The NBASW regulates the social work profession in New Brunswick, in addition to regulating a social work paraprofession, called social work technicians. For each professional category, the NBASW controls both the title and the scope, as provided by the NBASW Act.

The NBASW membership is required for all individuals who want to practice within their respective scope of practice, either in-person or virtually, when providing services to clients in New Brunswick, and who want to use either the title of “Social Worker”, “Registered Social Worker”, “Social Work Technician”, or “Registered Social Work Technician”.

In addition to the privilege of practicing within their respective scopes of practice and using the professional tiles of "Social Worker’’ and "Registered Social Worker,’’ “Social Work Technician,” or “Registered Social Work Technician” being a member of NBASW offers other benefits as well, including access to continuing education, professional networking, bursaries, and discounts.

NBASW Membership is open to individuals who are currently a resident of Canada, entitled to be a resident of Canada, or an ordinary resident of a province or territory in Canada at the time of your application.

If you are uncertain whether you meet this requirement, please contact our office.

Click here to review potential scenarios.

Yes. Students who are currently enrolled in a BSW or MSW Accredited Social Work Program or a recognized social work technician program can apply for student membership.

If you have completed the educational requirements for either Social Work Technician or Social Work membership , you may apply for and maintain those categories of membership while you pursue higher education.

The minimum educational requirement to become a social worker is a BSW or MSW Accredited Social Work Program in Canada or the U.S.

For applicants who earned their social work degree outside of Canada or the United States, the first step is to have your foreign social work credentials evaluated by the Canadian Association of Social Workers. You can access information about this process here. The CASW will guide you through the evaluation process of your credentials. Once the evaluation process of your foreign credentials is complete, and it indicates that your education is equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work, you can then apply to the NBASW as a practicing member.

All prospective members must complete an application for membership to NBASW, and must be a member in good standing with all regulatory bodies of social work in which the applicant has been fully registered.

The profession of social work is a growing field. We encourage those interested in pursuing a career as a social worker to explore education programs that meet the minimum requirements for membership.

The minimum education requirement to apply as a social work technician is a college-level education from a recognized social work technician program, or current registration as a social work paraprofessional in another Canadian jurisdiction. Click here to review the recognized social work technician programs and to apply to become a social work technician.

For a limited period, individuals who do not meet the above criteria, but who are currently working in a social work technician equivalent role can apply for Social Work Technician Equivalency. Applications will be accepted until June 7, 2025. Click here to review the application requirements for equivalency.

Please review the Scopes of Practice document which defines what activities fall within the social work technician scope. These may be helpful in determining how equivalent your current role is to a social work technician’s. 

No. The Social Work Technician Equivalency process only applies to individuals who are currently working within a social work technician equivalent role. However, you may be eligible for the social work technician application process instead.

Those who are not eligible for the above pathways are encouraged to complete the minimum education requirements to become eligible for social work technician registration.

Both the Member Application Form and the Application Fee must be received by June 7, 2025, to successfully open an application for Social Work Technician Equivalency during the equivalency period. The NBASW will accept additional Equivalency application requirements only from individuals who successfully opened their application file on time.

All prospective members who hold equivalent licensure in another Canadian jurisdiction must complete an application for social work technician membership  to the NBASW and must be a member in good standing with all regulatory bodies of social work to which the applicant has been registered. If you are currently registered as a social work technician-equivalent in another Canadian jurisdiction, you can apply to become a social work technician here. 

Applicants who are currently working in a social work technician equivalent role and meet the Canadian Residency criterion can apply for Social Work Technician Equivalency.

Individuals who do not meet these criteria can contact the NBASW to be added to a mailing list for future updates on this item.

The profession of social work technician is a growing field. We encourage those interested in pursuing a career as a social work technician to explore education programs  that meet the minimum requirements for membership.