Frequently Asked Questions

Contingency Planning: When appointing a professional executor, does the executor have to be a registered social worker or can they be another regulated professional? Do they have to be a regulated health professional?

A professional executor does not have to be a registered social worker or a regulated health professional. However, think about what will be asked of your professional executor and who might be best suited to ensure your professional will is carried out. If they are unable to carry out the professional activities, you should ensure individual(s) are identified who can provide the professional service.

Consider the following when determining your executor:

• Do they have a comprehensive understanding of social work practice and the specific requirements of your area of practice? This might mean choosing a colleague or a medical professional who understands the nuances of running a private practice.
• Is a regulated health professional necessary to make certain decisions or handle specific aspects of your practice?

Do all social workers have to be registered?

Registration is required if the person qualifies for registration as a social worker and is working in a position that falls within the scope of social work as defined above, in “What is social work?”; and

works with the public, or

provides practice supervision, or

teaches in a social work education program

Do employers normally pay social work registration fees? 

No. Registered social workers pay their own annual registration fees.  Annual registration fees are a requirement of registration.

Do I have to be registered?

If you have a social work credential and you are practicing within the scope of social work, registration is mandatory. This includes paid and volunteer social work services. Registration is also mandatory for those who supervise registered social workers providing professional services, and for those who teach social work practice.

Do I qualify for registration as a social worker? 

Please see the Applicants tab on the ACSW website for everything you need to know about registration.

Does the person providing supervision have to be a registered social worker?

Not always. It depends on why supervision is required and what practice is being supervised.

Where ACSW standards/policies require supervision by an RSW (e.g., provisional registry supervised practice), an RSW who meets ACSW requirements must supervise.

In other contexts, supervision may be appropriately provided by another regulated professional if they have the competence, authority, and accountability to oversee the specific work being supervised (and the arrangement is consistent with standards, legislation, and organizational requirements).

Fees and Billing: Can a student or supervisee at my private practice charge fees?

If you and the students comply with any professional, credentialling or academic requirements, students and supervisees can charge a fee for services. You and your students or supervisees must ensure that the client understands what is included in the fees they are paying, document client consent in the client record, and indicate the reason or reasons why a fee may have been reduced or waived.

The following information should be included in financial records:

• Clear identification of the person(s) providing the service and their title
• Clear identification of the client to whom the service was provided – client’s full name and address, and unique identifier (if applicable)
• Identification or description of the service provided
• Cost of the service
• Date and method of payment received
• Fees charged for services provided by supervised personnel

Students and supervisees may not use the title social worker or any other protected title unless they have appropriate authorization to do so.

Fees and Billing: Can I offer a promotion to increase my clientele?

You are permitted to offer a promotional rate to clients; however, it is important to avoid potential risks. These risks may include an offer that promotes unnecessary treatment, unduly influences a client’s decision to receive treatment, or acts as a barrier once the promotional rate ends. It is not permitted to offer a discount for prompt payment, such as an early bird rate.

Discussing practice about promotional fees and packages is part of informed consent and any variance to the usual fee schedule should be documented.

Fees and Billing: Can I offer gift cards?

ACSW recommends gift cards not be used due to the situations that might arise. If you are considering offering a gift card, anticipate how you might handle possible situations that might come up.

• Unbeknownst to you, a current client of yours purchases a gift card for a member of their family. The family member contacts you to book an appointment using the gift card. How would you handle this conflict-of-interest situation?
• A client wants a refund for a gift card. How do you handle this?
• Years later when you are working in a different capacity, a former client wants to use a gift card. How do you handle this situation?
• The recipient of a gift card wants to use it to book services, but their needs don’t match what you can provide. How do you handle this situation?

While selling gift cards is not prohibited, there are risks and you must be clear on how you will handle situations that may arise and ensure continued alignment with best clinical practices and the Standards of Practice.

Fees and Billing: Can I take a client’s credit card information to input into billing software?

Yes, in private practice you can enter a client’s credit card information into a billing system. Consider the following:

• Is the client aware and do you have the client’s consent?
• Does the billing system meet industry privacy and security requirements and standards?
• Are you using a secure platform?
• Can you limit access to the system?
• Are you maintaining up-to-date and accurate records of consent, payment processing and communication?

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