College Updates

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) is continuing its work with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to implement entry-to-practice exams for applicants. As communicated earlier this year, we will be taking a phased approach to exam implementation. Although we will begin implementing exams in late 2027 for certain applicant groups, the exam requirement for applicants who have graduated from an accredited social work or social service work program will begin in the fall…

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Access to digital mental health platforms has expanded across Ontario, and it can be overwhelming to decide who to seek support from. Be sure that you are connecting with a professional who is not only supportive, but also qualified, ethical and accountable. The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) can help verify that your provider is registered and qualified to practise. Ontarians can confirm their practitioner's credentials and registration status, and…

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On Friday, June 19, 2026, the College held its Council elections in Electoral District No. 3. The Election Committee has now declared the following candidates elected to serve on the College Council for a three-year term, beginning September 2026. Election results The following registrants of the College are the candidates who received the greatest number of votes in the RSW and RSSW categories, respectively: Tarak Ahmed, RSW Nicole Withers, RSW Denyse Clara, RSSW Yatisha Natasha Donalds,…

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The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) is pleased to provide you with the following updates: No increase to registration and renewal fees for 2027 Reminder on 2026 CCP Required Resources No increase to registration and renewal fees for 2027 During its meeting on June 10, 2026, College Council approved the recommendation of the Finance and Audit Committee that there be no increase to the registration and renewal fees in 2027.…

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May is Mental Health Month, which makes it a good time to do something many of us put off: check in honestly on how we're doing and if we’re getting the support we need. For many Ontarians, mental health is a complicated subject. When someone finally takes the step to reach out, it matters significantly that the professional they are working with is qualified, ethical and genuinely accountable. This is where registered social workers and…

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The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) is working with the consulting firm Rigor as part of a comprehensive review of its Continuing Competence Program (CCP). The goal of this project is to better understand how registrants practise across diverse settings and sectors, identify emerging practice contexts and variations in scope, and ensure that the CCP remains current, supportive, effective and responsive. The CCP has traditionally been based on an…

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The College is pleased to offer the following resources to support you in your work and practice: Exploring practice, together – Join us for upcoming Coffee with the College sessions Join us for the next dates in our interactive series, Coffee with the College. Hosted by the Professional Practice Team, these sessions offer a forum to explore common ethical and practice issues in a thoughtful, dialogue-based environment. Registrants can engage directly with staff through questions…

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The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) is continuing its work with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to implement entry-to-practice exams for applicants. We are now at the planning stage where we are in a position to share when exams will begin as a registration requirement. Although we will begin implementing exams in late 2027 for certain applicant groups, the exam requirement for applicants who have graduated from an…

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The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) is collaborating with the consulting firm Rigor as part of a comprehensive review of its Continuing Competence Program (CCP). The goal of this project is to develop a clearer understanding of how registrants practise across diverse settings and sectors, identify emerging practices and variations in scope and ensure that the CCP remains current, supportive and effective. The research phase of the project will run…

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The College is pleased to provide registrants with the following information to support their practice. In this update: 2026 CCP required resources NEW - Sexual Abuse Prevention Program (SAPP) SAPP information sessions 2026 CCP Required Resources The Continuing Competence Program (CCP) is a mandatory requirement for all College registrants except those in the retired class of registration. This includes registrants who are not currently practising, those in the inactive class and registrants on maternity, parental or sick leave.…

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The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) is pleased to share that the 2025 Educational Forum is now available to watch by visiting the College website or YouTube channel. The College’s Director of Professional Practice, Christina Van Sickle, MSW, RSW, facilitated a panel discussion entitled The Greatest Risk Requires the Greatest Competence – Private Practice and Psychotherapy. The expert panel explored what competencies are needed to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy, and why…

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