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Application Procedure
Before proceeding, please review the CASW Assessment of International Credentials Terms and Conditions.
Please follow the Steps outlined in Parts 1, 2 and 3 to have your Social Work qualifications assessed. Please read all instructions carefully.
Documents may be submitted in any order, or all at once, however a file will not move forward to the evaluation stage until CASW has received all the necessary documents and payment.
CASW opens a file in the applicant’s name when we receive their first document. All subsequent documents are added to this file as they arrive at our offices. Documents may be submitted in any order. Unfortunately, due to the volume of mail received, CASW is unable to provide proactive updates regarding the receipt of mail, or status updates. Applicants may inquire about the status of assessments at any point in the process by email or by phone.
The time it takes to assess the file can vary greatly depending on demand, and CASW is unable to guarantee specific timelines in terms of completing evaluations. However, once all the required documentation has been received, assessments generally take between 6-12 weeks.
Please do not submit any original documents to CASW. As per our Terms and Conditions, CASW will not return documents submitted by applicants. CASW does not retain hard copies of documents. Any original documents received by CASW will not be returned and will be destroyed by CASW at its sole discretion (effective October 1, 2023).
If any documents are in a language other than one of Canada's two official languages (French or English), CASW will require translations. CASW will accept translations of documents from either the applicant, the educational institution, or a third party on behalf of an applicant. However, if any discrepancies were to be found during the evaluation process, CASW could then require that translations be submitted by a certified translator.
*Please e-mail casw@casw-acts.ca with any questions regarding your Application for the Assessment of International Academic Credentials.* Applicants can expect responses to inquiries within 10 to 15 business days.
Part 1
The documents in Part 1 of the application must be received directly from the educational institution attended. This must be arranged by the applicant.
1. CASW Verification Form
CASW must receive the CASW Verification Form relating to the primary credential/degree to be assessed directly from the educational institution attended. CASW does not accept Verification forms electronically (e-mail attachments).
The CASW Verification form must be printed, signed, and sealed by Dean or Director of School/Faculty of Social Work at the applicable academic institution and sent by mail directly to the CASW offices, not to the applicant. The applicant cannot forward a sealed envelope.
Canadian Association of Social Workers
M229 - 1554 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7M4
2. Official Credentials/Transcripts for Primary Credential/Degree to be assessed:
The official transcript of the primary credential/degree to be assessed must be received directly by mail at the CASW offices from the educational institution attended. CASW does not accept copies of transcripts electronically (e-mail attachments).
Canadian Association of Social Workers
M229 - 1554 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7M4
Official transcripts should include a record of all courses taken, as well as grades and credit hours received.
The primary credential/degree is considered the highest level of professional social work education completed by an applicant. If CASW receives the primary degree transcript from an applicant, whether in a sealed envelope or not, CASW will request that a new transcript be sent directly to CASW from the educational institution before proceeding with an evaluation. No exceptions.
Part 2
The following documentation is also required by CASW to proceed with an assessment. All documents in Part 2 may be sent to CASW directly by an applicant or by a third party on behalf of the applicant. Please send these documents via email to: caswassessment@casw-acts.ca.
Please note: CASW will only accept documents sent via email in the following formats: PDF, Microsoft Word, JPEG, or PNG as attachments. Documents must be sent in an organized manner and be clearly labeled (it is not possible for CASW to access documents sent via google drive).
If it is not possible to send the documents in Part 2 via email, applicants may mail documents to:
Canadian Association of Social Workers
M229 - 1554 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7M4
Please do
not submit any original documents to CASW. As per our
Terms and Conditions, CASW will not return documents submitted by applicants. CASW does not retain hard copies of documents. Any original documents received by CASW will not be returned and will be destroyed by CASW at its sole discretion (effective October 1, 2023).
3. The CASW Application Form
The CASW Application Form must be completed by the applicant
The CASW application form may be sent to CASW directly by an applicant or by a third party on behalf of the applicant.
Please send this document via email to caswassessment@casw-acts.ca. If it is not possible to send the application form via email, applicants may mail documents to:
Canadian Association of Social Workers
M229 - 1554 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7M4
Please note: CASW opens a file in the applicant’s name when we receive their first document. All subsequent documents are added to this file as they arrive at our offices. Documents may be submitted in any order. CASW would recommend submitting the application form when you begin the application process.
4. Course Descriptions
Course descriptions are required for each class as listed on the transcript. Ideally course descriptions should come from an academic institution’s syllabus or other official document. Most academic institutions use course descriptions to help students decide which classes to take. Photocopies of the original course descriptions from the academic institution attended are acceptable.
If course descriptions are not available from the academic institution attended, CASW will accept one to two paragraphs stating the purpose, content and learning objectives of each class listed on the transcript summarized by the applicant.
Click here to see an example of what is required.
Course descriptions may be sent to CASW directly by an applicant or by a third party on behalf of the applicant.
Please send these documents via email to caswassessment@casw-acts.ca. If it is not possible to send the course descriptions via email, applicants may mail documents to:
Canadian Association of Social Workers
M229 - 1554 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7M4
5. Social Work Field Practice Descriptions
Ideally Field Work, Practicum, or Placement descriptions should come from your academic institution’s 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.
If Field Work, Practicum, or Placement descriptions are not available from the academic institution attended, CASW will accept 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.
Note that the evaluation is purely academic in nature and does not consider work or volunteer experience.
Field work descriptions may be sent to CASW directly by an applicant or by a third party on behalf of the applicant.
