Registration and all practice enhancements must be renewed annually and are subject to annual renewal fees, as well as the maintenance and enforcement of provisional registration requirements and continuing competence.
Every registered social worker has a critical role in public protection. Each year, social workers are accountable for:
- Reviewing the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics every year
- Renewing registration and paying the renewal fee
- Completing annual Competence Program requirements
- Maintaining professional liability insurance
- Ensuring the registrant profile is up to date. This information is publicly available on ACSW’s online public register and helps ensure transparency, supporting public protection and safety.
Each accountability may become due at different times of the year.
You are responsible for completing all requirements prior to expiry.
Registration renewal is completed in the registrant portal and includes a registrant profile update, completion of the renewal form and payment of the annual registration fee.
Keeping your practice permit current and up to date is one way that you contribute to ensuring public protection. A part of professional social work practice includes the maintenance of your registrant profile ensuring that information including your contact information and employment details is current and up to date within your registrant portal.
Registrants are required to complete registration renewal on an annual basis, before the practice permit expiry date. Notice is provided when it’s time to complete registration renewal, two months in advance of the practice permit expiry date.
Registration Renewal Process
When completing your registration renewal, expect to dedicate 15 – 30 minutes to complete the process.
Please note, status change requests must be completed before you complete your registration renewal. If you require a status change, please ensure you complete that process prior to beginning your renewal, or your renewal may be significantly delayed.
Suspension and Cancellation
Registrants who do not complete registration renewal before their practice permit expires, will receive suspension of their registration and are subject to a late fee. The suspension period is for 30 days, in which registrants must complete their renewal. Following the 30-day suspension period, registrants who do not complete their renewal will receive cancellation of their registration and practice permit. Registration status, such as, suspensions and cancellations are published and viewable on the public register.
Reinstatement
When there is a period of lapse in registration, registrants must complete a reinstatement application to re-establish registration, obtain a practice permit and are subject to reinstatement fees. Should registration lapse for a period of three years or longer, reinstatement is subject to re-entry to practice requirements, including the social work licensure exam.