Career Map: Social Worker and Social Service Worker

Download this Career Map PDF

This Career Map was developed in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Labour Market Integration Unit, in March 2008. The information was accurate at time of writing. Please refer to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers website for the most up-to-date information.

Copyright to this Career Map is held jointly by the Queen's Printer for Ontario and The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers © 2008. This Career Map may be used or reproduced by any third party for non-commercial, not-for-profit purposes, provided that no fee, payment or royalty of any kind shall be charged by the third party for any further use or reproduction of the Career Map by any person. Any proposed commercial or for-profit use or reproduction of this Career Map requires a written license from the Queen's Printer for Ontario and The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Social workers and social service workers are both regulated professionals in the province of Ontario. The term regulated means that people who represent themselves as these professionals must become a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), which is the provincial regulatory body. You can only call or present yourself as a social worker, registered social worker, social service worker or registered social service worker if you are registered with the College.

In this Career Map, the terms “Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers,” “OCSWSSW,” “College” and “provincial regulatory body” all mean the same thing.

The OCSWSSW was established under Ontario’s Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998, which became law on August 15, 2000. The main mandate of the OCSWSSW is to protect the public interest with respect to the delivery of social work and social service work services, while promoting high standards of practice for the professions. A 21-member Council manages and administers College affairs. The College Registrar/CEO runs its day-to-day operations, with the assistance of staff. Because the College is a self-regulating organization, the government is not involved and does not intervene.

Key Organization for Social Workers and Social Service Workers

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) is the provincial regulatory body for two distinct professions in Ontario – social work and social service work. It governs its members in accordance with the professions’ Act, Regulations, Policies and Bylaws. It is not an academic institution. It neither offers academic courses nor grants degrees or diplomas. This Career Map uses the short forms “OCSWSSW,” “College” and “provincial regulatory body” interchangeably. You can apply for membership throughout the year. Further information is at www.ocswssw.org.

Organizations for Social Workers

The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is the professional body that:

• Plays a national leadership role in strengthening and advancing the social work profession and speaking for the profession
• Assesses academic qualifications of non-Canadian social workers who wish to practise in Canada
• Is a federation of nine provincial and one territorial social work organizations, including the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)

Further information is at www.casw-acts.ca.

The Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW), a voluntary, provincial, non-profit bilingual professional body, represents registered social workers in Ontario. Further information is at www.oasw.org.

The Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE-ACFTS), formerly the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, is a voluntary national charitable association of university faculties, schools and departments that offer professional education in social work at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels. Further information is at http://www.caswe-acfts.ca/en/.

The Internationally Educated Social Work (IESW) Professionals Bridging Program is a unique one-year certificate program at Ryerson University’s G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education in Toronto. It is not compulsory for internationally trained social workers, but does provide an excellent introduction to the profession in Canada.

Roles and Responsibilities

Social workers in Ontario are university graduates of a social work program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education, or CASWE (formerly known as the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work). They have achieved an undergraduate Bachelor of Social Work degree (B.S.W., which takes four years) or a Master of Social Work degree (M.S.W., which takes another one or two years) or both.

They are generally referred to as “social workers” or “registered social workers.” They might also be referred to as co-ordinators of social work, medical social workers, psychiatric social workers or social work supervisors.

According to the College’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, social workers assess, diagnose, treat and evaluate individual, interpersonal and societal problems. They use social work knowledge, skills, interventions and strategies to help individuals, pairs, families, groups, organizations and communities achieve optimum psychosocial and social functioning.

Social workers help individuals, families, groups and communities make the most of their individual and collective well-being. They help people develop their skills and their ability to use their own resources and those of the community to resolve individual and personal problems, and also help society as a whole deal with broader social issues such as poverty, unemployment and domestic violence.

Under Ontario’s Health Care Consent Act, 1996, social workers who belong to the College are authorized to be evaluators who can determine if a person can make his or her own decision on whether to be admitted to a long term care or other such facility. Social workers can also assess whether a person needs a personal assistance service, such as help with eating or bathing.

Social workers who belong to the College are authorized, under the Substitute Decisions Act, to conduct capacity assessments, provided they comply with other requirements set out in the Substitute Decisions Act and its regulations. Capacity assessments are legally-binding appraisals of whether a person is capable of managing property (such as bank accounts) or performing personal care.

