This page is for social workers who qualified outside the UK, who want to register to work in Wales.
If you’ve ever been registered with:
Email us at internationallyqualified@socialcare.wales before you apply to let us know you want to apply with us. You won’t need to have your qualification assessed for a second time.
What you need to apply
You must provide evidence of the following.
1. Language proficiency
- at least 1,200 hours of college-based teaching
- at least 1,400 hours of supervised and assessed social work practice. At least 560 hours of which must involve statutory social work practice.
You need to show that you can speak, read, and write fluently in English or Welsh. There are four ways you can do this, which are explained in our Qualification Equivalency Application Form.
2. Social work qualification
Your social work qualification must include:
Approved overseas qualifications
We have a list of overseas social work qualifications we’ve assessed and consider to be the same standard as approved UK qualifications. The information in this list is advisory and may change.
If you think your qualification appears on the list:
- you need to provide all the documents listed in the document section below. We'll assess your qualification against those in the list and compare with our existing records to make sure they match
- some qualifications on this list require us to also assess additional social work training and experience before we can accept them
- you should provide details about any additional qualifications or experience you have in your application to register
- some applicants will also need to complete an aptitude test or adaptation period where they have supervised practice or training to assess whether they meet the standards required for registration
- We may need to ask your education provider for more information to make sure the information you’ve provided is accurate and meets the required standards.
- If your qualification isn’t on this list, we’ll need to do a full assessment.
How we assess your qualification
We’ll assess whether your qualification meets:
If we find any gaps, we may ask for more information and evidence about your post-qualifying experience or qualifications.
In some cases, we may ask you to complete a compensation measure to address these gaps.
Information sharing
As part of our assessment process, we may share relevant information with third parties, such as UK ENIC, to verify qualifications or other details. We may also use software to help us to detect plagiarism or the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the evidence you provide during your application.
For more information about how your data is handled, see our Privacy Policy.
Returning to social work practice
If you haven’t practised as a social worker in over three years, you might need to provide extra evidence that you’re fit to practise.
We’ll carry out the assessment of your qualification first and then we’ll let you know the next steps for your return to practice assessment.
You can find more information about this process on our returning to social work practice page.
Other UK regulatory bodies
If you decide to work outside of Wales, please contact the relevant regulator.
In the UK these are:
Completing the internationally qualified application
- Email us at internationallyqualified@socialcare.wales to let us know you'd like to apply so that we can send you the relevant forms.
- If this is your first time registering in the UK, you’ll need to complete the qualification equivalency assessment form and course information form.
- Make sure you complete every section of the forms. If we receive an incomplete application, we’ll return it to you.
- After you’ve completed the qualification equivalency assessment form and course information form, you’ll need to create an SCWonline account.
- Your SCWonline account is where you’ll need to complete an online application to register.
- Please upload your completed qualification equivalency assessment form and course information form to your online application on SCWonline.
Documents
As well as the qualification equivalency assessment form and course information form, you also need to provide:
- evidence of name change if you have ever changed all or part of your name
- a verified colour copy of a form of photographic identification
- confirmation that you intend to practise in Wales (we may request further evidence when we process your application)
- evidence of your ability to speak, read and write fluently in English or Welsh
- verified colour copies of your qualification certificate and course transcript
- confirmation of formal translation if applicable.
Endorsing your application
Make sure you read our endorsement guidance.
If you already work in Wales, the online application form asks you to select a person – known as a signatory - from an approved list to verify your identity documents and endorse your application.
If you’re not already working in Wales, you’ll need to enter your signatory’s details manually. You’ll need to print the application form and take it to your signatory to check, sign and date. Then scan and upload this signed version to your SCWonline account.
Fees
You must pay a fee to register.
You’ll need to pay any third-party fees you incur for verifying your evidence. For example, if a course provider or awarding body charges you to confirm certificates or transcripts.
Find out more on our fees page.