When you become a social worker, skies the limit. You can choose from several career paths, work with a variety of client populations and work in the public, private or non-profit sector. But how do you become a social worker?
This article will discuss the steps for how to become a social worker in Canada.
Educational Requirements
Depending on the province or territory you live in there are either 3 or 4 levels of social work education: a bachelor’s degree in social work, a master’s degree in social work, a PhD in social work, and in some provinces a diploma in social work or social service work.
Professional Registration through Regulatory Colleges
Contrary to what many people believe, the title social worker and specific social work professional designations are reserved for those who have registered with a social work regulatory body and not dependent on the type or level of education that you hold. In most provinces and territories, social work is a regulated profession and a social work regulatory college in each jurisdiction governs the practice of social work (Canadian Association of Social Workers (n.d.1), the minimum requirements for registration, and the use of protected social worker designations.
To be registered as a social worker in Canada, in regulated provinces or territories, you’ll be required to have a minimum level of education from an accredited social work program. Most provinces and territories recognize bachelor and master level social work programs accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) (n.d.). Regulatory bodies in provinces and territories that recognize diploma programs typically have their own accreditation process for diploma programs. In addition, some provinces require the passing of a licensure or clinical exam to successfully obtain specific professional designations.
In Canada, the following are the minimum requirements for registration for each province and territory:
| Province or Territory | Regulatory College | Registration Minimum Requirements |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Newfoundland and Labrador College of Social Workers | Bachelor degree in Social Work for a RSW designation (House of Assembly Newfoundland and Labrador, 2010, June 23). |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia College of Social Workers | Bachelor degree in Social Work for a RSW designation (Nova Scotia College of Social Workers, n.d.). |
| Prince Edward Island | Prince Edward Island Social Work Registration Board | Bachelor degree in Social Work for a RSW designation (Prince Edward Island Social Work Registration Board, n.d.). |
| New Brunswick | New Brunswick Association of Social Workers | Bachelor degree in Social Work for a RSW designation (New Brunswick Association of Social Work, n.d.). |
| Quebec | Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec | Bachelor degree in Social Work for a RSW designation (Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec, n.d.). |
| Ontario | Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers | Diploma in Social Service Work for a RSSW designation and Bachelor degree in Social Work for a RSW designation (Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, n.d.). |
| Manitoba | Manitoba College of Social Workers | Bachelor degree in Social Work for a RSW designation (Manitoba College of Social Workers, n.d.). |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers | Bachelor degree in Social Work for a RSW designation (Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers, n.d.). |
| Alberta | Alberta College of Social Workers | Diploma in Social Work for a RSW designation (Alberta College of Social Workers, n.d.1.) and Master degree in Social Work with a pass on the Association of Social Work Board’s (ASWB) clinical exam for a RCSW designation (Alberta College of Social Workers, n.d.2). |
| British Columbia | British Columbia College of Social Workers | Bachelor degree in Social Work with a pass on the ASWB’s licensure exam for a RSW designation (British Columbia College of Social Workers, n.d.1) and Master degree in Social Work with a pass on the ASWB’s clinical exam for a RCSW designation (British Columbia College of Social Workers, n.d.2). |
| Northwest Territories | Registrar, Professional Licensing Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services | Diploma in Social Work for a LSW designation and Bachelor degree in Social Work for a RSW designation (Government of the Northwest Territories, Health and Social Services, n.d.). |
| Nunavut: | N/A | No minimum requirement, unregulated territory (Association of Social Workers in Northern Canada, n.d.). |
| Yukon: | N/A | No minimum requirement, unregulated territory (Association of Social Workers in Northern Canada, n.d.). |
How Long Does it Take to Become a Social Worker in Canada
The length of time it takes to become a social worker in Canada depends on the minimum level of education required in each province or territory and which social work designation you want to obtain.
