Under the Social Work and Social Service Work Act , its bylaws and the Business Corporations Act, registrants of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) are allowed to incorporate for the purpose of practising social work or social service work. To do so, College registrants must follow all conditions and requirements in both the Business Corporations Act and the College bylaws (Bylaw No. 46) which includes obtaining a Certificate of Authorization from the College.
Important Note: The College does not provide any legal, accounting, tax or financial advice related to the professional corporations and the issuance or renewal of Certificates of Authorization. We recommend that registrants seek professional advice to decide whether to practise social work or social service work through a professional corporation.
Overview of professional corporations
The Business Corporations Act allows a number of regulated professionals, including social workers and social service workers, to incorporate their practices in Ontario.
For further information about professional corporations, please visit the ServiceOntario website.
How do I establish a professional corporation?
College registrants who want to incorporate must first apply for a professional corporation name and incorporate with the Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (MPBSD). These steps must be completed before applying for a Certificate of Authorization with the College.
STEP ONE: Apply for a professional corporation name
Apply for a professional corporation name with the MPBSD. You must follow the Business Corporations Act naming convention.
Naming convention for a professional corporation
The name of the professional corporation must include the surname of one or more shareholders of the corporation and may also include the shareholder’s given name, one or more of the shareholder’s initials or a combination of given name and initials. The surname(s) and given name(s) included in the name of the professional corporation must match the name(s) available on the registrant’s profile on the Online Register. Please note that all shareholders must be registered with the College.
Additionally, the name must include “Social Work Professional Corporation” / “société professionelle de travail social” or “Social Service Work Professional Corporation”/ “société professionelle de techniques de travail social”. The College will confirm if it has any objections to the proposed name.
If a corporation practises under a name other than its professional corporate name, they must provide evidence to the College that the corporation has registered the practice name under the Business Names Act.
If a professional corporation practises under a name other than its corporate name, they must include its corporate name in all written, electronic and other communications. For example: ABC Counselling Services (J. Doe Social Work Professional Corporation).
STEP TWO: Incorporate with the MPBSD
After choosing a professional corporation name, registrants must then incorporate their business with the MPBSD. For help incorporating with the MPBSD, contact the Companies Branch Help line at 416-314-8880 or toll free at 1-800-361-3223 or at www.mgs.gov.on.ca.
Apply or renew your professional corporation’s Certificate of Authorization through the College’s Online Portal. For detailed instructions, please click here.
All the required documents for application or renewal are available for download in the Online Portal.
More information
For legal or accounting questions, College registrants are advised to seek advice from an appropriate professional. The College does not provide any legal, accounting, tax or financial advice.