Frequently Asked Questions

All registered social workers, including students, must complete competency requirements. If you are in an accredited education program that relates to your learning plan, taking a minimum of two courses per year will fulfill your competence requirements. If your studies are in an unrelated field, you must still complete 40 hours of activity toward your competency as a social worker. 

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.

A criminal record does not necessarily stop you from registering as a social worker. You must disclose your criminal history in the declarations section of the application to be individually assessed for the potential to be a trusted professional. A fingerprint report may be necessary when a criminal record check cannot confirm your identity or criminal history.  

If the supervisor is not eligible, the supervision may not be accepted for the purpose it was intended (especially in formal ACSW pathways like provisional supervised practice). Immediate steps:

• Stop relying on that supervision arrangement for meeting requirements

• Contact ACSW/credentialing guidance channels (or review the relevant ACSW policy) to determine what can be credited, if anything

• Secure an eligible supervisor and ensure a written plan and documentation going forward
• Keep records of dates, supervision provided, and how eligibility concerns were discovered

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. 

Any time you have a change in status, please contact competency@acsw.ab.ca. 

A supervision plan should include backup coverage and escalation pathways. If a supervisor becomes unavailable unexpectedly, the supervisee should:

• Notify the organization (if applicable) and pause/limit higher-risk activities that require supervision

• Seek an alternate qualified supervisor or interim oversight arrangement

• Use additional safeguards (peer consultation, case review, reduced scope) until supervision continuity is restored

• Document the gap and actions taken to protect client safety and maintain standards

Supervision includes direction and evaluative authority, but ethical practice also requires professional judgment and client safety. If you disagree:

1. Seek clarification: ask how the direction aligns with standards, ethics, evidence, policy, and risk considerations.
2. Bring the issue back to standards: identify the specific ethical/standards concern.
3. Request consultation/second opinion (within confidentiality limits), especially if the issue involves elevated risk, boundary concerns, or potential harm.
4. If the direction would likely result in unethical or unsafe practice, you must act to protect clients and practice within standards—this may include escalating within the organization or seeking regulatory/practice consultation.

If the position:  

• is in management, research or policy development, in areas completely unrelated to issues in the scope of social work practice,   

• does not require supervising social workers, or   

• does not involve teaching social work,  

the employee may not have to be a registered social worker.