Social service workers in Ontario have achieved a diploma in social service work from a College of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario or a program the College has deemed to be equivalent.

They are generally known as “social service workers” or “registered social service workers.” They might also be known as Aboriginal outreach workers, addictions workers, behavioural aides, child and youth workers, community workers, community development workers, community service workers, crisis intervention workers, developmental service workers, drop-in centre workers, family service workers, financial assistance workers, group home workers, human service(s) counsellors, income maintenance officers, life skills instructors, mental health workers, rehabilitation workers, veteran services officers, welfare and compensation officers, women's shelter supervisors and youth workers.

According to the College’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, these professionals assess, treat and evaluate individual, interpersonal and societal problems. They use social service work knowledge, skills, interventions and strategies to help individuals, pairs, families, groups, organizations and communities achieve optimum social functioning.

Social service workers administer and implement many different types of social assistance programs and community services and help their clients deal with personal and social problems. They maintain legal and ethical standards, determine the needs and resources of individuals, families, groups, and communities and help their clients achieve their goals and meet their needs. Social service workers also analyze current social policy, relevant legislation and political, cultural, and/or economic systems in order to develop and implement effective plans of action.

What to Do if You have Earned Your Academic Qualifications and/or are Representing Yourself as a Social Worker or Social Service Worker in a Country Other than Canada

Before You Immigrate

Social Workers

Assuming you are eligible for immigration to Canada and that you are already representing yourself as a social worker in your home country, you will need to demonstrate to the Ontario provincial regulatory body that you have achieved the academic qualifications required for membership in the College. This is necessary no matter how much experience you may have in the field of social work in your home country.

1. If you have attained a degree in social work in a country other than Canada or the United States

The College requires verification that your social work academic qualifications are equivalent to a B.S.W. or M.S.W. degree from an accredited social work program at a Canadian university. To this end, you will need to contact the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) and apply for an evaluation of your social work credentials. At your request, the CASW will send your evaluation results directly to the College. You can download the For Evaluation of Foreign Social Work Credentials kit from the CASW website, or request a copy of this application kit from the CASW by emailing casw@casw-acts.ca. Alternatively, send a letter asking for an evaluation of your social work credentials to:

The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW)
383 Parkdale Avenue, Suite 402
Ottawa, ON K1Y 4R4
Canada

According to the CASW, you will get a letter back acknowledging receipt of your request for the evaluation of your social work credentials for their Canadian equivalency, as well as an application form to fill in and instructions on what to send to the CASW.

You will need to complete the following documents, and send them back to the CASW, at the above address:

• A filled-in application form. This will include:
  
  
  • The reasons why you want to be evaluated.
  • Confirmation that you have completed a university program in social work, i.e. the academic background of your credentials, including the academic institutions from which you graduated.
• Photocopies (in English or French) of:
  
  
  • Your official university transcripts, including a record of the courses you took and the grades you obtained. These must be the original forms, signed and sealed by the academic institution’s Dean or Director of the School or Faculty of Social Work.
  • Social work certificate(s) or diplomas(s) obtained.
  • Social work course descriptions (from university syllabus or other official document), as well as descriptions of courses or experience necessary to meet admission requirements.
  • Social work field practice description (from university syllabus or other official document), including number of hours of field practice.
  • Proof of membership in professional social work associations(s) from another country (if applicable).
• Fees. A money order or certified cheque in Canadian funds payable to the Canadian Association of Social Workers (non-refundable). At time of writing, this fee, which covers the professional assessment process and association administrative costs, was two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00). Contact the CASW to ensure that the fee is still the same when you apply.
• Verification of your degree. You’ll need to contact the academic/ educational institution that you attended and ask the Dean or Director of the School or Faculty of Social Work at which you studied to fill in and sign a Verification Form confirming that you successfully completed the degree(s) indicated and by when. They will need to send this Form, along with your original (not photocopied) transcripts directly to the CASW (via Canada Post).

If any of these documents need to be translated into English or French, you will need to arrange for and cover the cost of certifying the translation and sending in the photocopied or original documents, as required above.

