Introduction
We set the standards for qualifications for SSSC registration and for education and training provided for the social work, social care and children and young people workforce.
Qualifications required for SSSC registration
We assess qualifications for registration against agreed criteria and principles. This includes international social work qualifications.
Education and training providers
We provide support, guidance and advice to education and training providers to make sure quality and standards are maintained and enhanced. We have links with higher education institutions, further education colleges and other providers to ensure compliance with our rules and requirements.
Rules and requirements
See our rules and requirements
In our regulatory role we make sure courses continue to meet:
Standards
Read the Standards
We are also responsible for making sure that those who successfully complete any of these courses continue to demonstrate an ability to meet the following standards.
Provider guidance
Forms and guidance for providers
Non-UK social work qualifications
Standards for non-UK social work qualifications
Social work is a regulated profession in the UK. To practise as a social worker, you must be registered with the appropriate regulatory body. Each UK country maintains its own register. These are:
In Scotland: Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
In Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)(Opens new window)
In Wales: Social Care Wales(Opens new window)
In England: Social Work England(Opens new window)
You should apply to the regulatory body in the country where you plan to work. If you plan to work in more than one country, you should contact us for advice by telephoning +44 (0)345 60 30 891 or emailing [email protected]
To practise as a social worker in Scotland, you must register with the SSSC. To register, you must meet our qualification assessment criteria. You can apply to register with a non-UK qualification and we will assess it against our criteria.
You must pay an £88 application fee and a non-UK qualification assessment fee of £320 plus possible additional costs and provide detailed information in English about your qualification as it was when you studied to enable us to assess it.
For more information, please see the full guidance document on non-UK social work qualifications.
Qualifications accepted for registration
Section 8 of the Professional Qualifications Act 2022 requires the SSSC to publish non-UK social work qualifications that have been accepted for registration. You can find them in our publications. You can look to see if your qualification has been accepted by using the the website search function.
Common questions about non-UK social work qualifications
How do I register with a non-UK social work qualification?
If you are applying to register with us you need to create an online MySSSC account to complete your application. The non-UK social work qualification assessment is part of the registration application process. Please read our full guidance document which provides detailed information on the application process. If you don’t provide the correct information, it can delay your assessment.
Can I apply for employment as a social worker while you’re processing my application?
You should not apply for employment as a social worker in Scotland until we complete the assessment process and you are registered, as we cannot guarantee that we’ll accept your qualification for registration as a social worker.
You cannot practice as a social worker in Scotland until you are registered with us. The title ‘social worker’ is protected. It is an offence for a person in Scotland, with intent to deceive another, to:
- take or use the title ‘social worker’
- take or use any title that implies they are a registered social worker
- take or use any description that implies they are a registered social worker
- in any way hold themself as a registered social worker unless they are registered as a social worker by one of the four UK regulatory bodies.
What do I need as evidence?
We cannot assess your qualification without the mandatory items below. We also strongly encourage you to provide the additional non-mandatory items listed.
Mandatory evidence
- Your qualification certificate.
- A course transcript from your training provider clearly listing the units you studied and passed in each term or semester of your course.
- Detailed information from your training provider about the content of each of the units listed on your transcript, including the learning outcomes for each unit.
- Detailed information from your training provider about the practice placements completed as part of your course, including the duration of the placements, the tasks you carried out, the settings in which you worked, the standards you were assessed against and how you were observed and assessed. Please note, we require evidence of a minimum of 130 days or 780 hours of observed and assessed practice within your qualification. If your qualification contained less than this, we cannot go ahead with an assessment.
- CV or short employment history.
Additional non-mandatory evidence
- Additional information about your course, such as a course handbook.
- Additional information about your placements, such as learning agreements, supervisor reports, assessed assignments you completed.
- Information about your post qualifying experience and learning as described in the guidance.
- If you are a social worker, information about how you meet Standard 3 in the Standards in Social Work Education(Opens new window). You may want to write about specific pieces of professional work you have completed to do this, again using the guidance about post qualifying learning.
- Any relevant information about social work regulation or registration that might support your application, for example, any standards you had to meet to be registered as a social worker.
- Any other information you think would support your application.
The information you provide regarding your qualification must relate to your years of study.
Does my evidence need to be verified?
We require verification of all evidence submitted for assessment. We need to be sure that supporting documents are genuine.
Do I need to verify my post qualifying learning or reflective accounts?
Yes, and these should be verified by someone senior in your organisation who has observed your practice and can confirm the evidence is a true and accurate reflection of your practice.
Does my evidence need to be translated?
Yes, if your documents are in a language other than English, you should provide a verified copy of the original native language document, accompanied by a verified translation into English. If you translate the document yourself, we ask that you write the below information on the translated copy:
- ‘This text is a true and accurate translation of the attached document from [language of original] into English’
- your signature
- the date.
Do I need to provide evidence of my knowledge of English?
At this point you don’t have to provide evidence of your knowledge of English. We are currently reviewing our approach to English language requirements.
How long does the assessment process take?
If you send us all the information we require, and it is clear, we aim to let you know the outcome of your application within four months. It may take longer if we need to ask for further information or seek clarification.
Will you accept my qualification?
We cannot guarantee that we will accept your qualification. We may set a compensatory measure (aptitude test or adaptation period) or reject your qualification for registration. Our guidance document gives more information about this including the additional costs associated with completing a compensatory measure.
What if you don’t accept my qualification?
If we reject your qualification, you can apply to undertake an accepted social work qualification in Scotland. You can find more information about social work qualifications in Scotland here.
It may also be possible for you to approach the university you apply to, to explore whether they can convert your relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into academic credits that may count towards a qualification. Credits are a standard way of measuring learning. This is known as recognition of prior learning (RPL) and any credits given are at the discretion of the university.
What if another UK regulator has already assessed my qualification?
We don’t accept non-UK social work qualification assessments undertaken by another UK regulator as each regulator has their own requirements and standards. We require a full assessment to be carried out for each non-UK social work qualification.
How do I move to Scotland as a social worker with a non-UK qualification?
We cannot provide immigration advice for individuals who want to move to Scotland. You can find more information about visa requirements here: www.scotland.org/about-scotland/visa-and-immigration(Opens new window)
We currently require anyone applying to register to have their non-UK social work qualification assessed to be eligible for registration. You can find more information about who can register here.
If you are not yet in Scotland, please get in touch with our Registration Department by emailing [email protected] to discuss your requirements.
Can help me find employment as a social worker?
It is your responsibility to apply for employment. However, our careers website has information on social work(Opens new window) which you may find helpful.
If your question about registering with a non-UK social work qualification is not covered here or in the full guidance, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]