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Assessment of Foreign Trained Social Workers' Degrees

Effective July 1, 2010, 13% HST will be charged for the assessment of foreign trained social workers degrees due to the harmonizing of the Government of Canada (GST) and the Province of Ontario (PST) sales taxes. The fee will be $250.00 plus 13% HST= $282.50.

PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATION OF FOREIGN SOCIAL WORK CREDENTIALS

Note: CASW’s assessment is accepted in all provinces/territories with the exception of British Columbia and Quebec. Please confirm this by contacting the appropriate social work associations (Click here).

I. APPLICATION FOR EVALUATION OF SOCIAL WORK CREDENTIALS

For an evaluation of social work credentials, the applicant can download the application kit from the CASW website or request that the application kit be sent to him/her.

Note: CASW does not assess degrees obtained through distance education or self-study/correspondence course work.


To print out this package : Letter to Applicant, Information Sheet, Application Form, Waiver Form, Verification Form and Common Questions and Answers.

The application form requires details of academic background supported by documents in English or French, as specified below.


(Evidence of written and spoken facility in the English or French language may be required in order to practice in Canada.)



Documents Required (All documents listed are required to proceed with an evaluation. Photocopies of the original documents are acceptable with the exception of the Transcript and the Verification form). It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the required documentation.




a. Official university transcripts, including a record of courses and grades obtained. (Applicants are responsible for arranging for official transcripts to be forwarded directly to CASW by the educational institutions attended. Translations should be certified and the original documents should be attached.)
b. Social work certificate(s) or diplomas(s) obtained.
c. Social work course descriptions (from university syllabus or other official document), as well as descriptions of courses or experience necessary to meet admission requirements.
d. Social work field practice description (from university syllabus or other official document). Please ensure that you list the social service agency(s) from your field placement experiences, including an overview of the type of setting, hours of practicum per semester (as applicable) and a general description of your on-site experiences, including the methods of supervision and evaluation by the agency and by the university.
e. Proof of membership in professional social work associations(s) from another country (if applicable).
f. Verification form (original form signed and sealed by Dean or Director of School/Faculty of Social Work at the applicable academic institution).
g. Applicants applying to have a Masters degree assessed for equivalency to a Canadian Master of Social Work degree are required to provide official university transcripts of Bachelor degree(s), including a record of courses and grades obtained are required. (Applicants are responsible for arranging for official transcripts to be forwarded directly to CASW by the educational institutions attended. Translations should be certified and the original documents should be attached.)


A fee of $250.00 plus 13% HST= $282.50. (Money Order or Certified Cheque in Canadian Funds only) payable to CASW must be submitted with the complete application form and documentation. This fee covers the professional assessment process and association administrative costs.


II. PERUSAL OF DOCUMENTATION WITH THE AID OF RESOURCES

NOTE: Upon receipt of the completed application form, documentation (as listed above) and fee, the evaluation process will begin. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all documentation is provided.



a. Documentation is checked to ensure that it is complete.
b. Documents and the relevant section of the World Guide to Social Work Education, published by the International Association of Schools of Social Work, are reviewed. The Guide describes the pattern of education in each country where social work is identified as a professional practice. It provides factual information on a sample of school of social work in sixty-one countries. The guide also facilitates the comparative study of social work education.
c. The IASSW Directory (International Association of Schools of Social Work) is checked to see if the educational institution attended by the applicant is listed as a member. Membership gives an indication of whether the institution is recognized as a professional social work training centre and whether it views itself as a part of the international social work community.
d. Consultation with social workers familiar with social work education and practice in the country of origin, when possible.

III. EQUATING APPLICANT'S EDUCATION TO THE CANADIAN STANDARD

The first level professional degree (B.S.W.) is generally a four-year undergraduate program which includes liberal arts courses (in the humanities and the natural and social sciences), social work professional courses and field practice. The general requirement is a minimum of sixty credits in the following areas: social work intervention methods, social policy, field of practice and social problems, research methods and field work (a minimum of 700 hours).

Generally stated, the objectives are “the achievement by the graduate of a level of competence adequate for undertaking initial responsibility in general practice”.

The M.S.W. is either a one-year graduate program following the B.S.W. or a two-year graduate program that admits candidates who hold general arts or other non-social work bachelor degrees. Field practice is an essential component of both models. Although a thesis, a dissertation or a research report is not an essential component it is taken into consideration.

The general objective of programs at the Master’s level is stated as follows: to contribute to the preparation of graduates who possess an advanced level of competence with respect to a particular social problem area, professional service sector, social work methodology, professional role or function or in a combination of these.

IV. WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF THE EVALUATION AND THE EQUIVALENCY RATING OF CANDIDATE'S CREDENTIALS
The applicant is provided with a personal letter as well as a "To Whom It May Concern" letter, stating the equivalency of his/her credentials to the Canadian standard. The letter is for use with prospective employers for practice in provinces concerned and/or membership requirements of provincial/territorial professional social work associations.


V. REVIEW AND APPEAL


Review

- Applicants who received equivalence to a Canadian BSW and who feel they have equivalency to a Canadian MSW may ask for a review of this decision within 6 months of being informed.
- Applicants who question the rating should be informed of the reasons justifying the decision and of the process for requesting the review.
- The request for this review should be submitted in writing to the Executive Director of CASW providing additional information depending on the basis of the initial decision.
- The Executive Director may ask the evaluator to review the rating taking into consideration the additional information, or request a review by a third party.
- A request for review more than six months following the decision should be considered a new assessment.

Appeals

- Applicants who are not granted equivalence to a Canadian Social Work degree may appeal this decision in writing to the CASW President.
- The letter informing the applicant of the decision should state the reasons for non-equivalency.
- The applicant should be notified of the right of appeal as well as the process to appeal.
- An appeal should be submitted within 3 months of the decision communicated to the applicant.
- The applicant should state the basis for the appeal. (For example, some of the information was ignored or misunderstood.)
- The CASW President (or designate) will review the file, the reason for not granting equivalence and determine if an assessment by a third party assessment of the complaint.
- The applicant will receive feedback on the process followed by the third party assessement of the complaint.