FAQs for CPD

I am in the Non-Practising Class, but transferred from a practising (Full, Clinical) class to the Non-Practising Class during the CPD Cycle Year, am I required to complete CPD?

Registrants are required to complete CPD learning if they have spent any part of the CPD cycle year in a practising class. The annual requirement is pro-rated to the time the registrant remained in the practising class. The pro-ration of CPD hours also applies if a registrant moves from the Non Practising Class to the full or clinical class.

Where do I go for guidance on how to meet the Indigenous-Specific & Cultural Safety Learning CPD components?

You can review the Continuing Professional Development guidebook and supporting information to help support the development of related goals and accompanying learning activities. The CPD Categories of Activities support booklet has a list of some examples for this specific learning component to help get you started. Make sure to keep an eye on emails and updates regarding CPD from the College and on the website.

If you have any questions about the above CPD mandatory learnings, such as discussing if a potential learning activity meets the requirements, you can contact Indigenousengagement@bccsw.ca

Why has cultural safety, cultural humility, anti-discriminatory practice, Indigenous-specific cultural learning and anti-indigenous racism and discrimination learning become mandatory within the CPD hours?

These additions to the mandatory learning requirements for CPD have been added for a number of reasons. Overall, they are intended to better reflect the evolving nature of the Social Work profession and ensure that the CPD program supports the development of ethical, culturally competent, and inclusive practices for all Registered Social Workers.

These areas of learning are critical to the practice of Social Work within both the Canadian and provincial context of British Columbia. The work of the BCCSW and RSW/RCSWs occurs on the unceded and treatied territories of Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), requiring an understanding and continued learning about the unique rights and title of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. This important area of learning is also grounded in legislation, policy, and calls to action and justice from Indigenous Peoples in addressing the legacy and ongoing impacts of colonialism and anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination.

In 2017 the BCCSW, alongside other health regulators, signed a Declaration of Commitment to Cultural Safety and Humility; this commitment recognizes the high importance of cultural safety and humility as quality and safety dimensions within the public protection mandate, and in the delivery of services to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. The BCCSW committed to create a climate of change, engage and enable stakeholders, and implement and sustain change, including:

Encouraging, supporting and enhancing cultural safety and cultural competency amongst health professionals in BC
Openly and honestly addressing concerns and leading by example – identifying and removing barriers to progress
Encouraging and empowering the organization’s staff, governors, and volunteers to develop cultural humility and foster a culture of cultural safety

Legislation, policy and reports that guide this work and commitment to cultural safety, addressing anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination, and upholding the unique rights of Indigenous Peoples includes:

Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1996
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007
Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada – Final Report and Calls to Action, 2015
Reclaiming Power & Place: Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls & Calls to Justice, 2019
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, 2019
In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care, 2020

Will I be able to renew my registration if I have not complied with CPD?

No. In order to renew your registration, you are required to meet the CPD requirements before the registration renewal deadline of January 31.

What will happen if I don’t meet the requirements by October 31?

If you do not comply by October 31, the online register will show your status as ‘Not in Good Standing – CPD’ until the CPD requirements have been met.

Does the College have an audit process?

The College will be collecting data in order to determine fair and consistent auditing criteria to be applied in an audit process.

Can I meet the Colleges Standards for CPD by being involved in my employer’s annual appraisal system?

Yes. We encourage wherever possible that a registrant’s personal CPD learning plan be negotiated as part of their annual appraisal plan (or similar) with their employer. We encourage that you consider and apply the College’s Standards for CPD as part of the objectives of an overall employer annual appraisal and development plan.

Will the College provide ongoing support to individuals?

Yes. As part of our current practice consultation service we will provide ongoing support to registrants. You can also raise any questions or suggestions on the CPD Program by emailing: info@bccsw.ca.

Why is there a mandatory requirement to undertake learning activities related to Ethics?

Ethics, which encapsulates ethical conduct and ethical decision making, is central to promoting the activity of social work in all of its forms and scopes of practice. This underpinning supports the realization of the social work ‘mission’ to ‘facilitate well-being and participation of people, promote social justice and economic justice, address structural sources of inequities, and eliminate conditions that infringe human and civil rights’ (CASW-ACFTS Accreditation Standards- May 2012).

How many hours of CPD learning do I have to undertake to meet the College’s CPD and renewal of registration requirements?

The minimum amount of CPD you should undertake each year should be equivalent to 40 hours. This includes the mandatory requirement on Ethics which needs to be a minimum of 3 hours per year. The selected Ethics activity needs to include consideration of issues of ethical conduct and ethical decision making.