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You don’t usually need a qualification to start your career, and many employers hire people based on their values and positive attitude. Our careers resources, including A Question of Care, can help you explore your values and get started. Our Careers Booklet has advice about volunteering.
If you are a registered worker you must agree to complete a qualification in an agreed time. The articles below will help you understand the ways you can do this.
Here we show you the main social service qualifications designed to meet our registration requirements. If you want to explore them in more detail use our career pathways website.
If you want to see which other qualifications are accepted visit the Help with Register parts, fees and qualifications page. We accept a range of relevant qualifications but only if they meet our principles and criteria.
Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs)
Undertaking a modern apprenticeship
Achieving a qualification at college
Studying social work at university
Studying for a childhood practice award
Leadership and management pathways in care services
Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Specialist social work programmes in England
International qualifications – non-UK social work qualifications
International qualifications – non-UK social service qualifications
We are responsible for social service National Occupational Standards (NOS). NOS are benchmark statements of competence and 80% of the social service workforce use them in the form of qualifications.
Read more about NOSFind out how you could start a life-changing career in social services using our qualifications pathway.
Visit the careers pathways website
Start your life changing career in social services by exploring our careers website.
Watch our short film to discover what you’ll find on our Learning Zone.
Get recognition of your informal learning by claiming Open Badges. There are lots of topics to choose from to support your development.
