As a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, you must pay your membership fees annually, by December 31. Keeping your membership current is important. It demonstrates your commitment to professional, ethical, qualified and accountable practice. It also says something important about the professions of social work and social service work as a whole, and about you as an individual practitioner.
The renewal season will commence in mid November 2022. You will be sent a notice via email once the College’s member renewal period is open. The deadline to complete your membership renewal and payment for the year 2023 is December 31, 2022.
New members who were issued a certificate of registration at any time in 2022 are required to complete their 2023 annual renewal of registration and provide confirmation of participation in the Continuing Competence Program (CCP) for the year 2022. For more information about the CCP, please visit the College website.
Renewing your membership online is easy
Once the renewal period is open, follow these steps to renew your membership online:
- Log in to your Online Member Services using your User ID (your OCSWSSW registration number) and your password.
- Click on the “2023 Renewal” link on the top of the screen to complete the annual renewal of registration form and payment.
Payment methods accepted include credit card (Visa or Mastercard), Visa debit, Mastercard debit, cheque, money order, or bank draft. E-transfer payment is not accepted.
Tax receipts and member cards available online
Tax receipts and member cards will be available online following payment of the annual renewal fee. To access your tax receipt and member card, please follow the steps below:
- Log in to your Online Member Services.
- Click “Renewal Receipts” from the menu.
- From the Membership Renewal History grid, click on the “Membership card and Receipt” of the selected Membership Year to open a PDF file that you can print, save or send by email.
2023 annual fees
College Council approved the recommendation of the Finance Committee that there be no increase to the registration and member fees in 2023. In making this decision, Council carefully considered the significant and ongoing impact of COVID-19, the College’s operating costs, resource needs and other factors.
Every year, the Council carefully considers the College’s financial situation, reviews cash flow projections and approves fees for the following year. This annual review ensures that the College responds to changes in the environment in a fiscally responsible and flexible manner, while ensuring its ongoing capacity to fulfill its public protection mandate.
The 2023 annual fees are as follows:
- Annual fee for a general class certificate of registration: $360
- Registration fee for new members in the general class of certificate of registration: $360 + $100 application fee
- New graduate registration fee*: $260 + $100 application fee
- Inactive class of certificate of registration: $180
- Retired class of certificate of registration: $50
*New graduates are eligible for a $100 membership fee exemption for the first two years of membership if they apply for registration no later than December 31 of the year they obtain their degree or diploma.
Remember: Only professionals registered with the College are allowed to use the titles “social worker,” “registered social worker,” “social service worker” or “registered social service worker.”
If you do not intend to renew your membership and wish to cancel your certificate of registration, please send your notice of resignation by email to info@ocswssw.org, or by fax to (416) 972-1512 or regular mail.
Inactive members
If you are taking a leave from practise of six consecutive months or more and wish to apply for the inactive class of certificate of registration, please visit this link. Members who hold an inactive certificate of registration and who wish to resume practising are required to complete the application to return to the general certificate of registration form.
Retired members
If you are no longer practising social work or social service work and do not intend to return to practice in Ontario or any other jurisdiction, you have the option to apply for a retired class of certificate of registration. Please visit this link for more information.
Questions about the 2023 renewal may be directed to info@ocswssw.org.