To be very precise, there are five levels of education that help you get prepared for a career in social work in Canada. They are:
•Diploma of Social Work
•Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
•Master of Social Work (MSW)
•Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
•Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
However, the type of work you intend to engage in will determine the level of education you would require to obtain. A Bachelor of Social Work degree is accepted as the minimum requirement in many Canadian provinces to pursue a professional of social worker. One exception: in Alberta, a diploma in social work is the minimum educational level needed by an individual to be a social worker.
Many schools in Canada offer a number of programs in social work. Normally, Bachelor in Social Work programs are for students who possess an accredited Bachelor’s degree. There are some programs that require students to hold an undergraduate degree to get enrolled. Following are some of the prerequisites, individuals are required to meet before getting enrolled into various social work programs in Canada:
•Individuals must possess a grade point in their undergraduate degree or studies they pursued. The grade point normally ranges between 65-70 percent.
•Individuals must complete coursework in the following:
1.English
2.Humanities
3.Social Sciences and
4.Introductory courses in social work
•Individuals must provide their personal written statement stating why they want to pursue a profession in social work.
•Individuals must have work experience in social work, which may include community services.
•Individuals must face the selection committee for their personal interviews.
•Individuals must get reference letters.
As for the educational qualifications, individuals need to possess a diploma/degree in social work to be able to become social workers in Canada. Many provinces in the North American country consider a Bachelor Degree in Social Work as one of the compulsory credentials for the profession.
In order to work as social workers in Canada, one has to make himself/herself registered in the country. This should be kept in mind that often a diploma of 2 years in social work may not work in order to get registered in certain provinces. In federal territories like the Yukon; the Northwest Territories; and Nunavut a 2-year diploma can be used for the registration. In these territories, social worker profession is not regulated.
Other than the above mentioned territories, social worker profession is regulated in every province in Canada. As for foreign-born individuals, if someone has earned a credential from recognized university out of Canada, he/she may be admissible for transfer credit. If the individual holds a B.SW. Degree from any foreign country, then he/she may be required to enroll into additional courses. In this case, the individual may be accepted for direct licensure in Canada.
The profession of a social worker is rewarding one and it’s better if you consider pursuing a career in the field in Canada. Canada holds endless opportunities for social workers. It is possible to explore the opportunities once you are in the country.