The CASW will evaluate your application on its own merit to determine if you have academic qualifications equivalent to a B.S.W. or M.S.W. degree from an accredited social work program at a Canadian university.

It will generally take four to five weeks after the CASW receives your fee and all these required documents for the CASW to send you an official letter stating whether or not, in its opinion, your qualifications are equivalent to a Canadian degree in social work. The CASW office will keep a copy of this official letter for up to five years.

If your academic qualifications are equivalent, make sure the CASW sends a letter to the College when you apply for membership in the College. You may also need a copy of this letter when you seek employment in Ontario.

If your academic qualifications are not evaluated by the CASW as equivalent to a Canadian social work degree, the CASW will tell you the reasons why and explain how you can request a review of this decision. You can appeal this decision in writing to the CASW President, within three months of being informed. You will need to provide the reasons why you feel you are qualified as well as additional information, depending on the basis of the initial decision. The CASW President (or designate) will review your file and the reason for not granting equivalence and determine if an assessment by a third party is warranted. You will receive feedback on the process, and you will be informed if it is considered necessary to have a third party assessment of your complaint.

If you feel you have equivalency to a Canadian M.S.W. but the CASW only considers your academic qualifications equivalent to a Canadian B.S.W., you must ask for a review of this decision, in a letter to the Executive Director of the CASW, within six months of being informed. You will need to provide the reasons why you feel you are qualified as well as additional information, depending on the basis of the initial decision. The Executive Director may ask the evaluator to review the rating, taking into consideration the additional information, or request a review by a third party.

You may still be eligible to apply for membership in the provincial regulatory body even if the CASW has not evaluated your social work academic qualifications as equivalent to a social work degree from an accredited Canadian social work program. Should this be your situation, email, fax or call the College to discuss this further.

2. If you have attained a university degree from a social work program not evaluated by the CASW as equivalent to a Canadian B.S.W. or M.S.W. or you practised social work in your country but do not have social work academic credentials

You may still be eligible to apply for membership in the College. Read more on the College website or email, fax or call the College for further information.

Social Service Workers

If you are applying for registration in the College but you did not receive a diploma in social service work from a program at an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology, you may still be eligible to apply for membership in the College. Read more on the College website or email, fax or call the College for further information.

Once You Arrive in Canada

Attaining Your Academic Qualifications

Social Workers

Many Canadian universities welcome international students. In addition, some Canadian universities provide additional training to students from foreign countries so that they can qualify to become registered social workers in Canada. You can write directly to the academic institution's Office of Admissions (for undergraduate programs) or Office of Graduate Admissions (for graduate programs) and ask for detailed application information and forms. The Office of Admissions will advise you on your documentation, translation, and visa requirements. You can get a listing of accredited Canadian schools of social work from the Canadian Association for Social Work Education or contact the Canadian Association for Social Work Education at 613-792-1953.

Social Service Workers

Many Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario welcome international students. If you wish to become an international student in an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology, you can write directly to the institution's Office of Admissions and ask for detailed application information and forms. The Office of Admissions will advise you on your documentation, translation, and visa requirements. Go to the College website for links to social service work programs in Ontario offered at one of Ontario’s Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology.

Applying for Registration to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers

In Ontario, you can only represent yourself as a social worker, registered social worker, social service worker or registered social service worker once you have registered with and become a member of the provincial regulatory body, i.e. the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).

Once you become a member of the College and therefore a registered social worker, you are entitled to call yourself and/or use the title social worker/ registered social worker (or the French equivalent) and/or the designation RSW or TSI after your name in documentation related to your practice of social work.

Once you become a member of the College and therefore a registered social service worker, you are entitled to call yourself and/or use the title social service worker/registered social service worker (or the French equivalent) and/or the designation RSSW or TTSI in connection with your practice of social service work.

To apply for registration in the College, visit the College website and download the application form and registration guide.

Alternatively, you can telephone (416-972-9882 or toll-free in Canada:
1-877-828-9380), fax (416-972-1512) or e-mail (registration@ocswssw.org) the College. A College staff person can complete your request together with you on the telephone.

If you wish to apply for registration in both the social work category and the social service work category, you will need to complete two separate application forms and submit two application fees. Only one registration fee is required. You can download the appropriate application forms from the College website, or call, email or fax the College to request two applications and two registration guides.

