New Applicants

As a public or private sector social worker, you can register provided you meet and maintain minimum standards of experience, practice and expertise, adhere to the Code of Conduct and hold an Annual Practising Certificate.

To apply for registration you must:

• have completed or be enrolled in a recognised New Zealand qualification (or overseas equivalent – these are listed here) – or have enough practical experience to compensate for the lack of a NZ recognised qualification, as per the SWRB Criteria for Section 13 Registration
• be competent to practise social work, including practising social work with Maori and with different ethnic and cultural groups
• have enough practical experience
• be ‘fit and proper’ to practise social work in New Zealand (includes police checks, giving information about any convictions/court orders, your mental/physical condition etc).

You can view a diagram of the registration process here in our Registration Brochure (PDF).

Apply to register now.

The benefits of registration

• Registration is about the recognition of professionalism. It helps to raise the profile of social work as a competent and respected profession.
• Registration protects the public and ensures public confidence – it demonstrates to your clients and to potential employers that you practice social work in a safe, competent and ethical manner.
• The title ‘registered social worker’ recognises and identifies those who have attained this professional standard.
• Registration confers status. It confirms that social workers’ practice is at the same standard as those they work with in multi-disciplinary teams.
• A complaints procedure ensures that your peers deal with any complaints with fairness and sensitivity, within a robust and transparent system.
• Registration ensures that you get professional •development and professional supervision opportunities.