Social workers with international qualifications who trained and qualified outside the UK
There are four social care regulatory councils in the UK. Each maintains a register in its own country.
The councils are:
- Scottish Social Services Council
- Northern Ireland Social Care Council
- Care Council for Wales
- General Social Care Council.
You should apply to the council in the country where you plan to work. If you plan to work in more than one country in the UK, you should contact our helpline for advice on lo-call: 0845 60 30 891, or if you are calling from outside the UK please call: 00 44 1382 207101. You can also contact us by email, our email address is registration@sssc.uk.com
You should apply for registration well in advance of looking for employment in the UK as it might take some time to reach a decision about your application.
A key requirement for social workers applying to register is that they hold a recognised qualification in social work. Social workers who have gained their social work qualifications outside the UK need to demonstrate that their qualification, training and experience is equivalent to the United Kingdom qualification standard.
Where the social work qualification is from a country that has been assessed against the UK qualification standard, Country Assessment guidance has been prepared. This guidance details what we require in support of an application for registration in the part of the Register for Social Workers.
If you studied and gained your social work qualification(s) in one of the countries listed in the following table, please select the appropriate country to download the relevant Country Assessment guidance. You must read this guidance in order to fill in the application form.
Country Assessment guidance
Where the social work qualifications from a country have not been assessed against the UK qualification standard, the General Assessment guidance details what we require in support of an application for registration in the part of the Register for Social Workers.
If you studied and gained your social work qualification(s) in a country which is not listed above, please click here to download the General Assessment guidance.
The application pack and guidance can be obtained from the SSSC and once completed should be returned with the supporting documents and payment to the SSSC for processing.
Please click here to open the Application for International Social Worker.
Please click to open the Guidance for Completing the Application.
Please note that if your application is unsuccessful your application fee will not be refunded
For further information contact the Registration Team:
Scottish Social Services Council
Compass House
11 Riverside Drive
DUNDEE
DD1 4NY
SCOTLAND
Lo-call 0845 60 30 891
Tel +44(0)1382 207101 (if calling from outside the UK)
Email registration@sssc.uk.com