The registration requirements and fees for membership in the College may change. Visit the College website for the most current information, or email, fax or call the College. All applicants are subject to the entry to practice requirements in place at the time of the application.

The College Application Form asks you to provide the following information:

• Your academic qualifications: You are responsible to arrange verification of your academic qualifications to be sent directly to the College. In most cases, this verification will be the letter from the CASW about the evaluation they completed on your social work credentials. Graduates from U.S.A. social work programs or graduates from programs that are not social work programs must ensure that original transcripts, with grades, are sent directly from the academic institution to the College. Please contact the College if there is a problem with your academic qualifications being sent to the College. The College will not accept a fax, email, photocopy or a copy of these documents sent by you.

For social workers who attained social work credentials internationally (except the U.S.A.): You will need to contact the Canadian Association of Social Workers to arrange to have your social work credentials evaluated. This evaluation must prove to the College that you have achieved academic qualifications equivalent to those you would have attained in a social work degree program accredited by the CASWE.

For social workers who attained a social work degree in the United States. If you have graduated from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in the United States, the College considers you to have most likely achieved the equivalent academic qualifications that you would have attained in a CASWE-accredited social work degree. Visit the Council on Social Work Education website to find out if your American university’s social work program is accredited by CSWE.

For social workers who did not attain a social work degree from an accredited Canadian social work program or do not have a social work degree from an accredited U.S.A. social work program, or do not have an evaluation of their social work degree from the Canadian Association of Social Workers, you may still be eligible to apply for registration in the College. Visit the College website or email, fax or telephone the College to discuss your situation.

For social service workers who did not attain a social service work diploma from a social service work program in Ontario: If you attained academic qualifications from outside Ontario or attained academic qualifications which are not in social service work but are from a College of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario, visit the College website or fax, email or call the College.

The Application Form also asks for:

• Contact information, such as your name(s), home address, business address and academic qualifications.
• Language information: You will need to answer “yes” or “no” to the following questions:
  
  
  • Is English your primary language of communication?
  • Is French your primary language of communication?
  • Was English the language of instruction for your social work or social service work education?
  • Was French the language of instruction for your social work or social service work education?
  • Do you provide social work services or social service work services in English?
  • Do you provide social work services or social service work services in French?

  If your answer is “no” to all of the above questions, you must demonstrate to the College that you can speak and write either English or French with reasonable fluency. You must take, pay for and forward to the College a written language proficiency evaluation from one of the following testing agencies, demonstrating that you received at least the score indicated. You will need to complete this language proficiency evaluation within the two years, immediately following the date the application is received at the College.

  The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL and Test of Spoken English, or TSE.
  You’ll need a paper-based score of at least 600 and a TSE score of at least 55
  or
  A computer-based score of at least 250 and TSE of at least 55.
  or
  The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS.
  You’ll need a score of at least seven in each component – reading, listening, writing and speaking
  or
  The Michigan English Language Assessment Battery, or MELAB.
  You’ll need a written score of at least 85 and a speaking score of at least 4.
  or
  CanTEST (for English)
  You’ll need a minimum score of at least five in each section – reading, listening, writing and speaking
  or
  TestCan (for French)
  You’ll need a minimum score of at least five in each section – reading, listening, writing and speaking.
  • Your citizenship: In order to be registered as a member of the College, you must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or authorized under the Immigration Act (Canada) to practise social work or social service work in Ontario. If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, the College may need to contact you for further information. If Immigration Canada has authorized you to practise social work or social service work in Ontario, you must submit a copy of your valid work permit issued by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Canada. Contact the College if you would like to discuss your individual situation.
  • Your professional conduct: If you answer “yes” to any questions on the Application Form, you must provide full particulars on a separate sheet of paper and attach it to your application.

  Translation of Documents

  If any of your documents are in a language other than English or French, you will need to hire an accredited translator to translate them. You will then need to forward, with your application, your original documents, the precise word-for-word translation, and a letter from the translator that includes:

  • Any comments about the accuracy of your documents
  • The date of the translation
  • The translator’s identification number and/or seal
  • The translator’s name, address and telephone number

  You are responsible for all costs of the translation.

