Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 4373)
Social Work is the profession primarily concerned with organized social service activity aimed to facilitate and strengthen basic social relationships and the mutual adjustment between individuals and their social environment for the good of the individual and society.
A social worker is a practitioner with accepted academic training and professional experience in social work, skilled in methods such as casework, group work, and community organization, and connected with an organized social work agency supported wholly or partly by government or community funds.
A social work agency is a person, corporation, or organization, private or governmental, engaging mainly in social welfare work and obtaining its finances totally or partly from government agencies or community solicitations.
Board members must be Filipino citizens, at least 30 years old, of good moral character, hold a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Social Work from a recognized institution, have required years of practice, be registered social workers (except first appointees), and not be faculty or have pecuniary interest in the degree-conferring institution.
The Board administers the Act's provisions, issues certificates, sets ethical standards, investigates violations, administers oaths, and manages social work examination and registration.
Applicants must be Filipino citizens, at least 21 years old, in good health and moral character, hold a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from an accredited institution, and have completed 1000 case hours of supervised practical training in social work.
A candidate must obtain a general rating of at least 70% with no rating below 50% in any subject in the written examination.
The agency must be engaged mainly in social work, employ sufficient qualified social workers, spend at least 60% of funds on direct social work services, maintain social work records, and be registered with the Social Welfare Administration to receive a Certificate of Registration.
Persons practicing or offering to practice social work without registration may be fined between 500 and 2,000 pesos, or imprisoned for 1 to 2 years, or both at the court's discretion.
Yes, the Board may revoke or suspend certificates for conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude, immoral or dishonorable conduct, unprofessional conduct, malpractice, incompetency, negligence, or fraud in certification after due notice and hearing.
Yes, a certificate may be issued without exam to social workers registered in foreign countries with substantially similar requirements and reciprocal privileges granted to Filipino social workers.
Board members must not be faculty or have pecuniary interest in the degree-conferring institution at the time of appointment or for one year following their appointment.
After passing the exam and approval of ratings by the President, applicants take a professional oath and pay required fees. Certificates are then issued bearing names, serial numbers, signatures of Board members, and the official seal.
Operating without a Certificate of Registration issued by the Social Welfare Administration is punishable under the law, potentially facing fines or penalties.
The Act takes effect upon its approval, June 19, 1965.