Training

Become a social worker in Quebec: 90-credit degree and licence

The 90-credit bachelor's degree (3 years), the OTSTCFQ licence, the DEC-BAC path and equivalence for foreign degrees, then a first job at $31.06 an hour.

November 14, 2026 · By the Agent Intervenant editorial team · Lire en français

Training

To become a social worker in Quebec, you need a 90-credit bachelor's degree, which takes 3 years full-time according to Université de Montréal and Université Laval (pages viewed November 14, 2026), then the Order's licence. As of April 1, 2026, title 1550 in the public network starts at $31.06 an hour (about $56,725 a year, calculated on 35 hours a week). This text applies to women and men. It describes the path step by step to the profession of social worker.

Become a social worker, step by step

Step	What you need
1. The DEC	A DEC (college diploma) with the prerequisites of the program you want
2. The bachelor's degree	90 credits, 3 years full-time, with internships
3. The licence	Online application to the OTSTCFQ with your final transcript
4. The first job	Network title 1550, membership in the Order required

Studies before university

Universities first ask for a DEC. Université Laval admits a DEC in science, literature and the arts or in social sciences. A DEC in natural sciences comes with a psychology course. Any other DEC requires a psychology course and a quantitative methods course. Holders of a DEC in social work techniques are exempt from the psychology 102 course.

Université de Montréal admits holders of a DEC or equivalent training. Some places may be allotted to social work technicians. The number of places is limited at both universities.

The bachelor's degree in social work

The bachelor's degree is 90 credits. The estimated length is 3 years full-time at Laval and at Université de Montréal. Université de Montréal also allows part-time study, but you must be available full-time during internships.

Internships are mandatory. Université de Montréal advertises more than 710 hours of internship in a health and social services setting or a community organization. Laval has two internships of 12 credits each, or 24 credits out of 90.

A program is recognized when its degree appears in section 1.15 of the Règlement sur les diplômes délivrés par les établissements d'enseignement désignés, current to July 1, 2026.

University	Degree that qualifies for the social worker licence (s. 1.15)
Université Laval	Bachelor's degree in social service (Baccalauréat en service social)
McGill University	Bachelor of Social Work
Université de Montréal	Bachelor of Science in social service (Baccalauréat ès sciences en service social)
Université de Sherbrooke	Bachelor's degree in social service (Baccalauréat en service social)
UQAT, UQAC, UQO, UQAM and UQAR	Bachelor's degree in social work (Baccalauréat en travail social)

The DEC-BAC path for technicians

A technician with a diploma in social work techniques earns credits when moving on to the bachelor's degree. Université de Montréal recognizes up to 29 credits depending on the DEC courses taken. Laval recognizes up to 21 credits for graduates of the last 5 years. For that profession, see the article on the social work technician.

Applying for the licence at the Order

A graduate of a Quebec program files an online application with the Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec (OTSTCFQ), Quebec's professional order of social workers. You upload a piece of identification, proof of language requirements and your official final transcript. After acceptance, the invoice is payable within 30 days to be entered on the roll.

Admission fees and the annual fee are on the page about the Order of social workers.

A degree earned outside Quebec

The equivalence application (page in French) is for people who graduated or trained abroad or elsewhere in Canada. It covers those who do not have the mutual recognition arrangement with France or Switzerland. It also covers those who do not already hold authorization to practise in another province.

The application is online only. The Comité sur les admissions et les équivalences (admissions and equivalence committee) makes the decision. A degree in a related discipline generally earns partial recognition. A refusal is possible. Gathering documents can take several months. The immigration process is separate.

The first job

Title 1550 requires a bachelor's degree in social work or in social service and membership in the Order. It starts at $31.06 an hour at step 1, or about $56,725 a year ($31.06 × 35 hours × 52.18 weeks). The step-by-step detail is on the page Social worker salary. To find where to apply, see the article on social worker jobs. The neighbouring title of human relations officer (agent de relations humaines) also exists in the network.

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Frequently asked questions

What training do you need to be a social worker?

You need a degree listed in section 1.15 of the regulation, which means a bachelor's or master's degree in social work or social service from a designated university. Avenir en santé speaks of first-cycle university studies. Network title 1550 requires the bachelor's degree or meeting the Order's schooling requirements.

What studies do you need to become a social worker?

The path starts with a DEC with the university's prerequisites. It continues with the 90-credit bachelor's degree, which takes 3 years full-time, with more than 710 hours of internship at Université de Montréal. It ends with the licence application to the Order.

How long does the DEC-BAC in social work take?

Universities do not publish a fixed length for the DEC-BAC. Université de Montréal recognizes up to 29 of 90 credits for graduates of the DEC in social work techniques. Laval recognizes up to 21 for a DEC from the last 5 years.

Where is the bachelor's degree in social work offered?

At nine universities according to section 1.15 of the regulation. They are Laval, McGill, Université de Montréal, Sherbrooke, UQAT, UQAC, UQO, UQAM and UQAR. The Order adds UQTR, as an extension of UQAT.

Where does a social worker work?

According to Québec.ca, in hospital centres, school service centres, social service organizations and child protection services. Social workers are also found in correctional facilities, community organizations, employee assistance programs, Indigenous band councils and private settings.

What is the salary of a social worker with a bachelor's degree?

The bachelor's degree opens title 1550 in the public network. The rate runs from $31.06 to $55.04 an hour as of April 1, 2026, or about $56,725 to $100,520 a year on 35 hours a week.

What is the salary of a social worker in 2026?

In the public network, it runs from $31.06 to $55.04 an hour as of April 1, 2026. For the whole market, Québec.ca gives a median hourly wage of $39.00 (2023 to 2025 average), or about $81,400 a year on 40 hours a week. It also gives an annual salary of $71,500 in 2020, or about $34 an hour on 40 hours.