Alberta College of Social Workers

Mandatory Registration

Social Work is a profession that is regulated in Alberta under the Health Professions Act (HPA). Registration is mandatory* for persons with a recognized social work credential, practicing within the scope of social work, with clients located in Alberta. Only registered social workers can identify as a Social Worker.

Scope of Practice

The practice of social work is defined as follows in Schedule 27 of the Health Professions Act:
In their practice, social workers do one or more of the following 
  • enhance or restore the social functioning of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities by improving developmental, problem-solving and coping capacities of people and systems
  • promote effective and humane systems that provide resources, opportunities and services to people and link people to those systems
  • contribute to the development and improvement of social policy, and
    • teach, manage and conduct research in the science, techniques and practice of social work, and
  • provide restricted activities authorized by the regulations
If your practice involves any of the above, you are active in social work.

Protected Titles

A regulated member of the Alberta College of Social Workers may, in accordance with the regulations, use any of the following titles, abbreviations and initials.
  • social worker
  • registered social worker
  • S.W.
  • R.S.W.
  • Soc. Wkr.
To use the any of the titles in reference to Clinical Social Work, registered members must meet additional requirements.
  • clinical social worker
  • registered clinical social worker
  • R.C.S.W.
*Mandatory registration applies: even when job title is not Social Worker; even when job duties do not include counseling; even when an employer misunderstands mandatory registration requirements.

Verification Requests

Current and historical registrants may submit a request for ACSW to complete a registration verification form or a good standing letter by logging into their profile and clicking ‘Verification Request’.

Apply to Become a Registered Social Worker

Live application paths are provided below. Brief descriptions of each path are provided along with the requirements and link to each application. If you are unable to determine the appropriate application, please contact registration@acsw.ab.ca or call the office at 780-421-1167.

Complete applications (with all required documents) are typically reviewed within two weeks. Once this is complete you will receive an email with directions on how to pay annual dues and access the practice permit. Incomplete applications expire within six months. Detailed information is provided in the requirements to ensure an efficient registration process, we encourage careful review.

Internationally Educated Applicant - Social Work Degree outside of Canada or USA

If you completed your social work education outside of Canada or America, here's what you need to know to apply to practice in Alberta

Your credentials must be assessed as equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor or Master of Social Work credential.

Please read the detailed Requirements where you will find a link to apply.

New Graduate Applicant - within 3 years of graduation

This Application is for applicants who have completed either a

  • Bachelor or Master level social work credential from a program accredited by the
    • Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE)
    • the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
    • the National Indigenous Accreditation Board (NIAB)
  • Social Work Diploma from a program accredited by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)

The social work credential must have been completed within the past 3 years based upon the date of conferral on the official transcript.

Please click on requirements and read them carefully. You will find a link to the application on the requirements page.

Currently Regulated Applicant

This application is for social workers who are actively registered and subject to regulation of their social work practice in a jurisdiction that is recognized by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) and that is located in Canada or America.

If you are seeking to practice temporarily or electronically in Alberta, please review the Courtesy Registry option below and then contact the Registrations Team via email registration@acsw.ab.ca.

Please click on requirements and read them carefully. You will find a link to the application on the requirements page.

Courtesy Registry - Multi-jurisdictional

Registration with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) as a social worker with an active practice permit is required to practice in the scope of social work in Alberta.

Courtesy registration is intended for those already registered/licensed in Canada or USA practicing in Alberta temporarily or virtually.

To be eligible for the ACSW Courtesy Registry, an applicant must;

  • be a registered/licensed social worker in another recognized jurisdiction (other than Alberta) with no limitations, conditions or restrictions imposed
  • be in good standing with their home social work regulatory body
  • Intend to practice within the Scope of Social Work in Alberta for no more than 360 hours per year to include;
    • practice on a sporadic or temporary basis
    • practice in-person, electronically
    • in an emergency/disaster response

Please read the detailed Requirements where you will find a link to apply.

Not Regulated Applicant

This Application must be completed by applicants who

  • have never been registered or licensed with ACSW
  • are not actively registered as a social worker with any other Canadian or American jurisdiction and
  • Have completed a Bachelor or Master level social work credential from a program accredited by
    • the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE)
    • the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
    • the National Indigenous Accreditation Board (NIAB)
  • Social Work Diploma from a program accredited by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)

Please click on requirements and read them carefully. You will find a link to the application on the requirements page

Reinstatement Applicant - Previously registered with ACSW

This application is for applicants who have previously been registered as a social worker with ACSW (aka cancelled). Due to individual circumstances, it is strongly recommended that reinstating applicants contact ACSW at registration@acsw.ab.ca for specific requirements. If you are suspended, do not use this application; login and complete renewal.

  • When an applicant was previously on the General Registry and it has been less than 3 years since cancellation
    • they will return to the General Registry
  • If the applicant has been cancelled for more than 3 years, and are not registered in another recognized jurisdiction
    • they will be placed on the Provisional Registry
      • where they will be required to pass an exam
      • and complete 1500 supervised practice hours

Please note: Applicants currently registered as a social worker in another jurisdiction and previously registered with ACSW may qualify for the requirements for registered in another jurisdiction. Please contact ACSW registration if this might apply to you.

Please review the requirements, then use Member Login to log into your existing profile to find the link to the application to Reinstate with ACSW and to reveal an Application on the requirements page.