Graduates of Social Service Work Programs Outside of Ontario or Other Academic Programs that are not in Social Service Work

What is the equivalency application stream?

The equivalency application stream is for those who do not have a diploma in social service work or have a diploma in social service work from outside Ontario, as well as for those who have a diploma related to the practice of social service work. The College will review an applicant’s education to see if matches (is equivalent to) the content of a social service work diploma from an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology (OCAAT). An applicant’s work experience will also be considered, but it cannot replace the required education.

The College does not provide a list of required courses or recommend specific post-secondary institutions. Applicants who want to take courses to meet the College’s education requirements can contact an academic advisor at an OCAAT institution that offers approved diplomas in social service work.

Who should apply as an equivalency applicant?

 The equivalency application applies to you if you have:

  • A diploma from an Ontario college that is not in social service work but relevant to the practice of social service work.

OR

  • A diploma from a social service work program outside of Ontario.

OR

  • A diploma that is relevant to the practice of social service work.

 Note: Programs from career colleges do not meet the education requirements for registration with the College. Getting more work experience after graduation does not change this rule.

Before starting the application process

  • Read the Equivalency Policy – Social Service Work to understand the requirements and process.
  • Read the Registration Requirements webpage to ensure you meet all registration criteria.
  • Contact the College at equivalency@ocswssw.org for a preliminary review of your educational credentials. Be sure to include:
    • A list of all academic credentials you want to submit for evaluation.
    • Information about your experience performing the role of a social service worker, including whether you were supervised by a social worker or social service worker.
    • An unofficial transcript or third-party credential report, if available.

Academic and experience requirements

An equivalency applicant must meet the following academic and experience requirements:

Education

  • Have a minimum of a diploma from a two-year program at an OCAAT institution, or a diploma equivalent to a diploma from a two-year OCAAT program or a degree from a university program that is at least two years in length or four academic semesters in duration. The total number of instructional hours completed in the program must be at least 1,200 hours.
  • The academic program must be related to the practice of social service work or a closely associated field of study and granted by a post-secondary institution recognized in its own jurisdiction and authorized to grant diplomas or degrees.
  • Demonstrate that their program(s) meet the General Education Standard, the 10 Vocational Learning Outcomes and the 11 Essential Employability Skills required, which are listed in the the Equivalency Policy – Social Service Work.

Experience

  • Have at least one year of experience performing the role of a social service worker, providing direct social service work services to individuals, dyads, families, groups, organizations and communities.

Supervision

  • While performing the role of a social service worker, you must have been supervised for 650 hours by a person holding an accredited degree in social work, or an approved diploma in social service work, and/or a person who is a registered social worker or registered social service worker in Ontario or another Canadian or international jurisdiction where the profession of social service work is regulated. In cases where the profession of social service work is not regulated in the jurisdiction where supervision takes place, the Supervisor must provide evidence that they obtained a social service work diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution. Supervision by another professional does not meet this requirement.

Currency of practice

  • Engaged in the practice of social service work within the five years  before applying to the College or demonstrate that you are competent to perform the role of a social service worker.

Application Process

Apply online through the College’s Online Portal

  • If you are applying for registration with the College for the first time, create an online account. You will need an active email address to create the account. We recommend using a personal (non-work) email address as all future College correspondence will be sent to this email address.
  • If you are a previous applicant or current registrant applying for the other certificate of registration, access the Online Portal with the preferred email address on file at the College
  • Visit the Online Portal webpage for more information on how to create or access your account.

Complete the online application and pay the application fee

  • Once you have created or accessed your Online Portal account, click on the “Apply” tab at the top of the screen and select “Register as a Social Service Worker” then select the “Social Service Work Equivalency Application”.
  • After you submit your application and pay the application fee, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of the application.

Required Documents

The “Documents” section of the online application has all of the documents you need to complete or request.

Transcripts
If you completed your education in Canada or the USA, arrange for your academic institution to send an official transcript directly to the College. Please note:

  • The transcript must have your name as it appears on the College’s application form. If the name on your application is different from the name on your transcripts, you must provide proof of name change (e.g. copy of marriage certificate, change of name certificate or other evidence of legal name change).
  • The College will only accept transcripts sent directly from the academic institution. They can send it by mail, email (equivalency@ocswssw.org) or through third party platforms such as MyCreds™ or Parchment. More information on how transcripts must be sent to the College can be found on the Transcript Requirements webpage.

