RyanG17

Hi All,

I am finishing up my social work degree with the Open Uni in the UK. I plan to move to Canada and practice SW there. Does anyone have any experience of transferring Open Uni qualifications to Canada?

Cheers,

Ryan

RGH80

No idea about social work specifically, but my academic OU degree was accepted by WES. I've never had any instances where my OU degree has been questioned.

Your issue won't really be 'Will they see the OU as a real university?' and more 'Is my profession regulated and how will my degree fit into that?'

Shirtback

Also, on what visa/status are you planning to move here?

As you mention Toronto in the thread title, this may be useful to read:
https://www.ocswssw.org/registration...ll-applicants/

ShirleyEB

I have a UK social work qualification. I moved to Canada last year and currently work as an Assistant Professor of Social Work in a Canadian University. In addition to the necessary immigration/work permit requirements, you will also have to get your degree assessed for equivalency, as it is an international qualification. Also (for the most part- there are a few exceptions), practising as a social worker in Canada requires that you be registered with the respective provincial/territories regulator in which you intend to reside/work. Similarly to home, social work is a protected title and requires registration to practice. It is broadly not dissimilar from requirements of social work regulators in the UK and Ireland- HCPC, NISCC, SSSC, SCW or CORU- depending on where you are located.

You mentioned Ontario so I had a look at OCSWSSW requirements. Before you can apply to register, you will have to have your degree assessed by CASW before you can apply to register. (not WES- I believe that's for immigration/permanent residency requirements!).

I am currently having my degree evaluated as I would like to register with my provincial body. For the CASW process, basically you complete a very brief form (downloadable from the link below). You need your university to send CASW a verification form which confirms you completed your degree with them, and also your degree transcript (the certificate with all the modules on the programme). They will not accept the transcipt from you- I had to post mine home to the university, so that they can post it back to Canada!

CASW also require some information about the modules you took, including your placements. This can be submitted by you or the university. As you are near qualifying hold onto any copies of your module specifications as this will be useful. Imagine my dilemma- I qualified in 1997, so I had to get my university to dig out module specs from over 20 years ago!

It costs $339 ($20 extra if you want your documentation returned).

However you need to consider which province/territory you are moving to, as this will determine the process of registration, so if you change your mind it may be different: While getting your degree evaluated will be the first step, and is a prerequisite for registration in most parts of Canada, CASW accreditation does not apply in Quebec or British Columbia.


https://casw-acts.ca/en/about-casw/w...al-credentials

ShirleyEB

I forgot to add; while I'm not aware of your mode of study, CASW does not assess degrees obtained through distance education or self-study/correspondence work.

RyanG17

Thank you Shirley thank is very helpful.

Atlantic Xpat

Thread drifting a bit, this seems a uniquely Canadian bureaucratic nuance .... A transcript is required for everything and it must come directly from the University etc, it can't be the copy you have to hand already.

Some years ago I did a MBA (At the same institution you now work for) and since this was oh, 20 years or more, since my undergraduate I was S-O-L when it came to getting any course information to allow me any kind of advanced standing. So I had to take some basic courses while shiny new BComms who knew nothing about anything in the real world, advanced to the second year directly. Not at all annoying.

ShirleyEB

The transcript I have is not a 'copy', it is the 'official' transcript issued by the university and it is acceptable for me to return it to the university, so they do not have to reproduce the exact same thing & charge me for it. I have been talking to the university lol!