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Educators

All social work programmes must meet the current SWRB Programme Recognition Standards. Institutions also have their own mechanisms, including external monitoring, for ensuring quality and national benchmarking.

What’s on this page

Introduction to the Programme Recognition Standards (PRS)

All social work programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand must meet the SWRB Programme Recognition Standards (PRS) to continue to be recognised. 

The Programme Recognition Standards (PRS) enable us to prescribe qualifications for social work in Aotearoa New Zealand.  

The Board uses PRS to ensure education providers deliver a social work degree that: 

  • meets the principles under the Social Workers Registration Act and the scope of practice  
  • enables graduates to meet professional standards for entry into the social work profession such as the Code of Conduct and the Ten Core Competencies.  

Only students who follow courses leading to a SWRB–recognised qualification will be eligible to become a registered social worker (unless applying through the experience pathway or through an overseas qualification that is assessed as equivalent).  

What’s included in the PRS

There are six themes for the standards: 

  • Governance 
  • Curriculum  
  • Field education  
  • Admission criteria 
  • Professional and stakeholder collaboration 
  • Staffing resources. 

You can view our Programme Recognition Standards policy in the document below:

SWRB Programme Recognition Standards June 2021

In 2021, some adjustments were made to the processes around managing field education placements due to the complexities of delivering the placements during COVID-19 restrictions. There were also adjustments to the schedule for programme re-confirming and mid-cycle reviews.

Timetable for reviewing social work programmes

The SWRB reviews all social work programmes at all institutions on a five-yearly cycle, with a mid-cycle review, as below:

Tertiary Education Institute
20202021202220232024
Ara
Re-confirm
BTI
Re-confirm
EIT
Re-confirm
MIT
Re-confirm
NMIT
Mid-cycleRe-confirm
NorthTec
Re-confirmRe-confirm
OP
Mid-cycle Re-confirm
TWOA
Mid-cycle Re-confirm
TWOR
Mid-cycle Re-confirm
Unitec
Re-confirm
Toi Ohomai
Re-confirmRe-confirm
Whitireia
Re-confirmRe-confirm
Wintec
Re-confirm
Auckland Uni
Re-confirm
Canterbury Uni
Mid-cycle Re-confirm
Massey Uni
Mid-cycle Re-confirm
Otago Uni
Mid-cycle Re-confirm
Waikato Uni Mid-cycle Re-confirm

Review of Programme Recognition Standards

The SWRB first developed programme recognition standards for social work qualifying programmes in Aotearoa in 2005, following the introduction of the Social Workers Registration Act (SWRA) 2003. PRS reviews should occur every four years. 

You can read more about the Education Standards Review 2021-24.

The 2020 review was delayed due to the impact of COVID-19.

Annual education reports

The SWRB compiles a report at the end of each academic year that provides information on student numbers and demographics, as well as field education activities. You can find copies of recent reports below.

2021 Annual Education Providers Report

You can find previous Annual education reports on our publications page.