Trust in your digital mental health care: Verify the qualifications of your practitioner

TORONTO, Sept. 8, 2026 /CNW/ -- Access to digital mental health platforms has expanded across Ontario, and it can be overwhelming to decide who to seek support from. Be sure that you are connecting with a professional who is not only supportive, but also qualified, ethical and accountable. The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) can help verify that your provider is registered and qualified to practise. Ontarians can confirm their practitioner's credentials and registration status, and learn how social workers and social service workers are held accountable at OCSWSSW.org.

What regulation means for you

In vulnerable moments, you shouldn't have to wonder whether the person you are putting your trust in is actually qualified.

Regulated social workers and social service workers in Ontario are required to meet all of the following criteria:

• Specific entry-to-practice qualifications before they can register.
• Follow the OCSWSSW's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, which governs how they work with clients.
• Ongoing professional learning requirements to maintain their registration.

"The registration criteria for social workers and social service workers is the same, regardless of whether they deliver services in person or through a digital platform," explains Denitha Breau, OCSWSSW Registrar and CEO. "We take our public protection mandate seriously. Every professional registered with us must meet rigorous standards, no matter how they choose to practise."

Accountability you can rely on

"If you have questions or concerns about your practitioner, talk to us," says Breau. "We can explain the obligations your social worker or social service worker has to you, the oversight we provide and guide you through our complaints and discipline processes if you believe your practitioner has fallen short of their professional standards." 

This oversight gives the public a real voice, and it gives professionals a clear standard to be held to. Learn more about how practitioners are kept accountable: www.ocswssw.org/public/ 

Verify your practitioner

To maintain public safety, the College maintains has an Online Register, which is a searchable resource that confirms if a practitioner is authorized to practise social work or social service work in Ontario. This comprehensive and up-to-date tool allows you to confirm a professional's status in just a few clicks. It is a quick way to be assured that the professional you work with is accountable to the OCSWSSW and is held to ethical and professional standards.

• Registration: Users can search the database by a practitioner's name or registration number to confirm they are registered and entitled to practise.
• Status: The Online Register lists any specific terms, conditions or limitations placed on a practitioner's certificate of registration.
• History: The Online Register also lists if a practitioner has any history of disciplinary action.

The rise in digital mental health platforms provides Ontarians with easier access to mental health services. When choosing your practitioner, remember that mental health professionals who practise on these digital platforms are held to the same professional, ethical and safety standards as those who practise in-person. Make sure that your social worker or social service worker is registered and accountable to the OCSWSSW.

Learn more: OCSWSSW.org.

About the OCSWSSW

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, which is accountable to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, is the regulatory body for social workers and social service workers in Ontario. Although the OCSWSSW has the word 'College' in its name, it is not a school. The OCSWSSW's role is to make sure that the public is supported by professional, ethical, qualified and accountable practitioners. Only people registered with the OCSWSSW can call themselves a "social worker" or "social service worker." The OCSWSSW currently regulates over 34,000 social workers and social service workers across Ontario.

SOURCE Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers

Media Contact: Sarah Choudhury, Director of Communications, [email protected], 416-728-4324