No Social Work Degree or Non-Accredited Social Work Degree

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 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 supervisor. If the applicant has had more than one social work supervisor, each supervisor must fill out a separate form.

• Forward the Length of Practice and Supervision Confirmation Form to the individual(s) who will provide information about your experience in performing the role of a social 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).

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 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.

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.

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 Registration Appeals webpage 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.

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.