  If you cannot obtain original documents or you cannot find a translator who can translate from your own language, contact the College for acceptable alternatives.

  Your Final Steps

  Once you have filled in the Application Form and gathered together all the required documentation, you will need to mail it, along with all applicable fees, to the College. A fax or email of your application or a mailed-in photocopy will not be accepted.

  The College’s Response

  It typically takes four to eight weeks to process your application once the College has received all your documents – longer if the College requires more information. Once your application has been processed, the Registrar will:

  • Issue a Certificate of Registration to you, because you meet the requirements to practice in Ontario, or
  • Issue a Certificate of Registration to you subject to terms, conditions or limitations to which you have consented, or
  • Propose to refuse to issue a Certificate of Registration to you, because you have not met the requirements. You will be informed in writing, along with the reasons why, and will receive a full refund of your registration fee, if applicable. You will also be informed that you can appeal the decision (request a review of the Registrar’s proposal to refuse to issue a certificate of registration) at no charge. If you do not appeal the decision, the Registrar will refuse your application.
   

  Appealing the Decision of the Registrar of the College

  Should the Registrar of the College propose to refuse to issue you a Certificate of Registration, you have 60 days to request that the Registration Appeals Committee, also known as the Committee, review the Registrar’s proposal. If you cannot make your request within 60 days, the Committee might extend this deadline. However, you will need to persuade the Committee, in writing, that you have reasonable grounds for relief on the review and for extending the deadline.

  It’s advisable to include a letter or documents explaining why you are requesting that the Committee reconsider the Registrar’s proposal to refuse to issue you a Certificate of Registration. The Committee bases its decision on the information you provide in your letter, all the documents in your application file, any documents you submit as part of the review and the unique circumstances of your review. The Committee does not meet with applicants.

  Once the Committee has reviewed your letter of request and all documents, it will provide the Registrar and you with a written decision and reasons within 60 days after completing its review. Should the Committee direct the Registrar to refuse to issue you a Certificate of Registration, you can appeal the decision of the Registration Appeals Committee to the Divisional Court, in accordance with the rules of the court.

  For Social Workers: Internationally Educated Social Work (IESW) Professionals Bridging Program at Ryerson University

  If you are an internationally educated social worker seeking to gain an understanding of Ontario’s social service sector, you could benefit from obtaining a Certificate in Canadian Social Work Practice at the Internationally Educated Social Work Professionals (IESW) Bridging Program at Ryerson University’s G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education in Toronto.

  According to the IESW, this innovative one-year program is by no means a requirement for working as a social worker in Ontario. But it is a bridging program, offered nowhere else in Canada, which provides a superb introduction to social services in Canada. It includes training, mentorship, employment and career support, and supervised work placements for qualified social work professionals who were educated outside of Canada. You will gain an overview of the structure of social services in Ontario, including current labour market skills and expectations, acquire employment experience and orientation to the Canadian workplace and expand your network of social service employers and organizations.

  The course starts each September and runs for one academic year. You will need to apply by March 31 of the year in which you want to start.

  The admission requirements are:

  • Registration as a social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) or a social work degree that the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) has assessed as equivalent to a B.S.W. or an M.S.W., plus a minimum of one year of paid accumulated employment in the social service field (abroad and/or in Canada) or a baccalaureate degree from outside Canada (at least three years of university study) in the humanities or social sciences, and assessed by World Education Services (course by course) as equivalent to a Canadian degree, and a minimum of two years paid accumulated employment in the social service field (abroad and/or in Canada)

  Plus

  • Pass the Ryerson Test of English Proficiency and the Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT), which typically takes two-and-a-half to three hours each
  • May be required to participate in a pre-admission process in May or June
  • Submit a letter of intent stating why you want to register in the Certificate in Canadian Social Work Practice and your current resumé or curriculum vitae.
  • Submit proof of Ontario residency, such as a copy of your Ontario health insurance card or an Ontario driver’s licence.
  • Submit proof you can work in Canada, such as proof of Canadian citizenship or Landed Immigrant status or Open Employment Authorization

  In addition to its certificate program, the IESW Bridging Program coordinates a network of internationally educated social work professionals living in the Greater Toronto Area. Members receive regular e-mail bulletins with information about employment, and volunteer and professional development opportunities. Network meetings are held quarterly in different social work settings, and include discussions about social work practice and employment issues.

