The College is implementing entry-to-practice exams as part of its registration requirements. Entry-to-practice exams are one way to help measure an applicant’s readiness to practise and support public protection. They complement, but do not replace, educational requirements.
- Beginning in the fall of 2027, the following applicants will be required to successfully complete an entry-to-practice exam as a registration requirement:
- Individuals applying through the equivalency stream
- individuals applying for reinstatement of their registration
- Beginning in the fall of 2028, ALL applicants will be required to successfully complete an entry-to-practice exam as a registration requirement.
Stay Informed
All further updates, including the exact dates that the exam requirement will be put in place, will be shared on this webpage. The College will also share updates with social work and social service work students and educators.
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Why the College is implementing Entry-to-Practice Exams
Entry-to-practice exams are an additional tool that help ensure applicants have the required knowledge and skills.
Registration requirements that combine:
- educational qualifications, and
- the successful completion of an entry-to-practice exam
are widely considered best practice in health professions across Ontario because they provide a system of checks and balances.
Exam Implementation Timeline
The College is taking a phased approach to implementing exams as a registration requirement.
Phase One: Fall 2027
The following applicants will be required to successfully complete an entry-to-practice exam as a registration requirement beginning in the fall of 2027:
- Those applying through the equivalency stream
- Only equivalency applicants approved in principle for registration will be asked to complete the exam – this will be the last step of the registration process.
- Equivalency applicants who do not meet educational and/or work experience requirements will not be asked to take the exam.
- Those applying for reinstatement, including:
- Previous registrants who have resigned their registration
- Previous registrants whose certificate of registration was revoked for non-payment of fees
- Registrants who have been in the inactive class for five years or more and are re-applying to the general class
- Registrants in the retired class of registration and are re-applying to the general class
- Registrants who have been suspended for non-payment of fees or non-compliance with the CCP for two years or more and apply for reinstatement
Phase Two: Fall 2028
All applicants, including those who have graduated from an accredited social work or social service work program, will be required to successfully complete an entry-to-practice exam as a registration requirement beginning in the fall of 2028.
Current registrants will not be required to take the exam. However, if a current registrant applies for a certificate of registration in a different category of registration (e.g. a social service work registrant applies for a certificate of registration in social work), they will be required to complete the appropriate entry-to-practice exam.
Exam Development – Association of Social Work Boards
The College is working with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the nonprofit organization made up of social work regulatory bodies across North America.
The ASWB develops and administers social work and social service work entry-to-practice exams. They develop the exams through established processes, including regular practice analyses and rigorous question development and review.
The ASWB is currently working on:
- updating the social work exam;
- developing a social service work exam; and
- creating French versions of both exams.
ASWB Student and Educator Resources
The ASWB has a number of resources available for students and educators. More information can be found on their website.
Questions?
Contact the College’s Communications Department: