To practice social work in Alberta, you must be registered and obtain an active practice permit. Social work is a regulated profession with mandatory registration that begins with a provisional practice permit and entry to practice requirements.
New applicants are approved for provisional registration and must meet specific practice requirements within the first year of registration.
A provisional registrant is authorized to use the title of RSW and has all the rights and responsibilities of an RSW. RSWs have ongoing, annual registration requirements.
Provisional registrants progress to the general registry by completing all provisional registration requirements. Provisional registrants do not qualify for any of the following:
- Providing social work services in a private practice
- Advanced practice enhancements, including the clinical registry and restricted psychosocial interventions
- Providing practice supervision
Requirements
Supervised Practice
Provisional registrants must practice under the supervision of an RSW in good standing and on the general registry. Provisional registrants are responsible for finding their own qualified supervisor. ACSW does not provide supervision or a list of supervisors. Supervised practice hours must be completed within the first year of registration.
- The supervised practice requirement consists of 1500 or 1000 hours of supervision dependent on the registration pathway.
- Supervised practice hours must be completed after registration to be eligible towards meeting the supervision requirement. Provisional registrants must track and record their supervised practice hours.
- It is recommended that supervision consists of 1 hour of contact for every two weeks of full time employment. Supervision is meant to ensure that provisional social workers receive support, guidance, and feedback on their social work practice ensuring that services meet an ethical professional practice standard.
- After the supervised practice hours are met, the supervisor must submit a form to verify completion of the supervision requirement. The Supervisor Reference Form is initiated by you and is available in the registrant portal.
- Once the Supervisor Reference Form is completed and submitted, it will be reviewed to determine qualification for the general registry. You will be notified of the review outcome.
Social Work Licensure Exam
For some provisional registrants, the social work licensure exam is required to qualify for registration on the general registry. The social work licensure exam tests a social worker’s competence to practice ethically and safely. The exam is a standardized requirement for registration or licensure to practice social work within Canada, the United States of America and abroad. The social work licensure exam is developed and delivered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) and in partnership with Pearson Professional Assessments.
Provisional registrants with the social work licensure exam requirement, must complete and pass the exam within the first year of registration.
The social work licensure exam is required for the following registration pathways:
- Internationally Educated Applicant
- First Time Applicant
- Reinstatement Applicant