  The IESW Bridging Program also provides individual support, information and referral on academic and employment pathways.

  In addition, Ryerson University offers a useful and informative non-credit course that reflects the specific needs of internationally educated professionals who have experience in the social service field, and provides an orientation to social services in Ontario.

  Attending the IESW program is not a requirement of registration in the College. If, however, you obtain a Certificate in Canadian Social Work Practice from Ryerson University and meet all the eligibility requirements set by the OCSWSSW, you are eligible for a $100 exemption from your annual $340 membership fee. You can only apply for this exemption, though, if you apply for registration as a member of the College on or before December 31st of the year in which you obtain your certificate.

  Labour Market Information

  Social workers

  According to Ontario Job Futures, the average annual income of social workers was $42,792 in 2000. The site suggests that employment opportunities are expected to remain good through the year 2009, particularly for individuals with advanced degrees in social work and experience in fields such as geriatrics, alcohol and substance abuse, health and mental health and child welfare. Palliative care is also a growing area, as well as areas for social workers with a specialty degree in Counselling. Progression to professional occupations in social service, such as family and marriage counsellors and probation and parole officers, is possible with additional training and/or experience.

  Social service workers

  According to Ontario Job Futures, the average annual income of social service workers was $34,617 in 2000. The site suggests that employment for this occupation is expected to increase more rapidly than the average for all occupations through the year 2009. The conditions can be challenging. Social service workers usually work in a clinical, office or community setting such as community mental health and addictions clinics. Their clients include addicts, troubled individuals or families, abused women, poverty-stricken individuals and Aboriginal people.

  Key employers

  Social workers are employed in family service agencies, child welfare agencies or children’s aid societies, hospitals, school boards, correctional institutions, welfare administration agencies, child welfare agencies, community-based health care agencies, Employee Assistance Programs, addiction services and government departments. They can also operate a private practice.

  Social service workers are employed in federal, provincial and municipal governments, health and social service agencies including group homes and institutional health and social service firms.

  For more information on labour market conditions for these professions, consult the Ontario government’s Ontario Job Futures website. The labour market information website of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) also provides valuable insights.
  Information is also available at public libraries or HRSDC Employment Resource Centres in your community.

  Fees and Costs

  (in Canadian Dollars)

  The following fee schedule was accurate at time of writing, but is subject to change. Unless otherwise indicated, you will need to add Canada’s Goods and Services Tax of 5% to these fees. The registration requirements and/or fees for membership in the College may change. For current information, visit the College website, or email, fax or telephone the College.

  In addition to the expenses below, you may have to pay for:

  • Translation of your documents
  • Language proficiency tests
  • The cost of verifying your academic qualifications (this may include paying the postsecondary institution where you earned your academic credentials to send a set of original transcripts of your postsecondary education to the CASW or the College).

  Tuition costs for Internationally Educated Social Work (IESW) program at Ryerson University: up-to-date tuition, bursary and student loan information is available online.

  Before You Come to Ontario

  CASW evaluation of your accreditation

  $250

  Once You Arrive

  Non-Refundable application fee with the College	$75
  Registration fee prorated quarterly based on the date when the certificate is issued	$340
  Total in 2008	$415
  A refund of the prorated registration fee is issued, if applicable, when the certificate of registration is issued	$415

   

  If you apply for registration in the College by December 31of the year in which you graduate from a social work or social service work program, visit the College website or contact the College to obtain information about specific fees.

  If you apply for registration in the College by December 31 of the year in which you obtain a Certificate in Canadian Social Work Practice from Ryerson University, visit the College website or contact the College to obtain information about specific fees.

