All social workers practising in Northern Ireland must be registered with the NISCC. Social workers who have trained and qualified outside the UK must meet our criteria on qualifications, assessed practice, health and good character to register. This section contains registration information for social workers who qualified outside the UK and who do not have a ‘Letter of Comparability’ from CCETSW confirming their qualification. Social workers who qualified in the UK or have a ‘Letter of Comparability’ should select the Social Worker section for registration information.
Internationally qualified social workers wishing to work in NI on a permanent basis should download and complete the Registration Kit for Internationally Qualified Social Workers below. They must hold a professional qualification in social work that is equivalent to the United Kingdom Degree in Social Work. The Country Assessment Guidelines below state what qualifications are required and what evidence must be submitted with the application.
Visiting social workers with a qualification from the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland (Member State), or a third country recognised by the Member State seeking to work in Northern Ireland on a temporary and occasional basis do not have to complete the full application process. They should download and complete Registration Kit for Visiting and Temporary Workers below.
All applicants must read the NISCC Code of Practice for Social Care Workers which can be downloaded below. If you require advice on your application, or would like to order a printed copy of the application materials, contact the NISCC Registration Team (Tel: 028 9041 7633).