Information for all Applicants

This website is set out to guide you to the correct application form and registration guide based on your academic qualifications. If you are uncertain about which application form to select, please contact the College at (416) 972-9882 or 1-877-828-9380 or e-mail registration@ocswssw.org to request an application form and guide. The appropriate application package will be mailed to you within one week from receiving the request.

Before downloading and completing any application form, please ensure you read the following information in its entirety.

• If you wish to apply for registration in both the social work category and social service work category, you must complete two separate applications.
• Before completing the application form, read the registration guide that is included with the application package.
• Contact the academic institution(s) where you completed your education and request that the academic institution forward original verification of your academic credentials directly to the College.
• Depending on your individual circumstances, you may need to submit additional documents with your application form and/or arrange to have original documents mailed directly to the College by your academic institution or another organization. If an original document cannot be obtained, contact the College to discuss acceptable alternatives and the next steps.
• If any of your documents are in a language other than English or French, you will need to have them translated before they are submitted to the College. You are responsible for all costs associated with the translation(s).
• Carefully complete all sections of the application form. Print all information clearly in ink. Sign and date the application form.
• Ensure that the fees are included with the application form.

The application form asks for the following information:

Contact Information: This includes your name(s), home & business address, and education.

Language Proficiency: You must demonstrate the ability to speak and write either English or French with reasonable fluency. If you answer “No” to all 6 questions, you are required to undertake additional language proficiency testing and submit the scores to the College.

Translation of Documents: If your documents (for example, academic records) are in a language other than English or French, you will need to have these documents translated.

Citizenship: You must be a Canadian Citizen, or a permanent resident of Canada, or be authorized under the Immigration Act (Canada) to engage in the practice of social work or social service work in Ontario. If you answer “Other” provide further information with your application form. The College may contact you for further information.

If you are authorized under the Immigration Act (Canada) to engage in the practice of social work or social service work in Ontario you must submit with your application form a copy of your valid work permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Professional Conduct: If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions, you must provide full details respecting the matter to which you answered ‘yes’ on a separate sheet of paper and attach it to your application.

Upon review of the application form and any supporting documents the Registrar may:

a. determine that you have met the requirements set out in the registration regulation and issue a certificate of registration to you;

b. issue a certificate of registration to you subject to terms, conditions or limitations to which you have consented;

c. determine that you have not met the requirements set out in the registration regulation and propose to refuse to issue a certificate of registration to you;

d. propose to impose terms, conditions or limitations on a certificate of registration to which you have not consented.

If the Registrar issues a certificate of registration to you, certain information provided on the application form, including your name, business address, business telephone number and name of your employer or business, will, in accordance with the Act and by-laws of the College, be contained in the register of the College. Information on the register is available to the public.

Based on your academic qualifications, please click on the appropriate link below for further information and to download a registration guide and application form:

Social Work

Applicants with a Canadian social work degree

Applicants with a U.S. social work degree

Applicants with international social work credentials

Applicants with no social work degree OR with a non-accredited social work degree

Social Service Work

Applicants with a diploma in social service work from an Ontario College of Applied Arts & Technology

Applicants with a diploma from an Ontario College of Applied Arts & Technology NOT in social service work

Applicants with a social service work diploma outside Ontario

Applicants with no diploma in social service work

If you have questions about the application process, you may contact the College at (416) 972-9882 or 1-877-828-9380 or by e-mail at registration@ocswssw.org.