The clinical practice enhancement is accessible through the clinical practice enhancement application pathway. Applicants who have obtained the clinical designation through registration or licensure in another recognized jurisdiction may obtain the clinical practice enhancement through transfer during the registration process. Applicants must select the pathway that best aligns with their professional qualifications, registration status and professional practice experience. Links to detailed descriptions of the application pathway, including eligibility requirements and application details, are provided below.
Before proceeding:
- Choose the application pathway that applies to your academic qualifications and professional registration/licensure status
- Review the application and documentation requirements
- Review the fee schedule
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Advanced knowledge of mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and intervention
- Competence in psychotherapeutic practice across diverse populations
- Ethical decision-making and commitment to professional standards of practice
Clinical Application Pathway Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible to apply for the clinical practice enhancement, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Hold an MSW credential from an accredited social work program recognized and approved by ACSW.
- Be a registered social worker with good standing in Alberta with no limitations, conditions or restrictions on your registration practice permit.
- Be registered on the general registry with an active practice permit for a minimum of two (2) years, or have been registered on a substantially equivalent register in another jurisdiction for two (2) years. RSWs with provisional registration status are not eligible.
Supervision Requirements
As part of the clinical application pathway, applicants are required to complete a minimum of 100 clinical supervision hours that support the development of advanced clinical social work competencies.
Clinical supervision is a structured professional relationship between a clinical supervisor and supervisee focused on enhancing clinical knowledge, skills, and ethical practice. Supervision may include discussion of case dynamics and conceptualization, clinical theory, therapeutic interventions, professional judgement, and the use of self in practice.
For the purposes of qualifying for the clinical practice enhancement, clinical supervision may be provided in the following formats:
- Individually (dyadic) supervision
- Group supervision
- Case consultation
Who is Eligible to Supervise?
At least 50 hours must be completed under the supervision of a registered clinical social worker (RCSW), or an equivalent clinical supervisor from a jurisdiction recognized by the ACSW, who has a minimum of five years of post-MSW clinical experience. A recognized jurisdiction includes a Canadian province or State from within the United States of America.
The remaining supervision hours (up to a maximum of 50 hours) may be provided by a regulated mental health professional who:
- Holds an advanced degree (master’s or doctoral level) in a mental health-related field
- Has a minimum of five years of post-degree clinical experience
- Demonstrates independent clinical decision-making and advanced expertise in clinical mental health practice
- Provides supervision and consultation based on their professional knowledge and experience
All supervisors providing clinical supervision hours toward the clinical practice enhancement must meet the following requirements:
- Competence in the area of practice they are supervising, consistent with the ACSW Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics
- Familiarity with the Health Professions Act, regulations, bylaws, policies, and practice guidance.
- Have no real, potential, or perceived conflict of interest with the applicant or other relevant parties
Clinical Designation Transfer Application Pathway Eligibility Requirements:
The clinical designation transfer pathway is available to applicants who currently hold a recognized clinical social work designation from a recognized jurisdiction and have successfully completed the ASWB clinical exam. Eligible applicants may apply to transfer (“port”) their existing clinical credential to Alberta for registration recognition directly through their registration application.
To qualify for the clinical designation transfer pathway, applicants must:
- Hold a registered clinical social worker (RCSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential from a recognized jurisdiction including a Canadian province or a State from within the United States of America
- Ensure the registration/licensure is current and has been held for a minimum of two (2) years preceding the date of registration application
- Have successfully completed the ASWB Clinical Exam
- Provide verification of current registration and confirmation of good standing from all applicable regulatory bodies where they are or have been registered
- Meet all registration requirements
Upon approval of the registration applications, applicants will be approved for the clinical practice enhancement and may use the registered clinical social worker designation in Alberta. RCSWs must comply with all annual registration renewal and continuing competence requirements to maintain their status.
