The SWRB is a Crown entity. This means we’re a government organisation and follow the policy and guidelines of the Office of the Auditor General and Treasury for setting charges.
To set the fees and disciplinary levy, the SWRB uses a cost recovery framework that is consistent with guidelines published by the New Zealand Treasury (2017), and the Office of the Controller and Auditor General (2021). Under the guidelines, we can only charge for the mahi we are required to do under the Social Workers Registration Act 2003 at the level and standard expected by the government, with the costs recovered from the right person or group. We are also required to be financially sustainable without Crown funding.
The SWRB receives separate government funding for our workforce planning function.
How we set our fees
We do not receive Crown funding for our registration and regulatory functions. Our fees are set to recover the actual costs of the work we do – no more, no less.
We are guided by four principles in how we approach fee-setting:
- Fair. Fees are equitable between different groups of registrants and applicants
- Efficient. Fees reflect real costs, and we work to deliver services as efficiently as possible
- Justified. Every fee can be clearly linked to the work it funds
- Transparent. We are open about how fees are set, what they cover, and how decisions are made
How fees are reviewed
We undertake a full fees review every three to five years. This includes an open consultation process with the sector, with at least six weeks for submissions. We actively seek input from social workers, employers, professional associations, and education providers, and we publish a summary of what we heard and how it shaped our decisions.
Annual adjustments for inflation (CPI) can be approved by the Board without full consultation, but any significant changes go through the open process.
What fees pay for
Fees fund our regulatory functions, including processing registrations and practising certificates, competence assessments, complaints and disciplinary processes, and the systems and staff that support these.
Our workforce planning functions are separately funded through Crown appropriations and are not recovered through fees.
Find out more
Download our full fees policy.
The next fees review is scheduled to begin in later in 2026.
2025/2026 Fees
- Practising certificate fees and levy
- Registration fees
- Competence assessment fees
- Educator fees
- Other fees
Practising certificate fees and levy
| Practising certificate fee (annual) The fee applies to a social worker to practise for 12 months from 1 July to 30 June each year | $540 |
| Disciplinary levy (annual) The levy applies to a practising social worker each year. | $219 |
| Total annual cost | $759 |
Please note:
a) a practising certificate will not be issued until payment has been received
b) if you have outstanding practising certificate debt with the SWRB from a previous practising certificate renewal, we will be unable to renew your practising certificate for 2025/26 until that debt is resolved.
Registration fees
These fees apply as of 1 July 2024
| Registration application fee The fee applies to an applicant seeking to register as a social worker. A new registration application fee must be paid if registration documents are not received by the SWRB within 6 months of the application being received by the SWRB. | $423 |
| Experience pathway: S13 registration application fee The fee applies to an applicant who does not have an SWRB-recognised Aotearoa qualification or an overseas qualification. The fee includes the panel assessment and registration application fee. | $3,570 |
| Overseas applicant: qualification assessment fee The fee applies to an applicant who has an overseas qualification and does not have an SWRB-recognised Aotearoa New Zealand qualification. | $635 |
| Provisional to full registration application fee The fee applies to an applicant who is a provisionally registered social worker and has completed 2000 hours or more of practise and met any conditions on the applicant’s provisional registration | $70 |
Competence assessment fees
| Overseas applicant: provisional registration competence assessment application fee The fee applies to an applicant who has an overseas qualification and does not have an SWRB-recognised New Zealand qualification. The fee does not apply to an applicant who has been in New Zealand six months or more and has 2000 hours or more social work experience in New Zealand. | $1,012 |
| Overseas applicant: full registration competence assessment application fee The fee applies to an applicant who has an overseas qualification and does not have a SWRB-recognised New Zealand qualification. The fee does apply to an applicant or an overseas registered social worker with 2000 hours or more of social work experience in New Zealand. | $1,012 |
| Competence review fee The fee applies to an applicant or a registered social worker where the SWRB requires the applicant’s or registered social worker’s competence to be reviewed. The fee applies per review. This fee does not apply for a competence review because of a complaint. | $540 |
| Competence assessment fee The fee charged depends on the competencies involved and the process applied. The fee applies to an applicant or a registered social worker where the SWRB requires the applicant’s or registered social worker’s competence to be assessed. | Up to $3,330 |
Education provider fees
| Education programme recognition vetting fee The fee applies to an education provider seeking SWRB recognition of an Aotearoa New Zealand education programme. | Up to $29,900 |
| Education programme annual fee The fee applies to an education provider of a SWRB-recognised Aotearoa New Zealand qualification. | Up to $10,350 |
Other fees
| Return to practice application fee The fee applies to a registered social worker where the application to practise is received by the SWRB three years or more after the applicant’s previous practising certificate expiry date. | $224 |
| Certificate of good standing or hard copy registration certificate fee The fee applies to an application for a Certificate of Good Standing for overseas registration purposes or a hard copy of a registration certificate. There is no charge for digital copies of practising and registration certificates. | $63 |
Part-year practising certificate fee
Applies to a social worker (newly registered or returning to practise) getting their practising certificate after 30 September. The full disciplinary levy cost remains unchanged (at $219) and will be added to the final total.
| Part-year period | Practising certificate fee | Total (incl. disciplinary levy) |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate issued for a period of up to 9 months (1 October – 30 June) | $405 | $624 |
| Certificate issued for a period of up to 6 months (1 January – 30 June) | $270 | $489 |
| Certificate issued for a period of up to 3 months (1 April – 30 June) | $135 | $354 |
What social workers are expected to pay
We work hard to keep our costs down and we’re mindful of the pressures the sector faces. The SWRB fees and levy are comparable to other similar-size regulators in New Zealand.
Social workers are expected to pay the registration application fee to become registered as a social worker. Becoming registered means you have met all the criteria to become a social worker – you have been assessed as competent and fit to practise, and will be held accountable for the way you practise. Once registered, you will remain on the register unless you ask to be taken off, or the SWRB Board takes action to de-register you.
Each year, practising social workers are required to renew their practising certificate if they are working as a social worker in Aotearoa New Zealand. This is the document that shows you are legally able to practise as a social worker in New Zealand for that year. The charge for the practising certificate is made up of two parts – the practising certificate fee and the disciplinary levy.
When you renew your practising certificate online, you are declaring that you are still competent, fit to practise, and you have informed the SWRB of any serious health issues or convictions. You are also declaring that you are being held accountable for the way you practise and you have undertaken continuing professional development, including supervision. The practising certificate is therefore a demonstration of your commitment to being a professional.
The disciplinary levy pays for the costs of running the complaints process. We encourage employers to support their staff by paying for their practising certificate and disciplinary levy. A significant number of employers already do pay these costs and we hope that number continues to grow.
Payments
Social workers can pay for their annual practising certificate fees through their MySWRB account.
You can pay for your practising certificate in part-payments, choosing monthly or quarterly payments. If you have outstanding debt with us, you will not be able to arrangement part payment.
Payment options and setting up a payment plan
Employers who want to pay their social workers’ fees directly can become an Authorised Employer.
