Engaging in clinical social work services as a private practitioner requires additional authorization from the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) Board of Examiners. This webpage is your comprehensive guide to navigating the process of applying for registration as a clinical social work specialist in Nova Scotia.
Section 2(j) of the Social Workers Act defines “private practice” as “the provision of social work services by a person who is self-employed as determined by the Board.” The Board of Examiners defines self-employment as the provision of the social work services set out at section 5A of the Act in which the social worker:
Any social worker registered with NSCSW may engage in non-clinical private practice within their sphere of competence, but must obtain Board of Examiners authorization via the process on this page before beginning self-employment as a clinical practitioner.
It is important to note that some organizations will recruit social workers as contractors rather than hire them as employees. Understand the distinction and be sure of your status.
If you aren’t sure whether the role you’re considering would require clinical specialist registration, please contact the Registrar to discuss your circumstances.
As long as their private practice is exclusively for non-clinical social work, RSWs and SWCs in Nova Scotia who do not have clinical specialist registration may be self-employed without completing the application process on this page. Non-clinical practitioners may hold either a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Social Work (BSW or MSW) and often focus on community resources, advocacy, and support.
Non-clinical social work targets the social, environmental, and economic factors that affect clients’ well-being, aiming to improve access to resources, social support, and community services. Practitioners of non-clinical social work play a vital role in building resilient communities through resource leverage and systemic advocacy; they enhance service users’ quality of life by:
Areas of specialization for non-clinical private practitioners may include:
Whether you’re contemplating the transition to private practice or looking to deepen your expertise in clinical social work, understanding the requirements and processes set by the NSCSW is crucial. As you embark on this exciting path, this webpage aims to equip you with all the necessary information and resources to successfully apply for clinical specialist registration and make informed decisions about your career in social work.
For those exploring the potential of private practice, the “Is private practice for me?” section of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) Private Practice Portal offers valuable insights for any social worker considering self-employment. It delves into the advantages and challenges of this career path, provides glimpses into the daily life of a private practitioner, and aids in self-assessment to determine if private practice aligns with your professional goals and lifestyle.
Additionally, for a first-hand account of transitioning into private practice in Nova Scotia, we recommend reading “Lessons learned: My journey into private practice” by Heidi Sturgeon, RSW, featured in Connection magazine. This article offers personal insights and experiences from a Nova Scotia-based private practitioner, enriching your understanding of what to expect and how to navigate your own journey into private practice.
Clinical social work is characterized by its:
Applicants need to fulfill specific criteria related to education, experience, and supervision. Please note, only Registered Social Workers who have successfully completed all registration requirements, including their Candidacy Mentorship Program period, are eligible.
Further requirements that must be met to be approved as a Clinical Social Work Specialist include:
Applicants must complete 12 academic credit hours, equivalent to four academic half-credit courses, aligned with clinical social work specialization. Of these credits, six must be completed at the Master of Social Work (MSW) level.
The coursework should focus on:
To demonstrate completion of the academic coursework, applicants must upload the course syllabuses. If a course syllabus is unavailable, you must outline the objectives of the course and sign an undertaking indicating you have completed the course.
Applicants who have not met or partially met the academic requirements will be able to demonstrate equivalency through the NSCSW registration portal when you apply. Here, you can outline 432 hours of informal and formal training that aligns with the objectives of the required academic courses.
If you haven’t met the supervision and/or practice hour requirements, you may still receive authorization to practice clinical social work in a private practice setting. However, you will have “restrictions to complete supervision.” These restrictions will be visible on your public profile until you complete the required supervision and practice experience.
The Board of Examiners may request an interview or additional information if your application is inadequate or inconclusive in determining your suitability for the clinical social work specialization.
Before you engage in the private practice of a clinical social work specialization, you must provide evidence of suitable malpractice liability insurance coverage.
Clinical supervision plays a key role in the professional development of social workers. It focuses on enhancing the practitioner’s skills, knowledge, abilities, and regulation to grow their clinical expertise.
Here’s what you need to know:
To qualify as a clinical supervisor, one must be a Registered Social Worker in good standing with NSCSW or another legislated regulatory body. They should have at least three years of experience in clinical social work and demonstrate competencies in clinical supervision.
Clinical supervisors should possess knowledge and skills in various modalities aligned with the scope of practice outlined in NSCSW By-laws. Effective supervision requires a comprehensive understanding of supervision principles, the ability to address the strengths and challenges of supervisees, model ethical practice, and provide support and encouragement.
