Who can register?
On this page you will find information about who can register with us.
Social workers, social work students and most job roles in the social service sector must register with the SSSC.
You need to be working in a social service role when you apply for registration, unless you are a social worker or student. You should check with your employer to find out if the role you are in requires registration.
If you are already registered with one of the regulatory bodies listed below you do not need to register with us unless you are a social worker or social work student.
- Health and Care Professionals Council
- Social Work England
- Social Care Wales
- Northern Ireland Social Care Council
- General Teaching Council for Scotland
- General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland
- Education Workforce Council
- General Chiropractic Council
- General Dental Council
- General Medical Council
- General Optical Council
- General Osteopathic Council
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
- The General Pharmaceutical Council
Please note we’re currently reviewing our approach to accepting qualifications which have been accepted by another regulatory body. If you have any questions about this or your qualifications being suitable for SSSC registration, contact us using the web form on our Contact us page.
We register people who work in early years and residential child care, adult day care and residential care, care at home and housing support services.
To register with the SSSC you must satisfy the criteria for registration. This includes holding, or agreeing to work towards, the appropriate qualifications for the job they do.
If you do not currently hold all the required qualifications we can still grant your registration subject to the condition that you achieve the required qualifications within your first period of registration.
Find out more about qualifications here.
Normally you need to achieve registration within six months of starting a new role. The Coronavirus Act 2020 has extended the time period for social service workers to get registered from six months to 12 months. You can find out more about these changes in our COVID-19 section.
Social Workers not living or working in Scotland will not be able to be registered until they are either living in or have gained employment in Scotland.
If you apply for registration, we will process and hold your application for six months. Please note that if you do not gain residency or employment within this timescale your application will be rejected, as the initial fee is a processing fee this will not be refunded.
Find out more about registration
More information about registration
Registering for more than one role
What to do if you're on secondment or acting up
Who should apply to register
Registration is compulsory for many social service roles so visit our ‘Help with Register parts, fees and qualifications tool' for more information.
Access the tool hereSearch the Register
Check the registration status of a social worker or social care worker employed in Scotland
Search the Register
Continuous professional learning (CPL)
Continuous professional learning (CPL) is the learning we do for work which helps us develop our knowledge, skills and professional behaviour so we can deliver our best practice.
SSSC Codes of Practice
The Codes set out the standards of practice and behaviour expected of social service workers and their employers.
Have you changed jobs recently?
If you've changed your job or role then you may need to apply to be on a different part of the Register.
Check your existing registration and create a new or additional application online now in MySSSC.
