Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10847)
The minimum age requirement is eighteen (18) years of age at the time of filing the application to take the social work examination.
The Board is composed of a Chairperson and four (4) members appointed by the President of the Philippines from a list of three (3) nominees for each position submitted by the accredited integrated professional organization (AIPO) for social workers and ranked by the Professional Regulation Commission.
An applicant must have a bachelor's degree or master's degree or its equivalent in social work from an institution, college, or university duly accredited and legally constituted, complying with the social work curriculum approved by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Board.
An applicant must have completed a minimum period of one thousand (1,000) case hours of practical training in an established social work agency under the direct supervision of a fully trained and qualified social worker.
All registered social workers must provide proof of earning forty-five (45) units of continuing CPD courses given by any CPD provider duly accredited by the CPD Council for social workers as a condition for the renewal of their professional identification card.
The AIPO is the national organization to which all registered and licensed social workers must belong. It is accredited by the Board and approved by the Commission, providing benefits and privileges to its members and serving as the body submitting nominees for Board appointments.
They may be penalized with a fine ranging from one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00), or imprisonment of six (6) months to two (2) years, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Such agencies must be engaged mainly in social welfare and development activities, employ sufficient qualified staff and/or registered social workers, allocate at least seventy percent (70%) of their funds to direct social work services, and keep records of their social development and welfare activities.
They face a fine of not less than one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) and/or imprisonment for not less than one (1) year but not more than three (3) years, at the discretion of the court, plus seizure of equipment and facilities.