Clinical supervisors should also familiarize themselves with NSCSW’s Clinical Supervision Guidelines; this document contains guidance for both supervisors and supervisees.
Active participation is crucial in developing specialized clinical skills. Supervisors play a vital role in:
If you’re an applicant who has previously practiced in a clinical setting and have accumulated 1800 hours of practice experience along with 24 hours of clinical supervision, your supervisor will be required to complete an online assessment of your clinical abilities.
However, if your supervision hours are not yet completed, you should create an online plan detailing how you intend to fulfill these hours. Once you’ve completed the 1800 hours of practice experience and 24 hours of clinical supervision, your supervisor can then finalize their assessment of your clinical abilities online.
Social workers approved by the Board of Examiners as clinical specialists in private practice will now be entitled to use specific designations that reflect their specialized qualifications. These titles include “RSW – Clinical Specialist” or “TSR – Spécialiste clinique”
For applicants who have been provisionally approved, there is a requirement to indicate their provisional status alongside their title. This means they should use “RSW – Clinical Specialist (Provisional)” or “TSR – Spécialiste clinique (provisoire)”
Once you’re recognized as a Registered Social Worker, a new tab will appear in your member portal titled “Apply for Clinical Specialization.” This is your gateway to begin the application process.
You will be asked to select an option from the drop-down menu that aligns with your educational background. Your selection here will guide the next steps of your application process:
For applicants who have selected “Completed Master of Social Work” in Step 2, this step is crucial for your progression:
As part of your application for clinical specialization, you are required to demonstrate your knowledge in four key areas through relevant coursework. Below you will find detailed instructions on how to fill out the provided chart with your course requirements. Each knowledge area is critical for ensuring a comprehensive understanding and ability to practice within the clinical social work field.
To accurately complete the application chart, please follow these steps:
After filling in the required information for each course, click the ‘Add’ button to populate the table. You can repeat this process for each course that meets the knowledge area requirements.
For applicants who have not fully met the academic course requirements for clinical specialization in social work, there is an opportunity to demonstrate substantial equivalency through a combination of informal and formal professional development activities. This pathway ensures that experienced professionals with diverse educational backgrounds can still qualify for specialization based on their comprehensive training and expertise.
If any knowledge area was marked as ‘no’ for completed coursework, a new section will appear tailored to demonstrate your substantial equivalency in these specific areas.
For those who have partially met the academic requirements, any completed coursework can be included in your equivalency demonstration. The remaining hours needed to meet the equivalency will be calculated using a ratio, where 3 course credits equate to 108 hours of informal and formal professional development.
For each knowledge area needing equivalency, detail the relevant professional development activities you have undertaken and the total hours completed. Once you have inputted 108 hours of activities for each defined knowledge base, you may proceed to the next step.
If you are a Registered Social Worker in good standing and possess a graduate degree in a related discipline, or have substantial experience in the field of clinical social work, you may qualify for the clinical specialization through the substantial equivalency route. This alternative path recognizes the value of diverse educational backgrounds and professional experiences in contributing to the competencies required for clinical practice.
Substantial equivalency applications are evaluated to ascertain whether an applicant’s practical knowledge and experience align with the competencies typically gained through a graduate-level social work degree. The assessment focuses on the length, quality, and relevance of the applicant’s practical experience to ensure it meets the competency standards for clinical social work practice. Applicants are required to demonstrate 5200 hours of equivalent experience.
Please note, there is an additional application fee of $350 required to process the substantial equivalency evaluation. This fee covers the comprehensive assessment of your qualifications and experiences against the standard MSW curriculum benchmarks.
The evaluation of your application will be based on the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) curriculum learning objectives. Your formal graduate-level post-secondary educational qualifications and professional experiences will be assessed to determine their equivalence to a Master of Social Work degree.
For each of the CASWE learning objectives, you will be required to provide detailed information about your relevant activities, including:
By submitting detailed information about your professional development and experiences, you enable the review committee to accurately assess your qualifications against the MSW equivalency criteria. This step is crucial in recognizing the full scope of your expertise and ensuring that those entering the clinical specialization possess the necessary competencies to provide high-quality social work services.
As part of the application process for clinical specialization, it is essential for applicants to showcase a significant level of practice experience within the clinical specialization scope. This step ensures that all candidates possess the depth of knowledge and practical skills necessary to deliver high-quality social work services.
Applicants must have at least 1800 hours of practice experience. This experience should encompass:
If you do not meet the 1800-hour requirement yet, you may still be eligible for provisional clinical specialization. However, you will be required to complete additional supervised training hours to achieve the necessary competency levels for this specialization.
