FAQ
Table of Contents
A. Registration and Renewal
1. Am I eligible for registration? How do I apply?
5. Will a conviction affect my qualification for registration?
7. What are the consequences if I fail to renew my registration on time?
8. What should I do if I have lost my renewal application form issued by the Board?
B. Access to the Register
10. How can I verify a social worker’s identity?
C. Qualification Recognition
D. Professional Conduct and Disciplinary Matters
16. How do I lodge a complaint about suspected professional misconduct by a social worker?
A. Registration and Renewal
Regarding Registration
1. Am I eligible for registration? How do I apply?
The Board considers applications for registration and renewal in accordance with the qualifications for registration stipulated in Section 17 of the Social Workers Registration Ordinance, which include:
- Holding a social work qualification recognized by the Board
- Ordinarily resident in Hong Kong
- Being a fit and proper person
- Not being subject to any disciplinary order
- Whether having been convicted
For details on the application procedures, please refer to the relevant section on the Board’s website.
2. I am to apply for registration for the first time. How do I declare whether I have any convictions?
According to Section 37(5) of the Social Workers Registration Ordinance, applicant for registration is required to make a statutory declaration as to whether he has been convicted of any offence, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere (if he has been so convicted, the nature of each such offence).
Applicants may make the declaration before: (1) Commissioner for Oaths at any Home Affairs Department by using the HAD5 declaration form, or (2) a practising solicitor, or a Justice of the Peace by using the SWRBSD1 declaration form.
Please refer to the relevant guidelines and sample documents for details.
3. After obtaining a social work qualification, do I need to apply for registration in the year of graduation? Is there a time limit?
Anyone holding a social work qualification recognized by the Board may apply for registration with that qualification, even if the programme has been suspended. There is currently no time limit.
Regarding Reporting of Charge(s) or Conviction(s)
4. If I have been charged or convicted of an offence after registration, when and how should I report this to the Board?
According to Section 24 of the Social Workers Registration Ordinance, a registered social worker has been charged with or convicted of any offence, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere shall as soon as reasonably practicable after he has been charged or convicted, as the case may be, serve a notice in writing to the Board with:
- Case summary, charge sheet, or summons
- Certificate of trial, Court judgment, reasons for verdict or sentence
- Where appropriate, a personal reflection statement, character reference, etc.
5. Will a conviction affect my qualification for registration?
The Board will consider applications for registration, renewal, or re-application for registration from persons with conviction(s) in accordance with Section 17 of the Social Workers Registration Ordinance. The considerations include, but are not limited to:
- Whether the applicant is a fit and proper person (Section 17(3)(b))
- Whether the offence endangers national security (Section 17(4)(b)(i)(B))
- Whether the offence is listed in Schedule 2 of the Ordinance (Section 17(4)(b)(i)(A))
- Whether the offence may bring the profession of social work into disrepute; and is punishable with imprisonment (whether or not the person was sentenced to imprisonment) (Section 17(4)(a)(i) and (ii))
6. Under what circumstances am I exempted from reporting a charge or conviction? Does the Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance apply?
Fixed Penalty
If a fine of fixed penalty (including but not limited to littering, illegal parking, or smoking offences) has been paid on time in accordance with the notice, it does not need to be reported to the Board under no charge in such situation. However, if the fine is not paid on time and no legal proceedings are initiated to challenge the penalty notice, charge may result in such situation. In such cases, registered social worker must report the charge to the Board; if convicted, both applicant and registered social worker shall report the conviction.
Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance (Cap. 297)
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance does not apply to social worker registration. All applicants must declare convictions under any circumstances.
Regarding Renewal
7. What are the consequences if I fail to renew my registration on time?
If the Board does not receive a renewal application by the expiry date for registration of a registered social worker, his name will be removed from the Register in accordance with the Social Workers Registration Ordinance. To restore registration status, the individual must reapply for registration. During the removal period, including the reapplication process, the individual is prohibited from using any social worker title under Sections 34 and 35(k) of the Ordinance.
8. What should I do if I have lost my renewal application form issued by the Board?
Registered social workers may log in to the online registration system (https://intranet.swrb.org.hk) and submit the form and payment online between three months before the expiry date and the expiry date. If login information is lost, it can also be retrieved via the system.
