New: To assist with your application, we have devloped an easy to use questionnaire called the International Application Toolkit. After answering the questions, it will produce a handy ‘to do’ list of items you need to complete and submit your application.
Step 1: All applicants must:
- Complete and submit the online application process.
- Have their international credential assessed by any of the credential evaluation service providers approved by the College’s Registration Committee by arranging for a basic report sent to the College directly by one of the approved credential evaluation service providers.
- In order to meet approval for the entry to practice exam, must demonstrate that their university education is substantially equivalent to a social work degree from an academic program approved by the board. This is done by completing a substantial equivalency assessment, which includes two parts: Application Supplement 1 – Knowledge Equivalency Portfolio* – filled out by the applicant Application Supplement 2 – Practice Experience Assessment – filled out by the applicant’s supervisor. Evidence of not less than 700 hours of social work experience must be submitted (paid social work and/or practicum practice).
*For each course listed in Application Supplement 1, provide the course description/syllabus/outline, any coursework completed (e.g. marked essays), and evidence of any recommended readings completed that address the subject area descriptions found in the section “Description of the 7 Subject Areas” of this form present in Online portal.
- Undergo the following criminal record checks:
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- Consent to a Criminal Record Check. This appears as a section on the application form and is a requirement pursuant to the BC Criminal Records Review Act. Please note that your response to the sex question on the application form is required by the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP) of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General for them to conduct your criminal record check.
- Police Information Check (this is a requirement separate from and in addition to completing the ‘Consent to a Criminal Record Check). Applicants are required to submit a national or federal criminal record check from their country of residence. Police Information Checks must be dated within 60 days prior to the application submission date. The original copy of the result of the check must be mailed to the College by the applicant if the issuing agency will not send it directly to the College.
- If your country of residence is Canada, this requirement can be fulfilled by visiting your local police detachment and requesting a Police Information Check including the vulnerable sector.
- If your country of residence is the USA, you are required to submit an FBI Identity History Summary Check.
- Criminal record checks are required from any country in which an applicant was a resident or worked as an adult. If citizenship or permanent residency in Canada has been granted and the applicant has not resided outside Canada since the date of issue, the College may accept proof of a Permanent Resident Card or Canadian Citizenship information in lieu of international criminal record checks.
- A criminal record does not automatically disqualify an applicant from registration; however, it is necessary to provide details of the incident that gave rise to the criminal record.
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- Provide a high-quality copy of two (2) pieces of identification (both sides) notarized and verified in-person by a lawyer or notary public in their original. Virtually notarized documents are not accepted. One must be government issued photo identification. These copies can be sent to the College by email, or mail.
- An up-to-date resume with complete work history. Applicants may be required to provide additional information. This can be sent to the College by email.
- Provide details of two character references through the application portal.
- Applicants that have been registered with other regulatory bodies will be required to complete the Verification of Registration/Licensure form for either Social Work Regulators or Non Social Work Regulators
- Language Proficiency
Applicants for full, clinical and provisional registration must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in English to the satisfaction of the Registration Committee. For more information, click here.
*Please note: The College may contact applicants to request additional information if necessary.
Step 2: Once all of the required documents have been received, the College will review the application in its entirety. If it is determined that the application meets the registration requirements, the applicant will receive an email from the College notifying that they have been approved to take the ASWB’s exam. Please be advised that the ASWB charges a fee for writing the exam.
Step 3: After receiving the exam approval email from the College, the applicant can register for the exam through the ASWB. Please visit the ASWB’s website (www.aswb.org) and read the Candidate Handbook (PDF) under the Exam Candidates section.
Step 4: Once registration for the exam is complete, ASWB will send the applicant an Authorization to Test. When the applicant receives this authorization, they can schedule an appointment for the exam through the test centre designated by ASWB.
Step 5: Within 1-2 weeks after the exam has been taken, the College will receive an official score report from the ASWB. If the applicant has passed the exam, the College will send him/her an application approval email with an invoice for a registration fee. Payment of the registration fee will complete the registration process.
The above information is also available in the following languages:
Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Hindi, Punjabi and Tamil
