In order to practise as a professional social worker in Ireland, those who have non-national qualifications must apply to the NSWQB for accreditation. Accreditation is a way of protecting employers as well as the profession as a whole. All those who have been accredited by the Board receive a Letter of Accreditation, which allows them to work as professional social workers alongside and with the same rights as those who have gained their qualification nationally. As an employer, you should always ask for a Letter of Accreditation and it is advised that you also check with the NSWQB to ensure that the prospective employee's name is entered on the record.
If you have studied social work abroad and are interested in working in Ireland, you should contact the NSWQB to apply for accreditation. The process can take up to 2-4 months and therefore it is recommended to apply well in advance of the point of planned employment.
To start the process, you must fill in an application form (pdf file, 128 kb) nswqb-non-national-aform.pdf and submit this to the NSWQB together with all relevant supporting documentation.
Administration fee for application process is Euro 200.00 and is payable by:
Electronic transfer: Please ensure your bank includes your name as a reference when sending electronic transfer so that we can track your fee payment.
Bank details for electronic transfer are as follows:
Alternatively, fee payable by cheque/postal order/bank draft in € (EURO) to the National Social Work Qualifications Board. Cheques sent in a currency other than Euro will be returned. Cash is not acceptable.
Completed application forms will be accepted until the 8th of April.
In order to avoid delays, it is important to go through the checklist carefully, as the Board cannot start processing your application until it is fully completed.
Criteria for accreditation
In arriving at decisions in relation to all non-national qualifications the NSWQB takes into account national standards of social work education and the EU Directive 2005/36/EC. Please read the criteria for accreditation carefully before completing the form.
To meet Criteria 4 - Recognition in Country of Origin - please read (doc file, 100 kb): Professional-recognition-in-country-of-qualification.doc
If you have any further queries regarding criteria or eligibility please contact qualificationrecognition@nswqb.ie
EU Directive
The NSWQB operates in accordance with EU Directive 2005/36/EC, which promotes mobility of people with third level qualifications within the EU. You can find information from the relevant department of the European Commission at:
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/index_en.htm
Download Application Form (128 Kb PDF file): nswqb-non-national-aform.pdf
If you are applying under Free Provision of Services, please check further information (doc file, 60 kb): Temp-provision-Guidelines-NSWQB.doc
For information on work permits and working visa /work authorisation schemes please check the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment website: www.entemp.ie
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