Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 5175)
Social work is defined as 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 of society by the use of social work methods.
A social worker must possess a Master's Degree in Social Work (M.S.S.W., M.S.S., M.A.S.W., or its equivalent) conferred by a reputable school, college, or university recognized by the government or accredited abroad.
Yes, unless exempted, no person shall practice or offer to practice social work or be appointed as a social worker without holding a valid certificate of registration issued by the Board of Examiners for Social Workers.
Yes, recognized social workers or authorities on social work who are residents or citizens of other countries called for consultations in agencies working with the United Nations or similar international social agencies are exempt from registration.
Yes, permanently appointed social workers employed at the date of approval of the Act retain their rights to promotion, salary increases, retirement benefits, and other previously acquired rights.
Those who have practiced for five years in a recognized social work agency and possess the qualifications in Section twelve can register without taking the examination if done within one year after the Act’s approval.
Those holding provisional appointments with five or more years of continuous satisfactory service are allowed to retain their positions and qualify as registered social workers by December 31, 1978, without meeting educational qualifications initially.
Applicants must be Filipino citizens, at least 21 years old, in good health and moral character, hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from an accredited institution, and have completed at least 1,000 case hours of practical training supervised by a qualified social worker.
Yes, a minimum of 1,000 case hours of practical training in an established agency under supervision of a qualified social worker is required.
Subparagraph (h) of Section twenty-six was repealed, and subparagraph (i) of the same section was redesignated as subparagraph (h).