Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit the restricted psychosocial interventions page for more information.  

Registered clinical social workers have additional continuing competence requirements over registered social workers. This includes documenting a minimum of 10 hours of clinical supervision or consultation.  

There is an additional $50 annual fee to maintain the clinical designation.  

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.

Increase oversight and respond in a risk-management and standards-based way:

• Provide clear, timely feedback; set expectations and corrective actions

• Increase supervision intensity (more frequent meetings, direct observation, record review)

• Document concerns, guidance provided, and supervisee response

• If risk persists or is serious, follow the supervision contract and any organizational reporting pathways; escalate appropriately (management, credentialing body, or regulatory consultation as relevant)

Start by clarifying whether the supervision being offered is practice supervision (evaluation + direction over services) or only administrative oversight. If you require practice supervision (e.g., provisional requirements, restricted activity supervision, or risk/competence needs), consider:

1. Raise the issue early with the supervisor/manager and request a structured supervision plan (frequency, methods, documentation, escalation).
2. Document requests and efforts to secure appropriate supervision.
3. Explore alternative arrangements: another internal qualified practice supervisor, an approved external supervisor, or a blended model (practice supervision + administrative supervision), with clear roles.
4. If supervision is required to meet ACSW obligations and cannot be secured, implement interim safeguards (peer consultation, external case review, targeted learning, scope management) and seek guidance (e.g., organizational leadership or ACSW practice consultation resources if applicable).

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. 

The associate complaints director’s primary responsibility is to ensure safe, competent, and ethical social work practice is carried out by registered social workers in Alberta.  

The associate complaints director plays a key role in:  

• Ensuring public protection by addressing public inquiries 

• Facilitating the complaints and discipline process 

• Responding to complaints about the professional conduct of registered social workers, and  

• Ensuring that the legislative requirements set out in the HPA, part 4 are met 

An employer is free to set any job requirements for hiring. The employer cannot, however, decide that a person with a social work credential, working within the scope of social work, does not have to be registered. This may mean that a registered social worker and another person who does not qualify as a registered social worker are both doing work that falls within the social work scope of practice. The person with a social work credential, working within the scope of social work, must be registered.