9. If I plan to live outside Hong Kong for three years, can I still apply for renewal during that period?
According to Sections 17(3)(a) and 20(4) of the Social Workers Registration Ordinance, only persons who are ordinarily residing in Hong Kong at the time of application (including renewal) are eligible for registration. Sections 22(1)(c) and 22(2) further stated that if a social worker has not ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for two years or more, the Board shall not regard him/her as ordinarily residing in Hong Kong, and the Registrar may remove his/her name from the Register upon he has noticed this. For the definition of “ordinarily residing in Hong Kong,” please refer to the Immigration Department’s website (https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/roa/term.html), which considers factors including but not limited to: reasons, duration, and frequency of absence from Hong Kong; whether there is a habitual residence in Hong Kong; employment by a Hong Kong-based company; and the location of principal family members. If the Board office becomes aware that a registered social worker has left Hong Kong and may not fulfill the requirement of ordinarily resident in Hong Kong, further information may be requested from such registered social worker for follow-up.
B. Access to the Register
10. How can I verify a social worker’s identity?
Pursuant to Section 16 of the Social Workers Registration Ordinance, the Board maintains a Register at its office, which is available for anyone’s inspection free of charge during office hours. The Register includes names, addresses, qualifications, and other details as directed by the Board (currently registration category, registration number, and disciplinary records). In addition, the public can conduct a simple search via the list of registered social workers on the Board’s website (https://www.swrb.org.hk/en/Search.asp), which contains the Chinese and English names, registration number, registration category, and the expiry date of current registration for each registered social worker.
11. Why does the public Register include the registered address of each social worker? How does the Board protect the personal data of registered social workers for not being abuse?
Section 16 of the Social Workers Registration Ordinance stipulated that the Board must maintain a Register at its office for public inspection, and the address of each social worker must be included. The Ordinance does not require the address to be the residential address, and a business address may be used. The Board has strict procedures for public inspection: individuals must register in person at the Board office and read the “Inspection Guidelines” before access. Telephone enquiries regarding personal data will not be entertained. The purpose of inspection is solely to verify registration status; copying, photographing, recording, or reproducing any part of the Register is prohibited. The Board believes that these strict procedures are sufficient to prevent abuse.
12. Is it a must for the registered address being a physical address capable of receiving personal delivery? Can I use an email or P.O. Box address instead?
The registered address must be a physical address; email and P.O. Box addresses are not acceptable. Under common law, a P.O. Box may only be used in exceptional circumstances and with court approval. The Board, in principle, does not accept P.O. Boxes as registered addresses. However, if a social worker has sufficient reason for using a P.O. Box, a written explanation must be submitted for the Board’s consideration.
C. Qualification Recognition
13. What does “conditionally recognized” mean for some qualifications on the list of recognized social work qualifications?
The Board may recognize a social work qualification for registration with condition(s) after the qualification assessment or review. “Conditionally recognized” means the tertiary institution concerned is required to fulfill the condition(s) set by the Board for such qualification to be recognized for registration. If the tertiary institution failed to meet the condition(s), their recognition status may be affected.
14. If I plan to study abroad for a social work degree, which qualifications are recognized by the Board?
At present, the Board has recognized the qualifications awarded by programmes recognized by designated organizations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, but does not include programmes that have been taken in distance learning or courses conducted in any place other than the country where the institution is domiciled. For the list of recognized qualifications, please click here.
15. If my non-local social work qualification is not recognize by any overseas designated bodies, can I still apply?
The Board will assess the application from an applicant holding such a social work qualification on an individual basis. Applicants must submit the assessment report issued by The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ), and best to listed the documents in table format, detailing the qualification applied for and how the programme meets the requirements of the Board’s recognition standards. For details, please click here.
D. Professional Conduct and Disciplinary Matters
16. How do I lodge a complaint about suspected professional misconduct by a social worker?
According to Section 25(3) of the Social Workers Registration Ordinance, “any complaint concerning any disciplinary offence must be made in the specified form to the Registrar”. Therefore, if the public wish to lodge a complaint with the Board against registered social worker, please refer to the “Complaint Form” and “FAQs on filling in the Complaint Form and Statutory Declaration” and return the completed form (both complaint form and statutory declaration) to the Board office. We will handle complaint according to our disciplinary procedures.
17. If I wish to seek professional advice regarding suspected professional misconduct by a social worker, what channels are available?
One of the functions of the Board is to handle complaints about disciplinary offences as stipulated by the Ordinance. Given its adjudicative role and to avoid compromising the fairness of future proceedings, the Board will only explain complaint procedures and will not provide advice on individual cases.
18. If a current service user asks about my registration status, such as my name and registration number, should I provide such information?
According to the Code of Practice for Registered Social Workers and related guidelines, in normal circumstances, social workers should provide their name, position, and registration status to their current service users upon request. For other personal data that unrelated to service, social workers may exercise professional judgment with responsible manner.