Practicing Membership

Download Member Application Form

The Member Application Form must be accompanied by the $100.00 non-refundable application fee. This can be paid by cheque or cash.

Members wishing to pay using credit card or debit can do so online here. Applicants must fill in their name and the payment amount. The Association number and Registration number remain the same, specifically, Association number “7” and membership number “12345”.

Please refer to the Policy Regarding the References.

All applicants must provide two letters of reference. At least one letter of reference must be provided by a social worker.

Please ask the people providing these references to submit them directly to the NBASW by email, mail or fax.

Download the form here.

Once the social work degree requirements are successfully completed, applicants must complete the top section, sign, and forward the document to the university where they will be receiving their social work degree. The university must complete the bottom section, affix their seal, and return the completed form directly to the NBASW by email, mail or fax. 

Download the form here.

This document must be completed, signed, and returned to the NBASW, by the applicant.

Download the form here.

All applicants must provide a criminal record check from an appropriate law enforcement agency. The criminal record check must be an original document with an official seal and be no more than three months old at the time the application is considered by the committee of examiners. View our Policy on Criminal Record Checks for more information.

Some law enforcement agencies may require a letter from the NBASW in order to process the criminal record check. Please contact us to request a letter if necessary.

Applicants must provide copies of two pieces of identification that show their present and/or former legal names, date of birth and date of change of name. Examples of such documents are: birth or baptismal certificate, marriage certificate, legal change of name document, passport or immigration document, driver’s license, Medicare card. For privacy purposes, the NBASW does not accept copies of Social Insurance cards.

The Registration Form is typically sent to applicants with the letter informing them that they have been approved for membership. However, if applicants wish to accelerate the process for completing their registration, they may choose to complete this form and return it, with the appropriate dues, to the NBASW. The NBASW will hold the form and payment until the applicant has been approved for membership. Otherwise, this form is to be completed and returned to the NBASW office with appropriate dues after receiving notification of membership approval.

Payment of membership dues can be accepted by cheque or cash. Members wishing to pay using credit card or debit can do so online here. Applicants must fill in their name and the payment amount. The Association number and Registration number remain the same.

Download Registration Form
Download Code Sheet

Once the applicant receives their social work diploma, they must ensure that the University submits an official transcript directly to the NBASW.

If your social work degree is not from an accredited Canadian University or is not from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (USA), 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, you can apply to the NBASW as a member.

The membership dues for 2023-2024 are as follows:

Non-practicing member - $120

Prorated - The annual membership fee for new applicants who apply within the registration year following graduation from an accredited social work program is calculated on a prorated basis. The prorated membership dues will be calculated from the first date of the month registered with the NBASW until the end of the current NBASW fiscal year.