Graduates of Canadian Social Work Degree Programs Accredited by CASWE (Canadian Association for Social Work Education) or NIAB (National Indigenous Accreditation Board)

If you have  a degree in social work from a social work program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), or the National Indigenous Accreditation Board (NIAB) you will likely meet the academic requirements for the issuance of a general certificate of registration for social work.

How to Apply

Please ensure you first read all information related to the requirements for registration on the Information for All Applicants webpage.

Applicants with a social work degree from an accredited program can now 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 the academic and practicum requirements of your social work degree, the Registrar 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 degree in social work). Please follow these steps to be registered prior to your convocation:

  1. Once you have completed your application through the College’s Online Portal, contact the dean/director of your social work program and request that they complete the “Confirmation of Completion of Requirements for a Social Work Degree” form. Deans and directors of
    Ontario-accredited social work programs will have access to this form. If you attended an accredited program outside Ontario, the College will forward a form to the dean/director upon your request – email registration@ocswssw.org to ask for the form to be sent to the dean/director outside of Ontario. Ensure the dean/director forwards the completed, dated and signed form directly to the College either by mail to the attention of the Registration Department or by email to registration@ocswssw.org.
  2. Once the College receives the completed form from the dean/director and reviews your application, we will forward to you a “Student/Applicant Declaration, Consent and Undertaking Regarding a Degree in Social Work” form.
  3. Read, complete, date and sign the form and forward it to the College by mail, fax, or email.
  4. When the College receives your signed form, your application will continue to be reviewed.
  5. If the Registrar issues you a general certificate of registration for social 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 degree in social work within the time frame specified in the term, condition and limitation.
  6. Once your degree 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.

If you have questions about the application process, please contact the Registration Department at registration@ocswssw.org.