First time applicant

To practice in the scope of social work in Alberta, you must be registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers and have an active practice permit. 

This application is for you if you:  

• have never been registered with ACSW 
• are not actively registered as a social worker with any other Canadian or American jurisdiction 
• have completed a Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work from a program accredited by the 

• • Canadian Association for Social Work Education 
  • Council on Social Work Education  
  • National Indigenous Accreditation Board  
  • Or have completed a social work diploma from a program accredited by the Alberta College of Social Workers 

Detailed requirements and the application follow. Please read carefully. 

Requirements for First-Time Applicants

To practice social work in Alberta, you must be registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers and have an active practice permit.  

Required documents

• Education qualifications 

• • Your official and complete transcripts from the educational institution(s) where you completed your highest level of social work education must be submitted directly from the institution to ACSW Transcripts provided directly from you will not be accepted for registration 

• Resume / CV
  Your up-to-date resume should include: 

• • education 
  • work experience 
  • activities related to social work 
  • locations and dates for all of the above 

• Character reference
  You have two options: complete the ACSW character reference form OR submit a reference letter addressed to ACSW that supports your application to be a social worker 

• • The character reference must be submitted by someone who knows you 

• • • The person can not be a family member or partner  
    • The person does not have to be a social worker 

• • The completed form must be uploaded by you 
  • ACSW will also accept a reference letter that shows support for you in the role of a regulated social worker 
  • At a later stage of registration, you will need a supervisor reference. Your supervisor reference can not come from the same individual who completes the character reference 

• Current criminal record check 

• • A criminal record check is valid for three months from the date it was issued 

• • • It must be valid at the time you submit your complete application
    • You might have to resubmit it if it has expired when your registration is reviewed 

• • A vulnerable sector check is not required 
  • We accept criminal record checks from local and federal law enforcement agencies or online providers 
  • Inconclusive results require a fingerprint check 
  • You pay any costs to get the criminal record check 
  • A criminal record check in a language other than English must have an official translation 

• Mandatory training
  
  • Click here to complete the mandatory training course: Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Education for Health Professionals. Save and submit the certificate of completion. The course will take approximately 90 minutes to complete.

• Other professions/jurisdictions 

• • If you are, or have been, registered/licensed/certified in social work or another profession, you must complete the verification form for each profession  
  • Complete the top portion of the form and send it to the other regulatory body or bodies 
  • You pay any costs for the verifications 

• Payment of registration fees 

• • When the complete application is reviewed and approved by ACSW staff, you will be notified by email that payment of registration fees is now required 
  • When your payment is processed, you will be registered on the provisional registry and your practice permit will be available for download
  • The cost of INITIAL registration is $600. This includes a $200 application fee and a $400 annual fee.  

If your application is not complete within two months, it will be closed and you will need to submit a new application.
For an application to be considered complete, you must pay the application fee and submit all required documents.  

If you have not heard from us within three weeks, please contact ACSW to inquire about the status of your application.