Registration as a Social Worker Candidate

 In order to call oneself a social worker or to practice social work in Nova Scotia, a person is required to be a registered member of the Nova Scotia Association of Social Workers. All applications for registration are reviewed by the Board of Examiners.

Social Worker Candidate (SWC)

Persons who are approved initially by the Board for registration are placed on the Register and must use the designation Social Worker Candidate (SWC) until the period of candidacy is completed.

Once the candidacy requirements have been met successfully the Board designates the person as a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and the person may refer to themselves as a Social Worker.

It must be emphasized that a Social Worker Candidate according to the Act, is registered to practice social work and this status may not be used by an employer to prevent a Social Worker Candidate from becoming employed.

The purpose for the candidacy period of supervised practice is to provide a means for the profession to ensure that social workers are competent to practice and the public to be assured of quality service and protection.

The candidacy period for a person with a doctoral or masters degree is two years experience that will demonstrate competence in social work. The candidacy period for a person with a BSW degree is three years of experience after obtaining the degree. The candidacy period must be a supervised experience and in a paid social work position approved by the Board.


Application

To become a registered member, a person must have a degree in social work and submit the following:

  • Application Form
  • Verification of a Social Work Degree
  • Two References (preferably from RSWs)
  • Non-refundable Application Fee ($100.)
  • Annual Membership Fee

If you wish to apply for registration, Click here to print the APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AS A SOCIAL WORKER CANDIDATE from this web site and return it to:

Suzanne Desjardins
Administrative Assistant
Nova Scotia Association of Social Workers
1891 Brunswick Street, Suite 106
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2G8
Telephone - (902) 429-7298
Fax - (902) 429-7650

Upon receiving the application, a complete application package will be sent to you by mail.

For further information about the requirements and process of registration, contact Ms. Desjardins.

Transfers from Other Provinces

Social Workers who are registered members in good standing of another provincial Association of Social Workers are able to transfer their membership and are not required to fulfill the candidacy period.

Social Workers who are not registered in another province may apply to the Board to have their prior work experience considered towards meeting the candidacy requirements in Nova Scotia.

For further information contact the NSASW Administrative Assistant.