If you are an Internationally Qualified Social Worker (IQSW) this information is for you.
Internationally qualified social workers make an important contribution to the Northern Ireland community.
There are over 6,600 social workers registered with the Social Care Council and approximately 110 are Internationally Qualified Social Workers (IQSW). We are committed to raising standards and apply a rigorous, transparent and fair approach to determine Social Care Council registration and the right to practise in Northern Ireland.
You can find out more about recent applications from internationally qualified social workers below.
Do you want to work in Northern Ireland as a registered social worker?
It’s important to know that you can’t work as a social worker in Northern Ireland before you’re registered with the Social Care Council.
We are committed to raising standards and apply a rigorous, transparent and fair approach to determine Social Care Council registration and the right to practise in Northern Ireland for all social workers. This page contains general information about registration requirements and applying for registration with the Social Care Council.
Guidance for Internationally Qualified Social Workers
The general guidance notes on the right hand side of this page (Associated Resources) will help you understand the application process and what information is required. Please read the General guidance notes before submitting an application – it is important that you have all the necessary documents and evidence before applying. We cannot assess applications which are incomplete.
Note that the Social Care Council needs to be satisfied that an applicant who has undergone training in the social work profession outside the UK has the necessary knowledge of English to practice social work.
English Language skills – What the Social Care Council requires find out here
Also you can find our standards by clicking on the button below.
How to register
If you are an internationally qualified social worker, you can apply for registration online using the button below which takes you to our online services portal.
If you are unable to apply using our online portal we also have a manual application form that you can fill in on the right hand side of the page in associated resources, ‘IQSW application form’.
We have developed a guide to living and working in Northern Ireland to provide some relevant information that you may need if moving to work in Northern Ireland.
Data about international international applications
1 April 2024 – 30 September 2024
| Applications received | 2 |
| Applications approved with no conditions | 0 |
| Applications approved with conditions | 6 |
| Applications ongoing | 2 |
| Unsuccessful applications | 0 |
1 October 2023 – 31 March 2024
| Applications received | 10 |
| Applications approved with no conditions | 1 |
| Applications approved with conditions | 3 |
| Applications ongoing | 11 |
| Unsuccessful applications | 0 |
1 October 2022 – 31 September 2023
| Applications received | 15 |
| Applications approved with no conditions | 4 |
| Applications approved with conditions | 3 |
| Applications ongoing* | 24 |
| Unsuccessful applications | 2 |
July 2022- October 2022
| Applications received | 6 |
| Applications approved with no conditions | 0 |
| Applications approved with conditions | 5 |
| Applications ongoing | 1 |
| Unsuccessful applications | 0 |
Note
- All approved applicants had obtained a qualification in social work and met placement requirements to the satisfaction of the Social Care Council.
- Conditions included: undertaking the Assessed Year in Employment, obtaining two requirements in the Professional in Practice Framework.
- All successful applicants are advised regarding annual fee/ maintaining registration including a minimum of 90 hours training, learning development required every three years.
- Reasons for these decisions were provided for applicants along with information on a possible pathway to registration.
This information was updated 13 March 2025
Find out more from our Internationally
Qualified Social Workers
Moving to live and work in another country is complicated and some of our Internationally Qualified Social Workers have kindly shared some of the information they have learned on their journey to completing their Social Care Council registration and practising as a social worker in Northern Ireland:
Listen to Jacintah McCaffreys story in the videos below or click the quotes to hear about each IQSW’s full profile:
Still got a question?
Please note: If you still have a question after reading this information on this page, please contact our registration team at Registration@niscc.hscni.net.