.

  • A corporation’s Certificate of Authorization may be revoked if:

    • The professional corporation fails to renew the Certificate of Authorization;
    • The professional corporation stops practising the profession that the certificate was issued for;
    • The professional corporation ceases to be eligible to hold a Certificate of Authorization (for example, if a shareholder is no longer in good standing or resigns their College registration);
    • The professional corporation carries on business or activities that are not the practice of social work or social service work or activities related to the practice of the profession.

  • A Certificate of Authorization cannot be reinstated.

    If a professional corporation’s Certificate of Authorization is revoked, a new Certificate of Authorization can be issued to the corporation if the corporation applies for a new certificate.

  • Before surrendering a Certificate of Authorization, please contact a lawyer or an accountant for advice on how to dissolve your corporation.

    The professional corporation may, at any time, surrender its Certificate of Authorization by submitting a notice of surrender request in the Online Portal.

    •  To submit a notice of surrender, log into the Online Portal and click on the “Professional Corporations” tab, then click “Surrender Professional Corporation.”

    The College will acknowledge receipt of the notice of surrender and revoke the Certificate of Authorization.

  • No. A professional corporation is strictly limited in its scope of practice, which is defined by both the Business Corporations Act and the College’s bylaws. The Business Corporations Act states that a social work professional corporation can only engage in the practice of social work and a social service work professional corporation can only engage in the practice of social service work. The College’s bylaws reinforce these restrictions.

    We strongly recommend that registrants seek legal and accounting professional advice to decide whether to set up a professional corporation.

  • Yes, social work or social service work professional corporation have restrictions regarding naming, scope of practice and shareholders.

    • Only College registrants in good standing who hold a general certificate of registration can apply for a Certificate of Authorization.
    • All of the shares of the corporation must be owned by one or more social workers (for a social work corporation) and social service workers (for a social service work corporation).
    • All officers and directors of the corporation must be shareholders of the corporation.
    • The corporation cannot carry on a business other than the practice of social work or social service work.

  • You must renew your corporation’s Certificate of Authorization every year on or before the corporation’s anniversary date.

  • You can start the renewal process in the Online Portal 60 days before the corporation’s anniversary date.

  • The articles of extra-provincial incorporation will not meet the requirements for the issuance of a Certificate of Authorization issued by the College.

    To obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the College, the corporations incorporated outside Ontario or federally must incorporate under the Ontario Business Corporations Act, and meet the requirements outlined in both the Business Corporations Act and the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998.