How to become a social worker
Official title: Social workers
Also called: Social worker, Group social worker, Social work officer, Family social worker, School social worker, Medical social worker, Social work supervisor, Addiction social worker, Certified social worker, Geriatric social worker, Social work coordinator, Caseworker - social work
Social workers help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations develop the skills and resources they need to enhance social functioning and provide counselling, therapy and referral to other supportive social services. Social workers also respond to other social needs and issues such as unemployment, racism and poverty. They are employed by hospitals, school boards, social service agencies, child welfare organizations, correctional facilities, community agencies, employee assistance programs and Aboriginal band councils, or they may work in private practice.
Main tasks
- Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, to assess their situation and problems and determine the types of services required
- Provide counsel and therapy to assist clients in developing skills to deal with and resolve their social and personal problems
- Plan programs of assistance for clients including referral to agencies that provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, medical treatment and other services
- Investigate cases of child abuse or neglect and take authorized protective action when necessary
- Serve as members on interdisciplinary teams of professionals working with client groups
- Act as advocates for client groups in the community, lobby for solutions to problems directly affecting client groups and develop prevention and intervention programs to meet community needs
- Develop or advise on social policy legislation, conduct social research and assist in community development
- Provide mediation services and psychosocial assessments
How to become one
A bachelor's degree in social work is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. In Alberta, a bachelor's degree or diploma in social work is required. Supervised practical experience is usually required. Successful completion of provincial written and oral examinations may be required. Registration with a provincial governing body is mandatory to practise as a social worker in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Use of the titles "Social Worker" and "Registered Social Worker" is regulated in all provinces. Membership in a provincial association of social workers is usually required.
Ways in
- University: Social Work & Community degrees, Offered by 8 universities in Canada
- Licence or registration: Registration with a provincial governing body is mandatory to practise as a social worker in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $74,997 a year The middle half earn $60,372 to $87,750.
- About 77,500 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 93,400 are projected by 2033. (+20.5%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: strong risk of shortage.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a social worker?
A bachelor's degree in social work is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. In Alberta, a bachelor's degree or diploma in social work is required. Supervised practical experience is usually required. Successful completion of provincial written and oral examinations may be required. Registration with a provincial governing body is mandatory to practise as a social worker in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Use of the titles "Social Worker" and "Registered Social Worker" is regulated in all provinces. Membership in a provincial association of social workers is usually required.
How much does a social worker earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $74,997 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $60,372 to $87,750.
Is a social worker a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 21% by 2033, from about 77,500 to about 93,400 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a social worker?
Usually. 93% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03