The new membership categories more clearly reflect the eligibility criteria for each category, making it simpler and easier for you to join and renew your membership.

The revised fee structure will help to ensure that OASW can provide expanded benefits to our members, such as increased advocacy on behalf of the profession; exclusive discounts on consumer goods and professional services; membership in and access to additional benefits from the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW); and low-cost, high-quality professional development. In 2023, OASW also plans to upgrade its member experience software and launch OASW Connect, a dedicated digital networking platform exclusive to OASW members.

All members must meet at least one of the membership eligibility criteria in order to join the Association within one of the categories below:

• General: Members whose paid hours from all forms of employment total 24 hours per week or more.

• Reduced Hours: Members whose paid hours from all forms of employment total less than 24 hours per week.

• New Professional: Members who are entering the workforce for the first time* after completing their social work studies within the past two years. *This does not include members returning to the workforce after completing an additional degree.

• Discount: Students currently enrolled in a BSW, MSW, or PhD of Social Work at an accredited Canadian University; those who are fully retired from all forms of employment; and those who are unemployed.

Note: If you were previously eligible for the Unemployed membership category because you were employed but working less than 10 hours per week, you will be moved into the Reduced Hours membership category upon renewal.

The new membership categories and fees are effective as of January 1, 2023.

All new members joining on or after this date will be aligned to the new categories and fees.

Existing members will be aligned to the new categories and fees on a rolling basis according to their renewal cycle. For example, if your current membership expires on April 30, then you will be asked to renew under the new categories and fees by April 30, 2023.

Yes. Existing members will see a nominal increase to their membership fee when they renew as a result of the new category and fee structure. The amount of this increase will depend on which membership category you are eligible for upon renewal and will reflect a $10 increase in most cases.

These changes were designed with a view to minimizing the impacts to our members, while also recognizing that OASW’s membership fees have not been revised since 2013. The nominal increase will support new and expanded benefits for OASW members, from the launch of OASW Connect, to our continued delivery of high caliber training and skills development, and our increasing efforts to advance the profile of our profession.

No. The renewal process will remain the same. Upon renewal, the name of your membership category will change to reflect the new membership categories. As a reminder, you can renew your membership by following the steps below:

1. Go to oasw.org.
2. Click LOGIN at the top-right corner of your browser window (inside the green header bar).
3. Once logged in, click on your name in the top-right corner of your browser window (inside the green header bar) to navigate to your member account page.
4. Click the RENEW NOW button to add your fees to the cart, and then click UPDATE.
5. Scroll down the page and enter your payment information before clicking SUBMIT ORDER.