| Average Annual Salaries for Social Workers in Canada |
| Province |
Average Salary per Year (CAD) |
| Alberta |
$95,843 |
| Northwest Territories |
$86,639 |
| Yukon |
$86,540 |
| Ontario |
$79,911 |
| Nova Scotia |
$78,564 |
| Nunavut |
$76,437 |
| British Columbia |
$75,065 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador |
$74,978 |
| Saskatchewan |
$71,911 |
| Quebec |
$67,543 |
| New Brunswick |
$65,747 |
| Prince Edward Island |
$61,519 |
| Manitoba |
$54,832 |
Where do Social Workers Work in Canada?
As a foreign worker, you can find work in Canada in hospitals, community health centers, mental health clinics, schools, child welfare, family service and social housing agencies, correctional facilities, government agencies and family courts, employee assistance programs, school boards, and private counseling agencies. The employment opportunities are limitless. Below is a list of social work and social service employment opportunities and the various National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes that the Canadian government uses to classify your occupation:
| Occupations for Social Workers in Canada |
| NOC Code |
Occupation |
| 0423 |
Managers in social, community, and correctional services |
| 4033 |
Educational counselors |
| 4152 |
Social workers |
| 4153 |
Family, marriage, and other related counselors |
| 4212 |
Social and community service workers |
How Do I Become a Social Worker in Canada?
Step 1: Choose Where You Want to Live and Work in Canada
By now, you may already have an idea of where you want to live and work in Canada. This is one of the most important steps to consider, as it will help you narrow down your choices from over 80 different visas or immigration programs. Once you know where you want to settle, you can also start looking for a job in Canada. If you already have a job before you immigrate, it also eliminates the stress associated with finding a job after you arrive and allows you to focus on more important things.
Step 2: Make Sure Your Qualifications Are Recognized
To live and work in Canada as a social worker, you must have your foreign qualifications accredited and ensure that they are recognized in Canada. An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) confirms that your degree, diploma or certificate is valid and meets Canadian standards. This is critical as it allows you to apply for the coveted PR points and may also be required by your employer and Canadian Immigration. Below is a list of approved organizations that may administer your exam:
- Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies;
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada;
- World Education Services;
- International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS); and
- International Credential Evaluation Service.
If you want to move to Canada and work as a licensed social worker, you may need to pass a written and oral examination and be registered with the appropriate regulatory body in your province or territory. Below is a list of the medical boards in each province and territory.
Step 3: Apply for a Job in Canada
As a highly skilled worker, you don’t necessarily have to have a job to immigrate to Canada, but it will make it easier for you to settle in once you arrive, as it may take some time to find your dream job. It will also make the immigration process easier, as you can receive between 50 and 200 PR points for a valid job offer.
Step 4: Start the immigration Process
There are many paths you can take to immigrate to Canada as a social worker, but we’ve listed the top 4 options that will give you the greatest chance of success in the application process:
- Express Entry system;
- Provincial Nominee Program;
- The Rural and Northern Immigration Program;
- The Atlantic Immigration Pilot.
1. Express Entry
The Express Entry (EE) system is our first choice for immigration to Canada as a social worker. It is not only the fastest, but also one of the easiest ways to immigrate to Canada. With the right age, language skills in French and/or English, qualifications and other criteria, you can move to Canada in as little as 6 months!
2. Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nominee Program allows skilled and semi-skilled immigrants to live and work in Canada. Most immigration streams require a valid offer of employment in Canada of at least one year. 11 provinces and territories have their own PNP programs, each with specific labour requirements. If you meet the requirements that the province or territory of your choice is looking for, you can receive a provincial nomination worth 600 additional PR points, which means you are virtually a shoo-in for permanent residency in Canada.
3. The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
Since there is a great need for social workers in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan, you may be eligible for immigration to Canada under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). There are currently 11 communities participating in this pilot program, three of which are in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, namely Brandon, Altona/Rhineland and Moose Jaw. You will need a valid job offer in one of the participating communities in order to apply for permanent residence in Canada under the RNIP.
4. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program allows foreign workers with medium to high skills to move to Canada’s Atlantic provinces. Since there is a high demand for social workers in three of the four Atlantic provinces, you may be eligible to apply if you have a valid job offer for at least one year.
