About Us
The British Columbia College of Social Workers regulates the social work profession in British Columbia. Our mission is to protect members of the public from preventable harm while they are interacting with Registered Social Workers. The College maintains an online registry of all social workers authorized to practice as Registered Social Workers.
The College's authority comes from the BC Social Workers Act. We are governed by a twelve-member Board, composed of eight social-work members elected by registrants and four appointed by the provincial government to represent the public interest. The College's Registrar directs day-to-day operations.
The College exercises its jurisdiction over British Columbia's social work profession in three major areas:
Competence
We assess the qualifications of everyone who applies to become a Registered Social Worker (RSW). All RSW's must have a minimum of a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a program approved by the College's Board. To qualify as a Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW), applicants must have a Master of Social Work degree and pass an examination. For more information read our registration process for new applicants.
Professional Excellence
The College encourages and promotes high standards of social work practice through its Standards of Practice and Bylaws.
Discipline
The College reviews complaints from members of the public concerning Registered Social Workers' practices. It can impose disciplinary measures that range from temporary oversight of a social worker to removal of an individual's right to practice social work. For more information read our complaints process.