social worker
OCCUPATION INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Who is the registering body responsible for designating Social Workers in Alberta?
- What are the registration requirements for internationally educated Social Workers?
- What are the educational requirements for Social Workers in Alberta?
- What information resources are available for Social
Workers in Alberta?
Who is the registering body responsible for designating Social Workers in Alberta?
In Alberta, you must be registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) to use the protected titles Social Worker or Registered Social Worker.
What are the registration requirements for internationally educated Social Workers?
Internationally educated Social Workers must:
- Submit an International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) assessment certificate. This must include a completed
Description of Course Work application. The IQAS results
must be directly submitted to the Alberta College of
Social Workers.
NOTE: Internationally educated Social Workers may also choose to have social work credentials evaluated through the Canadian Association of Social Workers - Submit the Alberta College of Social Workers application for registration and, include the required documents/forms (found on the website) as well as fee payment.
Provisional Registration
Applicants with acceptable international qualifications
may be granted provisional registration. Provisionally
registered social workers are required to satisfactorily
complete 1500 hours of practice under the supervision of
a Registered Social Worker before full registration is
granted. It is important to note that the Alberta
College of Social Workers does not provide supervised
practice opportunities - it is the responsibility of the
applicant to find employment with appropriate
supervision.
What are the educational requirements for Social Workers in Alberta?
(Note: Regulatory bodies compare international
education and experience to Canadian standards)
Social workers must have a diploma, bachelor's degree or
master's degree in social work. Some employers require a
minimum of a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. Other
requirements may include a criminal record check, a
valid driver's license and the use of a vehicle.
In Alberta, the following institutions offer programs in social work:
- Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton.
- Medicine Hat College
- Mount Royal College in Calgary
- Northern Lakes College in Slave Lake
- Portage College in Lac La Biche
- University of Calgary offers a BSW degree program in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie and various rural and remote aboriginal communities. The University of Calgary also offers MSW and PhD programs in social work.
- Maskwachees Cultural College in Hobbema offers a 2 year diploma program in social work which has also been brokered through Blue Quills First Nation College
- NorQuest College in Edmonton.
Additional
Occupational Information
For more information on occupational duties and wages,
visit the Alberta Learning Information Service at.
www.alis.gov.ab.ca
and search for Social Worker under occupational
information.
What information resources are available for Social Workers in Alberta?
Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)
website: www.acsw.ab.ca
Canadian Association of Social Workers
website:
http://www.casw-acts.ca/
Last Updated: August 2009