Please send these documents via email to caswassessment@casw-acts.ca. If it is not possible to send the field work descriptions via email, applicants may mail documents to:
Canadian Association of Social Workers
M229 - 1554 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7M4
6. Pay the Application Fee
The fee is $395.00 ($350 plus 13% HST) and covers the professional assessment and administrative costs.
Applicants may make the payment at any point during the assessment process; however, a file will not move forward to the evaluation stage until a payment has been received.
CASW accepts payment in Canadian funds only and the preferred payment options is by credit card through PayPal. If using the PayPal option, applicants must forward a copy of the PayPal receipt to CASW.
Money order and certified cheques made payable to the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) are also accepted and should be mailed with your application form. Please be aware that CASW will not proceed with an assessment until confirmation is received from our banking institution that payment has cleared.
The CASW refund policy can be found here
7. Document Checklist
Please download the
Document Checklist to ensure that all necessary documents are submitted to CASW.
While CASW will provide support and answers to enquires, it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide CASW with the necessary documents for your evaluation.
CASW evaluators require all relevant documents listed on the checklist to fully understand an applicant’s credentials.
Please note: Missing documents could lead to an outcome of non-equivalency to a Canadian Bachelor or Master of Social Work. If your credentials are found non-equivalent to Canadian Standards due to missing documents (most often education completed is in an unrelated discipline or unsubmitted field placement hours) you will be required to pay another full assessment fee to conduct a review or reassessment. Please find the
CASW Review policy here.
The completed document checklist should be the final document submitted to CASW. This indicates to CASW that you have reviewed the full
Document Checklist and submitted all the documentation required for your assessment.
Once
the document checklist has been submitted, CASW will review your file. You will then receive an update via email regarding the status of your file. Please send the document checklist via email to
caswassessment@casw-acts.ca. If it is not possible to send the document checklist via email, you may mail documents to: Canadian Association of Social Workers, M229 - 1554 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Z 7M4
The time it takes to assess the file can vary greatly depending on demand, and CASW is unable to guarantee specific timelines in terms of completing evaluations. However, once all the required documentation has been received, assessments generally take between 6-12 weeks.
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Part 3
The following documents
MUST be submitted
if applicable to you. These documents may be sent to CASW directly by an applicant or by a third party on behalf of the applicant. Please send these documents via email to
caswassessment@casw-acts.ca. If it is not possible to send the documents via email, applicants may mail documents to:
Canadian Association of Social Workers
M229 - 1554 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7M4
Please do
not submit any original documents to CASW. As per our
Terms and Conditions, CASW will not return documents submitted by applicants. CASW does not retain hard copies of documents. Any original documents received by CASW will not be returned and will be destroyed by CASW at its sole discretion (effective October 1, 2023).
Please note often an evaluation of non-equivalence to a Canadian Bachelor or Master Degree in Social Work comes down to applicants not submitting all their Post-Secondary Credentials.
8. Secondary Credentials
Generally, secondary credentials are considered all post-secondary education completed by an applicant prior to the completion of their highest level of social work education. CASW does not require post graduate continuing education seminars, courses, or diplomas. CASW does not assess Secondary School credentials.
CASW requires official transcripts and course descriptions of secondary credentials (degrees/diplomas) obtained even if the education completed is in an unrelated discipline.
Copies of secondary credentials may be sent to CASW directly by the applicant. However, please note that in the process of assessment, CASW assessors may request official transcripts of secondary credentials sent directly by the university to CASW to validate results.
Course descriptions are required for all courses, including secondary credentials or non-social work degrees.
Transcripts and course descriptions relating to secondary credentials may be sent to CASW directly by an applicant or by a third party on behalf of the applicant.
Please send these documents via email to caswassessment@casw-acts.ca. If it is not possible to send the transcripts and course descriptions relating to secondary credentials via email, applicants may mail documents to:
Canadian Association of Social Workers
M229 - 1554 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7M4
9. Supporting Documentation
Supporting documents are not mandatory and need only be sent if applicable to the applicant.
Supporting documents include:
- A copy of the title and abstract of an applicant’s Thesis or Major Research Paper, if one was completed.
- Proof of membership in professional social work associations(s) from another country
- A copy of Social work Certificate(s) or Diplomas(s) obtained
Supporting documentation may be sent to CASW directly by an applicant or by a third party on behalf of the applicant.
Please send these documents via email to caswassessment@casw-acts.ca. If it is not possible to send supporting documentation via email, applicants may mail documents to:
Canadian Association of Social Workers
M229 - 1554 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7M4
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10. Waiver Form
Please complete the
Waiver Form and mail it in with the required additional and supporting documentation if you intend to practice social work in Canada.
If an applicant receives equivalency to a Canadian Bachelor or Master of Social Work, CASW will send a letter to the provincial or territorial regulatory body designated in the Waiver Form.
A letter will not be sent to the designated provincial or territorial regulatory body if the applicant does not receive equivalency to a Canadian Bachelor or Master of Social Work.
Applicants receive letters of assessment regardless of results.
The waiver form may be sent to CASW directly by an applicant or by a third party on behalf of the applicant.
Please send this document via email to caswassessment@casw-acts.ca. If it is not possible to send the waiver form via email, applicants may mail documents to:
Canadian Association of Social Workers
M229 - 1554 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7M4
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** Applicants with limited internet access may choose to download the application package. For the most up to date information, please consult the CASW website whenever possible.
