Licensing guide · Manitoba

How to Become a Social Worker in Manitoba

Last checked 6 sources checkedNOC 41300

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the Manitoba College of Social Workers to work as a social worker in Manitoba or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
Social Worker
Show the source
“The Social Work Profession Act (SWPA) protects the title “Social Worker” and requires any individual who uses this title or represents themselves as a Social Worker to be registered with the College.”

From mcsw.ca/about/purpose, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $125
  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $470

  1. Before applying online, gather the required documents, including an original criminal record check with vulnerable sector search, transcripts or an eligibility-to-graduate letter, and any verification of registration forms.

    Source
    “Before applying online, collect the documents in Step 1. Original records must be dated within 6 months of application.”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/approved-programs-booth
  2. Source
    “Step 2: Submit the MCSW Application Package (online application, fee, Step 1 documents)”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/approved-programs-booth

  3. After receiving an email confirming eligibility, register as an exam candidate with ASWB and schedule the ASWB Exam by the deadline given in the College's email.

    Source
    “If you receive an email confirming eligibility to write ASWB Exam, register as an Exam Candidate with ASWB and schedule ASWB Exam by the deadline date communicated in MCSW email.”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/approved-programs-booth

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $125

One-time fees listed for Trained in Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $125 100%
One-time total $125 100%

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $470 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 3 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • Listed one-time fees: $125
  • 1 step without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $470

  1. Before applying online, gather the required documents, including an original criminal record check with vulnerable sector search, verification of registration forms for all regulators, and your highest social work transcript if not available from the other regulator.

    Source
    “Step 1: Documentation Collection (gather prior to submitting online application)”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/rsw-in-another-canadian-jurisdiction
  2. Source
    “Step 2: Submit the MCSW Application Package (online application, fee, Step 1 documents)”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/rsw-in-another-canadian-jurisdiction

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $125

One-time fees listed for Licensed in another province, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $125 100%
One-time total $125 100%

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $470 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 3 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $125
  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $470

  1. Have your international social work credentials evaluated by the Canadian Association of Social Workers to confirm they match a Canadian BSW or MSW before applying to the College.

    Source
    “You must get your international social work credentials evaluated by the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) before applying to the Manitoba College of Social Workers.”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/international-social-work-degree

  2. Before applying online, gather the required documents, including an original criminal record check with vulnerable sector search, Manitoba child and adult abuse registry self-checks, and verification of registration forms.

    Source
    “Step 1: Document Collection (gather prior to submitting online application)”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/international-social-work-degree
  3. Source
    “Step 2: Submit MCSW Application Package (online application, fee, Step 1 docyments)”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/international-social-work-degree

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $125

One-time fees listed for Trained outside Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $125 100%
One-time total $125 100%

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $470 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 3 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

Official page for this route

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • Applicants through the approved program route must hold a Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work degree from Booth University College or a program accredited by the National Indigenous Accreditation Board.

    Source
    “Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree or a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from: Booth University College; A Social Work degree accredited by the National Indigenous Accreditation Board (NIAB)”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/approved-programs-booth

  • Internationally educated applicants must have their social work degree assessed by the CASW as equal to a Canadian BSW or MSW.

    Source
    “Apply here if you can legally work in Canada and your social work degree has been assessed by the Canadian Association of Social Workers as equal to a Canadian BSW or MSW.”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/international-social-work-degree

  • Substantial equivalency applicants must have at least a university-level bachelor's degree with 40% of credit hours in the liberal arts, humanities and social sciences and 60 credit hours of undergraduate social work content.

    Source
    “a minimum of a university-level bachelor’s degree (4-year degree program or 3 years in Quebec); 40% of bachelor’s degree credit hours in the liberal arts, humanities and social sciences; 60 credit hours of undergraduate level social work content”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/other-degree-substantial-equivalency

Experience

  • Substantial equivalency applicants must currently function in the role of a Social Worker and have 5600 verified social work hours in the last 5 years.

    Source
    “Currently function in the role of a Social Worker; 5600 verified social work hours in the last 5 years”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/other-degree-substantial-equivalency

Other

  • Applicants through the other Canadian jurisdiction route must hold active social work registration as a practicing member in good standing in another Canadian jurisdiction.

    Source
    “Active Social Work Registration as a practicing member in good standing in another Canadian jurisdiction.”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/rsw-in-another-canadian-jurisdiction

  • Internationally educated applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada.

    Source
    “If born outside of Canada, include proof of eligibility to work in Canada”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/international-social-work-degree

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

Applicants already registered in another Canadian jurisdiction can apply based on their active registration in good standing, and the page does not require them to retake an entry-to-practice exam or a competence assessment.

Source
“Active Social Work Registration as a practicing member in good standing in another Canadian jurisdiction.”
mcsw.ca/applicants/rsw-in-another-canadian-jurisdiction

  1. Submit application package

    Source
    “Apply here if you are a member in good standing with a social work regulatory body in Canada.”
    mcsw.ca/applicants/rsw-in-another-canadian-jurisdiction

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with MCSW

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with MCSW

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with MCSW

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with MCSW

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with MCSW

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 41300, Social workers. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Manitoba and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Manitoba $27.47 $35.00 $49.00 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $25.00 $38.46 $50.26 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Manitoba

Wages in every province and territory

Social workers in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 10 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare social worker licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Purpose - MCSW mcsw.ca/about/purpose · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Approved Programs – Booth - MCSW mcsw.ca/applicants/approved-programs-booth · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. RSW in Another Canadian Jurisdiction - MCSW mcsw.ca/applicants/rsw-in-another-canadian-jurisdiction · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. International Social Work Degree - MCSW mcsw.ca/applicants/international-social-work-degree · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Other Degree – Substantial Equivalency - MCSW mcsw.ca/applicants/other-degree-substantial-equivalency · fetched October 10, 2026
  6. Social Work Student - MCSW mcsw.ca/applicants/social-work-student · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a social worker in Manitoba?

Yes. Registration with the Manitoba College of Social Workers is required to practise in Manitoba, and to use the title Social Worker.

Which exams are required?

ASWB Exam.

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