Social Work Ethics — Canada
Social Worker Ethics Course
A practical, case-driven 5-hour ethics course for Canadian social workers. Covers the CASW Code of Ethics, ethical decision-making frameworks, and real professional scenarios — completed entirely online at your own pace.
✓5 CE hours in ethics
✓Covers the CASW Code of Ethics — all six core values
✓Real-world scenarios and professional case studies
✓Audit-ready certificate issued instantly on completion
✓100% online and self-paced — complete on any device
✓Developed with input from registered social workers and ethics consultants
5
CE hours in ethics
~5 hrs
To complete
Online
Self-paced
Instant
Certificate
ℹ Please verify acceptance with your regulatory body
CE acceptance rules vary by provincial social work regulatory body and change over time. Most Canadian social work regulators accept self-reported external ethics CE hours — however we recommend confirming with your specific regulatory body that this course qualifies toward your mandatory continuing competence requirement before enrolling.
Provincial acceptance
Suitable for social workers across Canada
This course is designed to meet the ethics CE requirements of Canadian social work regulatory bodies. Your audit-ready certificate includes all the details typically required for self-reporting — participant name, provider, course title, completion date, and 5 CE hours in ethics.
| Province / Regulatory body | How to report |
|---|---|
| Ontario (OCSWSSW) | Self-report under “Continuing Competence – Education” |
| British Columbia (BCCSW) | Report under “Ethics” / CE activities |
| Alberta (ACSW) | Report under “Formal / Informal Learning” |
| Manitoba (MCSW) | Self-report CE hours |
| Saskatchewan (SASW) | Report as continuing education |
| Nova Scotia (NSCSW) | Meets annual ethics learning requirements |
| New Brunswick (NBASW) | Report CE credits |
| PEI (PEISWA) | Accepted CE activity |
| Newfoundland & Labrador (NLCSW) | Report CE hours |
| Yukon / NWT / Nunavut | Meets CE ethics requirements |
What’s covered
Ethics training built around real social work practice
This course focuses on the ethical situations Canadian social workers actually face — confidentiality, boundaries, dual relationships, high-risk clients, and professional dilemmas — with the CASW Code of Ethics as the foundation throughout.
How it works
Four steps to your certificate
1
Enrol online — instant access after payment
2
Complete the lessons — self-paced, mobile-friendly, accessible 24/7
3
Pass the final quiz — unlimited attempts until successful
4
Download your certificate — audit-ready, instantly available on completion
Your audit-ready certificate includes
✓Participant name
✓Course title
✓Provider (MySafetyPrep)
✓Completion date
✓5 CE hours — Ethics category
Suitable for self-reporting to Canadian social work regulatory bodies. Verify acceptance with your specific regulatory body before enrolling.
What social workers say
Trusted by social workers across Canada
★★★★★
“Valid for my ethics CE in Ontario. Clear, practical, and relevant.”
LC
L. Carter, RSW
★★★★★
“Exactly what I needed for my annual ethics requirement.”
RM
R. MacDougall, RSW
★★★★★
“Strong course and very informative. Easy to complete on my schedule.”
AH
A. Hughes, MSW
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
✓
Complete your ethics CE requirement today
5 CE hours in ethics, covered entirely online at your own pace, with your audit-ready certificate available the moment you finish. Built around the CASW Code of Ethics and the real situations Canadian social workers face in practice every day.
Curriculum
- 10 Sections
- 69 Lessons
- Lifetime
Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections
- Course Navigation Instructions1
- Welcome and Administrative Information1
- Course Outline and Curriculum– Reference PDF1
- Introduction1
- Module 1: Introduction to Professional Ethics15
- 5.1Module 1 Learning Objectives [ESW]
- 5.2Differentiating Ethics and Morals [ESW]
- 5.3Key Distinctions Between Ethics and Morals [ESW]
- 5.4Ethics and Morals Relevance to Social Work Professionals [ESW]
- 5.5Illustrative Example [ESW]
- 5.6When Does an Ethical Issue or Dilemma Exist [ESW]
- 5.7Defining Ethical Issues and Dilemmas [ESW]
- 5.8Recognizing Ethical Issues and Dilemmas [ESW]
- 5.9Analyzing Ethical Issues and Dilemmas [ESW]
- 5.10Relevance of Ethics in Social Work [ESW]
- 5.11Ethics as the Cornerstone of Social Work [ESW]
- 5.12Ethical Leadership in Social Work [ESW]
- 5.13Ethical Considerations in Social Work Decision-Making [ESW]
- 5.14Stakeholder Engagement and Ethical Social Work Practices [ESW]
- 5.15Ethics as the Foundation of Social Work Practice [ESW]
- Module 2: Ethical Decision-Making and Bias31
- 6.1Module 2 Learning Objectives [ESW]
- 6.2Importance of Ethical Behavior [ESW]
- 6.3Client Welfare vs. Organizational Pressure: Ethical Integrity in Practice [ESW]
- 6.4Confidentiality vs. Reporting Abuse or Misconduct [ESW]
- 6.5Conflicts of Interest: Supporting Competing Clients [ESW]
- 6.6Boundary Management: Navigating Legal vs. Ethical Responsibilities [ESW]
- 6.7Pressure to Withhold or Alter Case Findings [ESW]
- 6.8Handling Client Misconduct: Whistleblowing [ESW]
- 6.9Gifts and Hospitality: Undue Influence [ESW]
- 6.10Personal Interests: Misuse of Client Information [ESW]
- 6.11Ethical Responsibility and Decisions [ESW]
- 6.12Ethical Responsibility in Social Work [ESW]
- 6.13Ethical Responsibility in Social Work and Compliance with Laws and Regulations [ESW]
- 6.14Ethical Decision-Making in Social Work [ESW]
- 6.15Impact of Ethical Behavior in Social Work [ESW]
- 6.16Consequences of Unethical Behavior in Social Work [ESW]
- 6.17Ethical Decision-Making Process [ESW]
- 6.18Ethical Responsibility to Stakeholders [ESW]
- 6.19Ethical Challenges and Continuous Improvement [ESW]
- 6.20What affects our ethics-based decisions? [ESW]
- 6.21Understanding and Identifying Biases in Decision-Making [ESW]
- 6.22What Are Cognitive Biases? [ESW]
- 6.23Identifying Cognitive Biases [ESW]
- 6.24Ethical Theories [ESW]
- 6.25Utilitarianism [ESW]
- 6.26Deontological Ethics [ESW]
- 6.27Virtue Ethics [ESW]
- 6.28Social Contract Theory [ESW]
- 6.29Ethical Relativism [ESW]
- 6.30Care Ethics [ESW]
- 6.31Consequentialism [ESW]
- Module 3: Professional Codes of Ethics4
- Module 4: Analyzing Ethical Challenges and Proposed Courses of Action5
- Module 5: Disclosure, Whistleblowing, and Ethical Action6
- Module 6: Professional Conduct & Disciplinary Processes4
