SWRB Index page

1. Will I have to become registered to continue to work as a social worker?

The Social Workers Registration Act establishes a voluntary system of registration. The legislation protects the title "registered social worker".This means that unregistered social workers will still be able to call themselves a social worker, but will not be able to call themselves a registered social worker.

2. Why should I become registered?

Registration is an endorsement by the profession that minimum standards have been reached and continue to be maintained.Gaining registration demonstrates to clients and to potential employers that social workers are committed to professional standards for practising in a safe, competent and accountable manner backed by legislation. Over time it is expected that more employers may require registration as a condition of employment and that it will become the basic standard for all social workers in New Zealand and that it will enhance the public profile social work as a profession.

3. What is the process for becoming registered?

The Social Workers Registration Act sets out a broad framework for registration. It involves five key components:

a recognised New Zealand qualification;
determining whether a social worker is a fit and proper person;
competence to practise social work;
competence to practise social work with Maori and with different ethnic and cultural groups; and
practical experience.

Social workers need to make an application for registration to the Registrar - see the Registration page. Practising registered social workers will need to hold an annual practising certificate.

4. What sort of qualifications will I need to become a registered social worker?

A registered New Zealand social worker will need to have a "recognised New Zealand qualification" - for more information see the Recognised Qualifications page.

There is provision in the Act for social workers to gain registration without holding a recognised New Zealand qualification.

5. If I get registered will I be paid more?

This will be up to employers to decide. It is conceivable that some registered social workers, because of their qualifications, practical experience and recognised competence, may be able to negotiate a premium for their services.

6. Will it be difficult to get work if I'm not registered?

It will take a few years before registration becomes the basic standard expected of all social workers in New Zealand. There is likely to be an increased demand for registered social workers. The voluntary framework established by the Social Workers Registration Act tries to strike a balance between encouraging people to practise social work and protecting the public from poor social work.

7. What will it cost to become registered?

Fees Payable for registration are listed on the Fees page.

8. Will there be different levels or types of registration?

The Act allows for three different levels of registration - full, provisional and temporary.
Full registration will be granted when all of the eligibility criteria for registration are met.

Provisional registration will be granted to social workers who are either in the process of completing their practical experience or gaining the recognised social work qualification.

Temporary registration will apply to overseas social workers who have come to practise social work in New Zealand at a particular place or institution for a limited period of time.

To move from Provisional to Full Registration

9. Does the Act contain any "grandparenting" provisions?

Grandparenting provisions refer to transitional arrangements included in legislation that allow people time or extra flexibility to conform to new requirements. As registration will not be mandatory for social workers, grandparenting provisions are not a significant feature of the Social Workers Registration Act.

Two provisions are included. The first allows the Board to register social workers whose practical experience is enough to compensate for the fact that they do not hold the qualification normally required for registration.

The second provision allows social workers, practising at the time registration first becomes available, to be granted provisional registration for up to eight years (as opposed to two years for other provisionally registered social workers) if they apply within the first three months of registration being available, i.e. between 1 October 2004 and 31 December 2004.

10. Who is on the registration board?

There is provision that Board consist of six registered social workers and four other people.The Board is also representative of the social work profession (including social workers employed by non-government and government organisations), consumer advocates, social work educators, Maori, and different ethnic and cultural groups.

Board Members:

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