Registration Requirements

Applicants must meet specific academic requirements as outlined under each application route.

Social work applicants must:

• have a degree in social work from a Canadian social work program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education, or a degree from a Canadian social work program or alternative program that has been approved by the College as equivalent;

OR

• have a degree from a social work program or an alternative program from outside Canada that has been approved by the College as equivalent;

OR

• have a combination of academic qualifications and experience performing the role of a social worker that the College determines is equivalent to the qualifications required for a degree from an accredited Canadian social work program.

Social service work applicants must:

• have a diploma in social service work from a social service work program in Ontario at a College of Applied Arts and Technology;

OR

• have a diploma from a program in Ontario at a College of Applied Arts and Technology that has been approved by the College as equivalent to a social service work program;

OR

• have a diploma from a social service work program or an alternative program from outside Ontario that has been approved by the College as equivalent;

OR

• have a combination of academic qualifications and experience performing the role of a social service worker that the College determines is equivalent to the qualifications required for a diploma in social service work from an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology.

Applicants who completed their academic qualifications more than five years before they apply to the College must demonstrate currency of practice. This means they must have practised social work or social service work within the five years before applying or demonstrate to the College that they are  competent to perform the role of a social worker or social service worker.

Applicants must provide their current and past employment information so that the College can determine if they have practised social work or social service work within the last five years. More information can be found on the scope of practice webpages: 

• social work  
• social service work 

If an applicant has not practised social work or social service work within the five years before applying but meet all other registration requirements, the College may issue them a certificate of registration with terms, conditions, and limitations. These may include a period of supervised practice, for example. 

NOTE: The currency requirement does not apply to applicants who have obtained their qualifications within the five years before the date of application.

Only Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada can register with the College, unless authorized under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

If the applicant is authorized under the Act, they must submit a copy of  their valid work or study permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada with their application.

Note: Applicants are strongly advised to start the application process after they have obtained the work or study permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Otherwise, their application can be delayed.

Applicants must disclose any offence that is relevant to their suitability to practise social work or social service work competently and safely.  This includes disclosing:

• Any current proceeding in relation to professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity (for example, a complaint or discipline proceeding) in any jurisdiction at another regulatory body.
• Any findings of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity in any jurisdiction at another regulatory body.
• Any findings of guilt in relation to criminal or other offences.
• Any findings of guilt under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) or Food and Drugs Act (Canada).

Having a finding will not automatically disqualify an applicant from registering with the College. Each finding is dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants must also make a declaration that based on their past and present conduct they:

1. do not have any physical or mental condition or disorder that could affect their ability to practise social work or social service work in a safe manner.
2. will practise social work or social service work with decency, integrity, and honesty and in accordance with the law.
3. have sufficient knowledge, skill, and judgment to practise social work or social service work.

Vulnerable Sector Check

As of October 1, 2025, the registration requirements for all new College applicants will include submitting a vulnerable sector check. Including a vulnerable sector check as a registration requirement is an additional tool to safeguard the public from potential harm.

Visit the Vulnerable Sector Check webpage for more information about this new registration requirement.

All applicants must be able to speak and write either English or French with reasonable fluency. Applicants who do not have reasonable fluency in English or French must take a language proficiency test(s) that is approved by the College and achieve the required test scores.

Applicants are responsible for all test costs and for arranging the test results to be forwarded from the testing agency to the College at registration@ocswssw.org.

The College will not accept test results from a language proficiency test that was completed more than two years before applying to the College.

 ENGLISH Language Proficiency Testing

The below English language proficiency testing systems are approved by the College. Applicants must achieve the test result scores below:

1. TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT)

Overall: 92, Writing: 22, Speaking: 26, Listening: 22, Reading: 22.

2. IELTS Academic

Minimum score of no less than 7 in each component: reading, listening, writing, speaking.

3. IELTS General

Minimum score of no less than 7 in each component: reading, listening, writing, speaking.

4. CELPIP General 

Minimum score of no less than 7 in each component: reading, listening, writing, speaking.

5. PTE Core

Minimum score of no less than CLB 7 or as described below:

• Listening comprehension: 60-70
• Reading comprehension: 60-68
• Verbal skills: 68-75
• Written skills: 69-78

For information on French written and spoken fluency, please visit the French webpage.

Applicants must pay two fees:

• Application fee

The application fee of $100 must be paid at the time of application. This fee is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the registration process.

• Registration fee

The registration fee must be paid when the application is approved for registration.

FEE SCHEDULE

General Registration Fees	Application Fee: $100 (Non-refundable)
	Registration Fee: $400
	Total Amount: $500
Registration Fees for New Graduates Note: this fee does not apply to individuals who have applied to the College through the equivalency stream.	Application Fee: $100 (Non-refundable)
	Registration Fee: $300
	Total Amount: $400
Registration Fees for Electronic Practice	Application Fee:  $100 (Non-refundable)
	Registration Fee: $50
	Total Amount: $150

New Graduate Fee Exemption

Applicants who submit their College application by December 31^st of the year they graduated are eligible for a reduced  fee.  

For the first two years immediately following registration, these new graduates pay a reduced annual renewal fee of $300. However, if they do not pay the annual fee on time the first year, the fee reduction will be removed for the second year.

Pro-Rated Registration Fee

The College’s registration fee is payable once an application approved. The registration fee is pro-rated based on the quarter in which the application is approved.

General Class Pro-Rated Registration Fees
Quarter When Application is Approved for Registration	Registration Fee
First quarter (January 1-March 31)	$400
Second quarter (April 1-June 30)	$300
Third quarter (July 1-September 30)	$200
Fourth quarter (October 1-December 31)	$100

New Graduates Pro-Rated Registration Fees
Quarter When Application is Approved for Registration	Registration Fee
First quarter (January 1-March 31)	$300
Second quarter (April 1-June 30)	$225
Third quarter (July 1-September 30)	$150
Fourth quarter (October 1-December 31)	$75

If an applicant does not meet one or more registration requirements, their application will not be approved. If this happens, they can request a review by the Registration Appeals Committee. For more information, visit the Requests for Review by the Registration Appeals Committee webpage.