  Tuition fee for university or college

  Determined by the educational institution

  For More Information

  For more information on registration requirements in Ontario, contact:

  The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
  250 Bloor St. E.
  Ste. 1000
  Toronto, ON
  Canada
  M4W 1E6
  Telephone: 416-972-9882
  Toll-free: 1-877-828-9380
  Fax: 416-972-1512
  E-mail: info@ocswssw.org
  Website: www.ocswssw.org

  For an overview of the social work profession in Ontario, contact:

  Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)
  410 Jarvis Street
  Toronto ON
  Canada
  M4Y 2G6
  Telephone : 416-923-4848
  Fax : 416-923-5279
  Email: info@oasw.org
  Website: www.oasw.org
  
  For information about social work education, evaluation and accreditation of social work programs in Canada, contact:

  The Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), formerly known as the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work
  1398 Star Top Road
  Ottawa ON
  Canada
  K1B 4V7
  Telephone : 613-792-1953
  Fax : 613-792-1956
  Email : admin@caswe-acfts.ca
  Website: www.caswe-acfts.ca/en/

  For an overview of the social work profession in Canada and to have foreign social work credentials evaluated, contact:

  Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW)
  383 Parkdale Avenue, Suite 402
  Ottawa ON
  Canada
  K1Y 4R4
  Telephone : 613-729-6668
  Fax : 613-729-9608
  Email : casw@casw-acts.ca
  Website: www.casw-acts.ca
  
  For information on how Ontario works with regulated professions to make sure everyone gets fair treatment when seeking registration or licensing, contact:

  The Office of the Fairness Commissioner
  595 Bay Street, Suite 1201
  Toronto, ON
  Canada
  M7A 2B4
  Telephone:416-325-9380
  Toll-free phone:1-877-727-5365
  Fax: 416-326-6081
  Email: ofc@ontario.ca
  Website: www.fairnesscommissioner.ca

  For information about the IESW Professionals Bridging Program at Ryerson University, contact:

  Program Administrator
  Internationally Educated Social Work Professionals Bridging Program
  The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education
  Ryerson University
  350 Victoria Street, Attn: VIC 600
  Toronto, ON
  Canada
  M5B 2K3
  Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 4095
  Email: iesw@ryerson.ca
  Website: www.ryerson.ca/ce/socialwork
  
  For English language proficiency testing contact:

  Test of English as a Foreign Language
  Educational Testing Service
  P.O. Box 6151
  Princeton, New Jersey (08541-6151), U.S.A.
  Website: www.toefl.org
  Test of Spoken English (TSE) website: www.ets.org

  Michigan English Language Assessment Battery
  English Language Institute MELAB Office
  University of Michigan
  Ann Arbor, Michigan (48104) U.S.A.
  Website: www.melabsuccess.com

  International English Language Testing System
  University of Cambridge
  Local Examination Syndicate
  1 Hells Road, Cambridge CBI 2EU U.K.
  Website: www.ielts.org

  CanTest / TestCan
  Website: www.cantest.uottawa.ca

  For further information on achieving your academic credentials at an Ontario postsecondary institution, go to:

  Ontario Universities Application Centre
  Website: www.ouac.on.ca

  Ontario College Application Service
  Website: www.ocas.on.ca

  Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
  Tel: (613) 563-1236 / Fax: (613) 563-9745
  Website: www.aucc.ca

  A full list of social service worker programs offered at a College of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario is at www.edu.gov.on.ca.

  The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials website at www.cicdi.ca provides a listing of Canada’s universities, colleges, and other recognized postsecondary institutions in its Studying in Canada section.
  
  For information on how to find an accredited translator:

  The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)
  Telephone: 1-800-234-5030 or 613-241-2846
  Email: info@atio.on.ca
  Website: www.atio.on.ca

  COSTI – IIAS Immigrant Services
  Telephone: 416-658-1600
  Email: info@costi.org
  Website: www.costi.org

  For information on where and how to get help with settlement in Ontario, visit www.settlement.org or contact:

  Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
  110 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 200
  Toronto, Ontario
  M4R 1A3
  Telephone: (416) 322-4950
  Fax: (416) 322-8084
  E-mail: ocasi@web.net
  Website: www.ocasi.org
  
  For a government contacts on accessing professions and trades in Ontario:

  Government of Ontario
  Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
  Global Experience Ontario (GEO)
  Tel: 416-327-9694 or 1-866-670-4094
  TTY: 416-327-9710 or 1-866–388-2262
  Fax 416-327-9711
  E-mail: geo@ontario.ca
  Website: www.ontarioimmigration.ca

  Copyright in this Career Map is held jointly by the Queen's Printer for Ontario and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, © 2008.

  Go back to the Find Your Profession page

  Go back to the Work in Your Profession page