Frequently Asked Questions

While in private practice, you can also have employment with organizations providing health or social service delivery. A common dilemma for some social workers is whether they can see agency clients privately.

It is important that social workers engaged in private practice, while being employed with organizations, consult with their agency regarding conflicts of interest policies. You must ensure that this does not contravene any contractual obligations and does not pose a conflict of interest. Some employers require employees to disclose and review any outside employment for potential conflict of interest.

You can hire or work with different health professionals. Other regulated health professionals would follow professional expectations from their own college. Clients should be made aware of what services they are receiving, from whom, how information is shared, and any limits on activities or interventions that can be provided.

There is no College standard or policy that prevents you from operating a private practice from an office that is also located in your home. However, your municipality may have relevant bylaws or regulations related to the operation of a business (especially if clients are physically attending the place of business). It is advised that this be explored prior to establishing a residential office.

Other questions to ask yourself include:

• What is the service I am offering and who is the population being served? What are the potential risks associated with the service and/or population?
• How will I manage boundaries and privacy, both for myself and for my clients?
• Where in my residence will I conduct my business and is it accessible, appropriate, and safe for myself and clients?

If you operate a private practice that offers services to clients in another province, you are responsible to understand the registration requirements in that province. Most provinces have mandatory registration for social work, which means that if you are practicing in the scope of social work practice in that jurisdiction and are eligible for registration, you must be registered. In some provinces, the activity of psychotherapy is regulated under a different college, such as the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. You must be aware of the regulatory landscape in the province in which you wish to practice.

Currently, the College does not have specific educational requirements you must possess before establishing a private practice.

The ACSW recommends that those entering private practice have a Master of Social Work (MSW) and at least five years of social work experience relevant to the proposed area of practice. Additionally, the ACSW recommends that you have completed provisional hours prior to establishing a private practice.

You must be able to demonstrate an appropriate knowledge base with the population, service, activity and interventions you’re providing in your practice along with significant and current practice experience and supervision in the area of practice.

It is also important you have a robust network of professionals for consultation and referral.

You must also consider the legal responsibilities for your private practice, including ensuring you have the evidence to support that you are providing the expected standard of social work service, and evidence that the client has received this standard of care.

Ask yourself:

• What is the standard of care nationally?
• What is the industry level of education needed to provide the identified intervention?
• How would my peers in this area of practice assess my practice?
• What evidence can you provide to substantiate you have the required competence to establish a private practice in a particular area of practice?

Before establishing a private practice, review the private practice guidance, talk with other social workers in private practice and consider discussing your plan with the ACSW.

It is your responsibility when considering private practice to assess your own competence to work independently. The CASW Code of Ethics (2005) asserts that “Social workers have a responsibility to maintain professional proficiency, to continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and skills, and to apply new knowledge in practice commensurate with their level of professional education, skill and competency…” (p. 8)

The following are some questions you may want to consider.

• What are the best evidence-informed practices relevant to the population I plan to serve or the activities or interventions I plan to deliver?
• What is my experience in the practice area I am interested in pursuing?
• What formal training or continuing education have I completed to ensure that I have the appropriate skills, knowledge, and competencies to practice in this area?
• How will I develop and maintain competence in the full range of activities, interventions and services I plan to offer?
• What are my identified gaps and how will I address them?
• Are there practice resources, standards or guidelines that I should be knowledgeable about?
• How will I obtain consultation or supervision?

The decision to enter private practice is one that should not be taken lightly. You must be able to demonstrate competency in the chosen services, interventions or activities being provided. You are responsible to assess your education, experience and supervised practice relative to the services you offer. The ACSW recommends that those entering private practice have a Master of Social Work (MSW) and at least five years of social work experience relevant to the proposed area of practice.

Social workers entering private practice must hold an active practice permit on the general registry. (Learn more about provisional registration here.)

Private practice is not an entry-to-practice activity. While the draw to private practice may be strong, practicing in isolation can affect safe practice for new graduates, those new to practice in the Canadian context, or those returning to practice after a period of inactivity.

Joining an established organization or practice as an employee offers you the opportunity to gain experience, connect with colleagues, and determine your niche or area of practice.

All registered social workers require professional liability insurance. The College has no other specific guidance on liability insurance; however, you may wish to discuss additional general liability insurance and other coverage (such as cyber coverage) if you have a private practice. It is prudent to discuss your situation with an insurance professional.

ACSW’s Standards include expectations that fees must be disclosed and reasonable, but ACSW typically does not set a mandated rate for private supervision. A “reasonable” supervision fee is usually shaped by:

• Supervisor qualifications/experience and the practice area’s risk/complexity

• What is included (individual vs group; preparation; review of recordings/notes; documentation; evaluation reports)

• Frequency and availability (including urgent consult expectations)

• Local market norms and transparency about cancellation policies

Best practice is a written supervision contract that clearly sets the rate, what’s included, billing intervals, cancellation/no-show terms, and documentation responsibilities.