If you’re a social worker in Alberta, there’s an important change coming your way with respect to the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) continuing competence program. The Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) is updating its continuing competence program, and the familiar Category A, B, and C model is being retired.
Starting in 2026, the previous ACSW category A, B, and C continuing education model will be retired and it will be replaced by new two-category system instead: Continuing Education and Professional Engagement.
But what does this mean for your annual competency requirements? And where do those traditional ACSW Category A credits fit in now?
This article breaks down the new categories, how they work, and how they compare to the old ACSW category A, B, and C continuing education structure.
Please be note that the information presented in this article was gathered from a live webinar hosted by the ACSW on December 8, 2025 regarding changes to their competency program. Please advised that this article is not written on behalf of or for ACSW and it has not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by ACSW in any way. See full disclaimer below.
The New ACSW Competence Program Categories
Continuing Education
The Continuing Education category focuses on learning activities that enhance your professional knowledge and skills, directly tying into your annual learning goals and objectives as a social worker.
Examples include (but not limited to):
- Attending workshops, webinars, and conferences
- Completing formal courses or training
- Reading research papers or conducting research
- Program, policy and/or practice development
- Developing a new course, workshop, or educational opportunity for others
- Reading books and/or listening to podcasts that align with your learning goals and objectives
- Indigenous ceremonies and cultural experiences (ACSW, 2025, December 8).
Professional Engagement
The Professional Engagement category focuses on your participation and contribution to the profession. The goal is to support social workers in building strong professional connections, combating isolation, and enhancing meaningful professional conversations with like-minded colleagues. This is where you collaborate and connect with other social workers.
Examples include (but not limited to):
- Providing clinical supervision, consultation, or mentorship of colleagues
- Participating in professional committees
- Attending and participating in professional meetups, networking events, discussion groups or peer circles with other social workers and professionals.
- Teaching or providing education to others
- Participating in case reviews and/or consultation groups
- Participating in professional association groups and/or regulatory body volunteerism (ACSW, 2025, December 8).
Credit Hours Required
Due to the change in category names, the minimum number of hours required per category has also changed.
According to the ACSW, the new breakdown for credit hours are as follows:
- Total annual requirement: 40 credit hours per calendar year
- Minimum per category:
- 15 hours in Continuing Education and
- 15 hours in Professional Engagement
- Flexible hours: The remaining 10 hours can be distributed between either category based on your learning goals and objectives.
Under the new continuing competence program structure, the above requirements apply to all registrants regardless of whether you work full-time, part-time, are on temporary leave of absence, or whether you’re on the provisional, general, or clinical registry.
For those who require an exemption for any reason may apply for an accommodation or an exemption under the ACSWs new Continuing Competence Accommodation and Exception Policy.
Comparison of New Categories to the Old ACSW Category A, B, C Model
In this section, I’ll break down the differences and similarities between the new category structure from the old ACSW category A, B, and C structure.
What’s Different:
- Simplicity: The new system streamlines competency tracking into just two easy-to-understand categories, making it easier to document your activities accordingly. You no longer need to determine what fits into each lettered category — instead, you can focus on obtaining credit hour for two straightforward categories.
- Documentation Process: The ACSW no longer requires that registrants upload their credits to the platform each year. Instead, it’s your responsibility to maintain credit hour documentation in a personal portfolio in case you’re ever audited.
- Universal Requirements: All ACSW registrants, regardless of status or registry, are required to obtain 40 hours per calendar year. However, the ACSW does have an accommodation request process should you require an exemption for any reason.
- No More Carry-Over: ACSW will no longer provide a “carry-over” credit hour process. This means you must obtain the full 40 credit hours each calendar year and can no longer bank additional hours accrued in one year to apply to the next.
What’s Similar:
- Commitment to Professional Growth: Both models require ongoing learning and engagement to maintain competence and ethical practice standards.
- Diverse Learning Options: You can still use a mix of formal and informal activities to meet your requirements — they’re just organized differently under the new categories.
- Annual Tracking: Social workers will continue to track their activities each year. Note that regardless of your registration cycle, the ACSW’s continuing competence program considers January to December as the tracking year. So, if your renewal date is in April, July, or October any given year, while your registration date will stay the same, the ACSW continuing competence program will be January to December.
Why the Change?
According to the ACSW, their new continuing competence program structure aims to better capture the full range of professional development and engagement that social workers experience in their practice. It moves away from a checklist mentality and encourages more meaningful reflection on your learning journey and contributions to the profession. The simplified structure recognizes that professional growth isn’t just about accumulating hours — it’s about building competence through both education and active engagement with your professional community.
Conclusion
The transition from the ACSW Category A, B, and C model to the new Continuing Education and Professional Engagement system represents a thoughtful evolution in how Alberta social workers track and demonstrate their professional competency. While the 40-hour annual requirement remains consistent, the new two-category structure offers greater clarity and reflects a more holistic view of professional development.
As you prepare for this change in 2026, remember that the fundamentals remain the same: your commitment to ongoing learning, active engagement with your professional community, and dedication to ethical and competent practice. The new system simply provides a clearer and more intuitive framework for documenting that growth.
Start familiarizing yourself with these categories now, maintain good documentation habits, and remember that both formal education and professional collaboration are essential components of your development as a social worker.
If you have questions about how specific activities fit into the new categories or need to request an accommodation, we recommend reaching out directly to the ACSW for guidance as you navigate this transition.
Currently, ACSW has a Consultation Service set up so that registered social workers can connect with ACSW staff for a consultation. In addition, until January 2026, the ACSW are holding live webinars to share the new changes within their continuing competence program.
If you’re looking for a social work clinical supervisor, check out the Canadian Clinical Supervision Therapist Directory.
References:
ACSW. (2025, December 8). Competence program changes information for registrants. Live webinar hosted by the ACSW. ACSW’s On-demand webinar available for review at https://acsw.ab.ca/changes-to-acsws-continuing-competence-program-join-us-to-learn-more/
Disclaimer #1
Please be advised that this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be professional advice. Please note that information in this article is only relevant up to the date it was written and is subject to change depending on regulatory made by the ACSW.
Disclaimer #2
Please be note that the information presented in this article was an interpretive review from this writer’s attendance at a live webinar hosted by the ACSW on December 8, 2025 regarding changes to their competency program.
Disclaimer #3
Please be advised that this article is not written on behalf of or for ACSW and it has not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by ACSW in any way. This is an interpretive article of specific components of the ACSW continuing competence program requirements, and should not be considered as advice with respect to ACSW continuing competence program. If you have any questions about ACSW’s continuing competence, please contact the ACSW directly.