Licensing route

Social Work Graduate Registration — Social Work Degree Outside Canada and the United States

Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), with CASW academic assessment

Academic assessment followed by application for Ontario social-worker registration.

Good for: I qualified and worked as a social worker abroad. Do I need another degree to work in Ontario?

Where do I start? ↓

Checked October 20, 2026 How we check information

At a glance

Delivery: Online
Cost: Confirm cost with provider
Who can access it: Canadian citizen, permanent resident or legally authorized to practise under immigration legislation. Permit holders must meet the College's authorization/undertaking requirements; confirm any health-services work restriction before applying.
Intake: Ongoing enquiries or individual applications

CASW equivalence is not registration. Canadian/USA-accredited education uses different streams.

01 / Start here

Your first steps

Check CASW assessment instructions before ordering WES/ICAS.
Arrange the CASW assessment and authorize its direct release to the College; prepare the College application and recent background check.
For non-equivalence, a practice gap or permit questions, contact registration@ocswssw.org before purchasing further study.

Applications are assessed individually; no cohort closing date stated.

Visit provider ↗

02 / Check the fit

Requirements and limits

Obtain a CASW assessment showing equivalence to at least a CASWE-accredited BSW and arrange direct delivery to the College. WES/ICAS alone is not accepted for this graduate stream.
CASW needs university-sent primary-degree records, course descriptions and field-placement information including hours, supervision and evaluation. Its academic assessment does not substitute work experience for degree content.
Where academic qualifications are over five years old, demonstrate social-work practice within the last five years or competence satisfactory to the College; supervision or other conditions may be imposed.
Meet English/French fluency, suitability/conduct requirements and provide a vulnerable-sector check dated within six months of the application.

Canadian citizen, permanent resident or legally authorized to practise under immigration legislation. Permit holders must meet the College's authorization/undertaking requirements; confirm any health-services work restriction before applying.

Important limits and details to confirm

CASW equivalence is not registration. Canadian/USA-accredited education uses different streams.
Related degrees or non-equivalent results may need a separate equivalency application, whose eligibility is not established here.
No assessment-fee grant or automatic student aid has been established.

Location

Ontario registration; CASW conducts the international academic assessment.

03 / Understand the commitment

Costs and possible funding

CASW: CAD 395.50 including HST. College: CAD 100 non-refundable application plus CAD 400 annual registration, prorated by approval quarter. Eligible same-year graduates have a reduced registration fee. Translation, police-check and document costs are additional.

No specific funding established; see conditional Funding leads where relevant.

04 / Check with the provider

Sources and where to get help

Use the provider’s official starting page to ask about your situation. Published information was checked on October 20, 2026; the provider must confirm current availability and personal eligibility.