You will be asked on the application form if you have completed 1800 hours of clinical practice experience. If you have, please upload the job description(s) for your clinical practice positions. This documentation is vital for the assessment of your relevant experience.
The NSCSW may conduct interviews with employers or other relevant professionals as part of the review process. Additionally, applicants may be asked to provide further information or documentation to support their application.
The fees to apply to the Board of Examiners for clinical specialization are as follows:
After submitting your online application, mail the following original documents to the College:
Professional clinical supervision is a cornerstone in the development of the clinical social work specialization. A supervising clinical social worker evaluates and confirms that their applicant performs at a satisfactory level across various competencies. As part of this process, you are required to identify your clinical supervisor.
Please choose your clinical supervisor from the list provided in the member portal. The list of potential supervisors is not exhaustive; if you cannot locate your supervisor on this list, please contact the College for assistance at nscsw@nscsw.org.
The College will review your submission. Once we confirm that they are eligible, an automated email will be dispatched to you and your chosen clinical supervisor, confirming that your selection is approved by the College. The clinical supervisor will receive instructions for how to access the assessment forms.
As part of this evaluation process, clinical supervisors are asked to complete a clinical ability assessment. This assessment is vital in confirming the supervisee’s readiness and suitability for the role of a clinical specialist.
The online assessment form will appear in the clinical supervisor’s member portal once they are approved by the College. The supervisor is responsible for assessing that the applicant can perform at a satisfactory level in the following areas (tap each heading to expand criteria):
Method of Assessment: Choose the most appropriate method(s) to assess the professional competence of the supervisee. Options include:
Applicant’s Demonstrated Ability: Indicate the level of ability demonstrated by the applicant:
Supervisor Comments: Provide additional comments or observations regarding the supervisee’s strengths and weaknesses.
Once the assessment form is completed and the declaration confirmed, please click “Submit Assessment” to have it reviewed by the College.
If you have not completed 1800 hours of practice experience at the time of your application review, do not worry. Your application will go to the Board of Examiners for review. Once this is completed you will receive a notification informing you that you are authorized to practice as a clinical specialist provisionally. This provisional status allows you to continue gaining valuable practice experience while working towards meeting the full requirements for clinical specialization.
Active participation in professional clinical supervision is core to the development of a clinical social work specialist’s skills, values and knowledge. Your supervisor will be responsible for assessing that you can perform the requisite skills at a satisfactory level.
Please choose your clinical supervisor from the list provided in the member portal. The list of potential supervisors is not exhaustive; if you cannot locate your supervisor on this list, please contact the College for assistance at nscsw@nscsw.org.
The College will review your submission. Once we confirm that they are eligible, an automated email will be dispatched to you and your chosen clinical supervisor, confirming that your selection is approved by the College.
Once you approved provisionally you are required to complete a learning plan for the next 1800 hours of your practice. A tab titled “Clinical Specialization Learning Plan” will appear in your online member portal.
An email notification will be sent to your clinical supervisor, inviting them to review and contribute to your learning goals.
Once your learning plan receives approval from NSCSW staff, the process transitions to the clinical assessment protocol.
When your clinical ability assessment is complete, the Executive Director/Registrar will undertake a thorough review of your application. Based on this evaluation, one of three actions will be recommended to the Board of Examiners:
After considering the Executive Director/Registrar’s assessment, the Board of Examiners has the following options:
Applicants will receive a written notification detailing the Board’s decision. This notice will include reasons for any denial or imposition of conditions/restrictions. Additionally, applicants will be informed about their right to seek a review of the decision by the Registration Appeal Committee.
Should an applicant wish to contest the Board’s decision, they have 30 days from the receipt of the decision to request a review by the Registration Appeal Committee. Applicants must outline the grounds for their review request and pay any applicable fees associated with this process.
Only Registered Social Workers who have been authorized by the NSCSW Board of Examiners can independently provide clinical services as private practitioners within the realm of clinical social work specializations in Nova Scotia. This rigorous assessment and decision process ensures that those entering the field of clinical social work meet the highest standards of professionalism, knowledge, and skill, safeguarding the well-being of those they serve.
Application for clinical specialization is a new process for NSCSW as of spring 2024. If you have difficulty applying, or have questions about the status of your application, please let our registrar know:
Email: Alec.Stratford@nscsw.org
Telephone: (902) 429-7799 x 224
CONNECTION is the official newsletter of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers.
