Licensure — social work (Ontario)
Hold a certificate of registration from the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Three classes are prescribed for social work — General, Inactive, Retired — and three separately for SOCIAL SERVICE WORK, which is a distinct regulated profession under the same college (s. 1). GENERAL CERTIFICATE, SOCIAL WORK (s. 7(1)) — the applicant must produce documentation satisfactory to the Registrar showing either: a degree in social work from a programme accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), or a Canadian programme Council has approved as equivalent; or a degree from a social work or equivalent programme offered OUTSIDE Canada that Council has approved as equivalent to a CASWE-accredited programme; or a COMBINATION of academic qualifications and experience performing the role of a social worker that the Registrar determines is substantially equivalent to the qualifications required for a CASWE-accredited degree. The applicant must also have passed any social work examinations set or approved by Council. ALL CLASSES (s. 5(2)) additionally require: disclosure — at application and at issuance — of every finding of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity and every current such proceeding, in any jurisdiction and including findings by non-statutory professional bodies; disclosure of every finding of guilt for a criminal offence, an offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act or the Food and Drugs Act, or any other offence relevant to suitability to practise; past and present conduct affording reasonable grounds to believe the applicant has no physical or mental condition affecting safe practice, will practise with decency, integrity and honesty and in accordance with the law, and has sufficient knowledge, skill and judgment; reasonable fluency in speaking and writing English or French; and Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, or authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to practise. A General certificate holder must, whenever the College requires, provide evidence satisfactory to the College of continuing competence to practise (s. 9).
“7. (1) In addition to the requirements set out in sections 4 and 5, the following are registration requirements for a general certificate of registration for social work to be issued under subsection 18 (1) of the Act: 1. The applicant must produce documentation satisfactory to the Registrar that shows that the applicant, i. has obtained a degree in social work from a social work program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education […] iii. has a combination of academic qualifications and experience performing the role of a social worker that the Registrar determines is substantially equivalent to the qualifications required for a degree in social work from a social work program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education.” — O. Reg. 383/00 (Registration), Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998 (consolidation period December 17, 2025; e-Laws currency date August 12, 2026)