Here’s a breakdown of the typical social work program lengths:
| Social Work Program Type | Length of Program |
| Diploma in Social Work or Social Service Work | 2 Years |
| Bachelor degree in Social Work | 4 Years |
| Master degree in Social Work | 2-3 Years |
| PhD in Social Work | 3-5 years |
To become a social worker in regulated Canadian provinces or territories where diploma programs are recognized, you can receive a social work designation in as little as 2 years. Whereas to obtain a RCSW designation in provinces, where this designation exists, it could take 6 years or more.
International Graduates
As information in this article is based on the Canadian graduate registration route, international graduates may be subjected to different requirements in each province or territory, including the assessment of international credentials. The Canadian Association of Social Workers (n.d.2) has an assessment process for assessing international credentials.
Types of Social Workers in Canada
As a social worker, you have the option to work in various areas in either the public, private and non-profit sector. Below is a list of 22 types of social workers in Canada:
International social work
School social worker
Military and Veterans
Child and Family
Long-term care
Palliative care
Addictions
Criminal justice
Domestic violence
Community development
Homelessness
Rehabilitation social worker
Medical social worker
Management
Policy development
Administration
Research
Academia
Advocacy
Politics
Therapist / Counsellor (To learn more check out How to Become a Therapist in Canada)
Private Practice or Business Owner (To learn more check out How to Start a Private Practice)
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and social workers may be found in other areas than listed above.
Conclusion
Being a social worker comes with a lot of opportunities. But the first step is to become a social worker. How to become a social worker in Canada is to obtain a minimum level of education and get registered with your provincial or territorial regulatory body. As the criteria for registration is province-specific, it’s important to do your research with what you’ll need in order to apply for registration in your province or territory upon graduation.
Disclaimer
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 or legislative changes.
References
Alberta College of Social Workers. (n.d.1) Apply to become a registered social worker. Retrieved from
https://www.acsw.ab.ca/site/registration?nav=sidebar
Alberta College of Social Workers. (n.d.2.) Clinical registry. Retrieved from
https://www.acsw.ab.ca/site/rcsw?nav=sidebar
Association of Social Workers in Northern Canada, (n.d.). Who we are. Retrieved by https://www.socialworknorth.ca/
British Columbia College of Social Workers. (n.d.1.) Applicants with degree from Canada. Retrieved from https://bccsw.ca/applicants-with-degrees-from-canada/
British Columbia College of Social Workers. (n.d.2.) Clinical Class of Registration. Retrieved from
https://bccsw.ca/application-information/registration-categories/clinical-class-of-registration/
Canadian Association of Social Workers (n.d.1) Regulatory Bodies. Retrieved from https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/regulation-association-education/regulatory-bodies
Canadian Association of Social Workers (n.d.2.) Assessment of international Credentials. Retrieved from https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/internationally-educated/assessment-international-credentials
Canadian Association for Social Work Education. (2023, September). Directory of CASWE-ACFTS accredited programs. Retrieved from https://caswe-acfts.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Accreditation-Directory-09-2023.pdf
Government of the Northwest Territories, Health and Social Services. (n.d). Social Work Licence. Retrieved from https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/social-worker-licence
House of Assembly Newfoundland and Labrador. (2010, June 23). Social workers act: 18. (a) Registration. Retrieved from https://www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/statutes/s17-2.htm#18_
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. (n.d). FAQ: Registration Eligibility. Retrieved from https://www.ocswssw.org/applicants/
Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec. (n.d). Becoming a member. Retrieved from https://www.otstcfq.org/becoming-a-member/
Manitoba College of Social Workers. (n.d.) Applicants with a Social Work degree. Retrieved from https://mcsw.ca/join-the-college/
New Brunswick Association of Social Work. (n.d.) Member eligibility FAQ. Retrieved from
https://www.nbasw-atsnb.ca/become-a-member/member-eligibility-faq/
Nova Scotia College of Social Workers, n.d). Canadian BSW/MSW. Retrieved from
https://nscsw.org/applicants/canadian-bswmsw/
Prince Edward Island Social Work Registration Board. (n.d.) Registration process. Retrieved from
http://socialworkpei.ca/register/
Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers. (n.d.) Become a registered member. Retrieved from
https://www.sasw.ca/site/member/registered