FAQs for Registrants

Supervision is defined as the professional relationship between a supervisor and a supervisee that includes evaluation and direction over the services provided and promotes the continued development of the supervisee’s knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide services in an ethical and competent manner. Where supervision is limited to overseeing organizational requirements and compliance with policies it does not fulfill the requirements for supervision under these Standards of Practice.

The Standards of Practice describe when supervision is required.

Inactive status is intended to be a temporary absence from all practice and employment within the scope of social work practice.

You may not practice social work while your registration status is inactive. The public register will show that you are inactive.

Participation in the Competence Program is required while inactive, unless you have an approved exemption as outlined in the Competence Accommodation and Exception policy.

Depending on the length of your inactive status, you will be asked to participate in a return to practice assessment to determine your competence requirements.

Those who become inactive with an outstanding exam requirement will be required to complete and pass the exam before returning to active registration. Returning to active registration is not an automatic process, and staff may request additional information as necessary. Additional fees may be assessed depending upon the date of your status change and your renewal date.

You will be assigned an exam based upon your highest level of social work education. You are expected to pass the exam within the first year of registration.  

The exam may be attempted multiple times within the year as guided by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) policies. 

Social workers promote social change and enhance people’s well-being. They help individuals develop problem-solving skills and feel self-empowered. Specific duties and client populations vary from setting to setting. Social workers may work in a wide variety of conditions and practice areas.  

Visit the Alberta Alis website for more occupational information. 

You may become inactive temporarily while you determine if you will continue to practice in the scope of social work in a paid or voluntary capacity or you may withdraw your registration.  ACSW does not offer a retired status.

You will be required to participate in the Competence Program if you have an inactive status.

Registration is mandatory even when:

• your job title is not social worker

• your employer does not require proof of registration

An employer can set any job requirements for hiring. You may be doing the same job as another person who is not required to be a registered social worker, because that person does not qualify for registration.

ACSW determines if the services you are performing falls within the scope of practice of social work as defined in the Health Professions Act. Please contact practice.consultation@acsw.ab.ca if you are unsure if you require registration.

If you have a social work credential and your practice fits within the scope of practice, you must be registered, whatever title you use.  

The title of social worker may only be used by registered social workers, but registration is required even when you do not use the title. 

Social work is regulated in Alberta by the Health Professions Act (HPA), which gives this definition. 

In their practice, social workers do one or more of the following:  

• enhance or restore the social functioning of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities by improving developmental, problem-solving and coping capacities of people and systems,  

• promote effective and humane systems that provide resources, opportunities and services to people and link people to those systems,  

• contribute to the development and improvement of social policy,  

• teach, manage and conduct research in the science, techniques and practice of social work, and  

• provide restricted activities authorized by the regulations.  

The provisional registry allows social workers to practice until they have met their outstanding registration requirements and are able to progress to the general registry. Most new registrants are on the provisional registry. Typical requirements on the provisional registry include supervised practice hours, a supervisor reference, outstanding documentation, and/or an entry-to-practice exam.

If you qualify for registration, you cannot practice within the scope of social work without being registered. The Health Professions Act makes it an offense to practice without registration and outlines the consequences for individuals and employers who do not comply.