AND/OR

Third-party credential evaluation report

If you completed your diploma(s) or degree(s) outside Canada or the U.S., you must have your transcripts sent to the World Education Services Canada (WES Canada) or the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS Canada) to be evaluated.

Course descriptions
Applicants must provide an official course description, outline or syllabi for each academic qualification or individual course submitted for evaluation.

  • Applicants must prove that the course descriptions are from the academic institution. For example: copies of academic calendars that include the front cover, copies downloaded from the academic institution’s website where the URL link is visible, course syllabi. The course descriptions must also confirm the name of the academic institution and the year for which they are valid.
  • Applicants will upload course descriptions as part of their application in the Online Portal in PDF format. If you have multiple PDF files, they must be combined into one file. You can combine PDF files using Adobe Acrobat. If you are unable to combine the files, please email them to equivalency@ocswssw.org.   

Length of practice and supervision confirmation form

This form must be completed by the applicant’s social work or social service work supervisor. If the applicant has had more than one social work/social service work supervisor, each supervisor must fill out a separate form.

  • Forward the Length of Practice and Supervision Confirmation Formto the individual(s) who will provide information about your experience in performing the role of a social service worker. The form can be downloaded in the Documents section of the online application.
  • The completed form(s) must be sent directly to the College, not to the applicant. The supervisor can send the form to the College by mail or email equivalency@ocswssw.org.

Evidence of name change

  • Copy of your Change of Name Certificate, Marriage Certificate or other evidence of legal name change (only required if the name you are applying under is different than the name on your supporting documents).

Acceptable Alternatives Documentation Policy

If you are unable to provide the required documents for reasons beyond your control, please review the Acceptable Alternatives to Official Documents Policy. It defines the circumstances in which alternative documents may be considered and outlines the process for requesting consideration under this policy.

Translation of Documents

Documents that are not in English or French must be translated into English or French before they are submitted to the College. Visit the Translation of Documents webpage for more information. Before arranging for translation services for documents, we encourage applicants to contact the College at equivalency@ocswssw.org. We can help applicants ensure they only translate documents that are required for their application.

The College’s review

The College will review applications once they have been submitted and the $100 application fee has been paid. If your application is incomplete or is missing any necessary information or documents, you will be contacted by email.

The review process consists of two steps:

  1. Preliminary Review – An initial screening of the applicant’s academic qualifications to determine their relevance to the practice of social service work. The College will also review the applicant’s experience performing the role of a social service worker.
  1. Evaluation Phase – A comprehensive review of the applicant’s academic qualifications and professional experience to determine whether they are substantially equivalent to the content of an approved diploma in social service work from an OCAAT. 

For more information about the process and possible outcomes at each step, consult the Equivalency Policy – Social Service Work.

Only complete applications will be considered for evaluation. The application is considered complete when:

  • All sections of the application have been filled in.
  • The $100 application fee has been received.
  • All required supporting documents, such as the third-party credential evaluation report, course descriptions and length of practice and supervision confirmation form have been received and approved by the College.

Registration outcomes

Once your application has been reviewed, there are two possible outcomes:

  1. Approved for registration: your application meets all registration requirements and has been approved. You will be issued a certificate of registration once you pay the registration fee.
  2. Refused: your application does not meet one or more registration requirements. You will receive an email with a written decision outlining the reasons for refusal. If your application is refused, you have the option to request a review by the Registration Appeals Committee. Visit the Requests for Review by the Registration Appeals Committee to learn more about the review process.

Note: Applicants whose application was unsuccessful and who have new or additional relevant information that was not included in their original application should contact the College for guidance on how to proceed before requesting a review by the Registration Appeals Committee.

Processing times

Applications from internationally trained applicants

Applications from internationally trained applicants are evaluated within three months after the College has received all the required documents. This is in accordance with the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act (FARPACTA). More information can be found on the FARPACTA webpage.

Applications from applicants trained in Canada and USA

Applications from those who completed their education in Canada or the USA will be evaluated within a minimum of eight months after the College has received all the required documents. Please note that the College is experiencing a high volume of applications, which may impact the timelines for evaluation.

The application process can be delayed if the College has not received all of the required documents from you or from a third party on your behalf (e.g. academic institution, employer, etc.). Visit the Factors That Can Potentially Delay Application Processing Times webpage for more information. College for guidance on how to proceed before requesting a review by the Registration Appeals Committee.

QUESTIONS?  

Contact the College’s Registration and Renewals Department: