Guide for Inactive Members - Ontario College of Social Workers and ...

GUIDE FOR INACTIVE MEMBERS 

Guide for 

Inactive Members 

250 Bloor St. E. 

Suite 1000 

Toronto ON M4W 1E6 

Telephone: 416-972-9882 

Toll Free: 1-877-828-9380 

Fax: 416-972-1512 

www.ocswssw.org 

INTRODUCTION 

A member of the College may wish to become an inactive member because he or she has either permanently or temporarily withdrawn from the 

practice of social work or social service work. The reasons for permanent or temporary withdrawal from practice are varied but may include the 

following: retirement; maternity and/or parental leave; long-term illness or disability; long-term leave of absence; temporary move out of Ontario; 

etc. While an inactive member pays a reduced annual fee, he or she is still a member of the College and is subject to the authority and jurisdiction of 

the College. Accordingly, an inactive member must continue to participate in the Continuing Competence Program. If an inactive member wishes to 

resume active membership, he or she must notify the Registrar in writing of his or her intention to do so but does not have to reapply for registration. 

A member must notify the Registrar of his or her intention to become an inactive member at least 60 days before the member intends to do so. An 

inactive member must notify the Registrar of his or her intention to resume active membership at least 60 days before the member intends to do so. 

Therefore, inactive membership would not likely benefit a member who intends to withdraw from the practice of social work or social service work 

for less than six months. Inactive membership would also not likely benefit a member who is actively looking for employment as a social worker or 

social service worker. 

The following sections set out the requirements and processes for College members intending to become inactive members and for inactive College 

members wishing to resume active membership. 

SECTION ONE: BECOMING AN INACTIVE MEMBER 

A member who wishes to become an inactive member must meet the following requirements: 

1. The member must be an active member who is not: in default of any obligation to the College, including payment of the annual fee; or the 

subject of any pending disciplinary proceeding. 

2. The member must notify the Registrar of his or her intention to become an inactive member by completing, signing and submitting the 

“Notice of Intention to Become an Inactive College Member” form at least 60 days before the member intends to become an inactive member. 

3. The member must complete, sign and submit the “Undertaking and Acknowledgement” form. 

4. The member must pay any outstanding fees owed to the College, including any annual fee owed for the current year, penalty or other amount. 

After the College receives the required documents, the Registrar will review them. If the Registrar is satisfied that the member meets the 

requirements, the College will send the member a letter advising the member that he or she has become an inactive member and a refund, if 

applicable. A notation regarding the member’s inactive membership status will be entered on the College’s register. This information will be 

available to the public. 

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Obligations of an Inactive Member 

A member who is an inactive member must not: 

■■ 

engage in the practice of social work or social service work in Ontario; or 

■■ 

use the titles or designations reserved for members of the College unless the title or designation is immediately followed by “inactive” in English 

or “inactif” in French. 

A member who is an inactive member must: 

■■ 

complete the annual renewal of membership form each year; 

■■ 

pay the annual fee for inactive members; and 

■■ 

participate, on an annual basis, in the Continuing Competence Program. 

SECTION TWO: FEES FOR A MEMBER WHO BECOMES INACTIVE 

The annual fee payable by an active member is $275.00. The annual fee payable by an inactive member is $137.50. If a member is an inactive 

member for only part of a year, each annual fee will be prorated on a quarterly basis and the total amount payable for the year will be calculated, 

based on the number of quarters the member is an inactive member and the number of quarters the member is an active member. The quarters are 

based on a calendar year (that is, January 1 to March 31; April 1 to June 30; July 1 to September 30; and October 1 to December 31). For purposes of 

the calculation of fees, a member will be considered to be an inactive member for a quarter only if the member is an inactive member for the entire 

quarter. 

A member who is a new graduate (new graduate member) normally pays an annual fee of $175.00 during the first two years of membership (new 

graduate member annual fee). If a new graduate member becomes an inactive member during the first two years of membership, the new graduate 

member will pay the same amount as any other inactive member for the quarter(s) he or she is an inactive member and, for the quarter(s) he or she 

is an active member, a prorated amount of the new graduate member annual fee. The length of time that a new graduate member is eligible for 

the new graduate member annual fee will not be extended if the new graduate member becomes an inactive member within the first two years of 

membership. 

A member who wishes to become an inactive member will be issued a refund, if applicable, on the date he or she becomes an inactive member. 

The refund, if applicable, will be based on the difference between the annual fee paid and the total amount payable with respect to the annual fee 

for that year, depending on the number of quarters the member was an active member and the number of quarters the member will be an inactive 

member. 

SECTION THREE: RESUMING ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP 

An inactive member may resume active membership, if he or she completes and submits to the Registrar the “Notice of Intention to Become an 

Active College Member” form at least 60 days before the inactive member wishes to resume active membership and pays any outstanding fees 

owing to the College. After receipt and review of the Notice form, the College will issue to the member an invoice for any outstanding fees owing to 

the College. The outstanding fees, if any, will be based on the difference between the annual fee paid and the total amount payable with respect to 

the annual fee for that year, depending on the number of quarters the member was an inactive member and the number of quarters the member will 

be an active member. The outstanding fees must be paid in full before the inactive member may resume active membership. 

An inactive member who has been an inactive member for more than five years and intends to resume active membership must also satisfy the 

Registrar that he or she is currently competent to practise social work or social service work before the inactive member may resume active 

membership. After the College receives the Notice form, the College will contact the inactive member for further information to satisfy the Registrar 

that he or she is competent to practise social work or social service work. 

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If the Registrar is satisfied that an inactive member meets the requirements to resume active membership, the College will send the member a letter 

advising the member that he or she has become an active member. A notation regarding the member’s active membership status will be entered on 

the College’s register. This information will be available to the public. 

Inactive Member Deemed to Have Resumed Active Membership: 

If an inactive member engages in the practice of social work or social service work or uses any of the titles or designations set out in Section 15 or 

16 of O. Reg. 383/00 (Registration)1 without the title or designation being immediately followed by “inactive” or “inactif”, the inactive member is 

deemed to have resumed active membership and is deemed to owe, as of the date the member is deemed to have resumed active membership, the 

annual fee of $275.00, or balance thereof, and a penalty of $50.00 for late payment of the annual fee, for each relevant year. Such member will have 

to pay to the College any outstanding fees or penalties, including the annual fee, penalty, or other amount owed to the College. 

An inactive member who is deemed to have resumed active membership and has been an inactive member for more than 5 years must also satisfy 

the Registrar that he or she is currently competent to practise social work or social service work. 

SECTION FOUR: CHECKLISTS 

A) Becoming an Inactive Member: 

■■ 

download, complete and sign the “Notice of Intention to Become an Inactive College Member” form from the College website; 

■■ 

download, complete and sign the “Undertaking and Acknowledgement” form from the College website (the “Undertaking and Acknowledgement” 

form must be witnessed); 

■■ 

mail or courier both forms to the College, 250 Bloor St. E., Suite 1000, Toronto, Ontario. M4W 1E6. Attention: Membership 

Department. A photocopy, facsimile or electronic copy of the forms will not be accepted. Both the Notice form and the Undertaking and 

Acknowledgement form must be submitted to the College at least 60 days before the member intends to become an inactive 

member. 

B) Resuming Active Membership: 

■■ 

download, complete and sign the “Notice of Intention to Become an Active College Member” form from the College website. 

■■ 

mail or courier the form to the College, 250 Bloor St. E., Suite 1000, Toronto, Ontario M4W 1E6. Attention: Membership Department. A 

photocopy, facsimile or electronic copy of the form will not be accepted. Notice must be submitted to the College at least 60 days before 

the member intends to resume active membership. 

1 

The titles or designations set out in Sections 15 and 16 of O. Reg. 383/00 (Registration) are social worker; registered social worker; travailleur social; travailleur social inscrit; RSW or 

TSI; social service worker; registered social service worker; technicien en travail social; technicien en travail social inscrit; RSSW or TTSI. 

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Guide for Inactive Members - Ontario College of Social Workers and ...

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