Overseas social workers in Ireland: CORU qualification assessment and registration

Short answer

CORU assesses your professional qualification; recognition alone does not put you on the register.

Sources: CORU · CORU

Who decides

The Social Workers Registration Board at CORU.

Sources: CORU

Check this before paying

Compare your exact programme with the CAS fast-track list before preparing the standard application.

Sources: CORU

When this applies

CAS includes specified UK social work qualifications; social care work has a different board.

Sources: CORU · CORU

Which document

Prepare certified qualification evidence and the verification forms required for your selected route.

Sources: CORU

Avoid the wrong purchase

Do not book OET for social work: the current CORU table specifies no OET option for this profession.

Sources: CORU

What this does not do

This route concerns the Republic of Ireland and does not assess an individual qualification or confer registration.

Sources: CORU · CORU

Your next official step

Read the current international application instructions and confirm the route with CORU.

Sources: CORU · CORU

Choose the professional board, not just a degree label

CORU’s Social Workers Registration Board regulates the protected social worker title. It is distinct from the Social Care Workers Registration Board; a similarly named course is not proof of access to the same profession.

Sources: Social Workers Registration Board responsibilities

Recognition and registration can overlap in one application

CORU’s current system handles both processes. The linked January 2025 guidance allows registration components to progress while qualification assessment is underway. A recognition decision is still distinct from the final register entry. If recognition was completed in the old system, use CORU’s continuation instructions rather than starting another recognition application.

Sources: Current application system and previous recognition cases · International qualification application guidance (January 2025) · International qualifications FAQ

Check the fast track against your qualification

The social work CAS entry lists particular UK awards. A UK address, passport or an unrelated social care award does not establish that the qualification matches. Read the programme wording before choosing the application route.

Sources: Commonly Aligned Standards fast track

Use the May 2026 language policy

Applications submitted from 8 May 2026 use the current language policy. Its social work table lists IELTS Academic and Cambridge options, with no OET test specified. Check the policy’s conditional evidence alternatives before paying for a test.

Sources: Language policy effective 8 May 2026

DiploWay document preparation questions

Ask your training institution how the records describe social work placements and the professional role the award prepares you for. Keep that explanation separate from a generic degree level comparison.

Record the exact board, programme, application route and unresolved question. Check the official fee for that route; this guide does not quote a uniform fee or completion time. Send records only through CORU’s prescribed process, never to DiploWay.

Explore another use for the same qualification

• University admission: University admission in Ireland
• Non-regulated work: Non-regulated work in Ireland
• Immigration documents: Immigration documents in Ireland
• Regulated profession: Regulated profession in Ireland