You renew your Social Work England registration each year between 1 September and 30 November by completing three actions: submitting a renewal application, paying the £90 fee, and meeting the CPD requirements. Miss the 30 November deadline and you lose your registration, so you cannot legally practise as a social worker.

Key Takeaways

• Renewal runs 1 September to 30 November every year, and your renewed registration then covers 1 December to 30 November.
• Three actions are required: a renewal application, the £90 fee (or two instalments of £45), and your CPD.
• CPD means at least two pieces recorded on your account, one of which must include a peer reflection.
• "Social worker" is a protected title, so practising without current registration is a criminal offence.
• The register annotates specialisms, showing whether a social worker also qualifies as an Approved Mental Health Professional or Best Interest Assessor.

The Three Steps to Renew Your Registration

Renewal takes three actions inside your Social Work England online account, and the application itself takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Current registration is the first thing an agency confirms before any locum or agency social work role, so it pays to complete all three well before the deadline.

Step 1. Complete the online renewal application. Log into your account and select "Apply to Renew your Registration", available during the 1 September to 30 November window. Check your personal and employment details for the last 12 months, including any work outside the UK and any other regulator you hold, then confirm you have read the professional standards.

Step 2. Record your CPD. Add at least two pieces of continuing professional development, one of which must include a peer reflection, and upload them by 30 November. The form has no draft-save for CPD, so draft it in a separate document first, then paste it in.

Step 3. Pay your registration fee. Pay the £90 fee in full, or set up two direct-debit instalments of £45 if you arrange it before 24 September. After payment, note the confirmation reference number, because it is your proof of a completed renewal.

What CPD You Need to Record

Social Work England requires at least two pieces of CPD at renewal, and one must include a peer reflection. The CPD Standard asks you to reflect on feedback, keep your practice current, and record the impact your learning has on the people you support. Recording little and often through the year is easier than assembling it all in November.

How much CPD do you need to renew?

You need a minimum of two different pieces of CPD recorded on your online account, one of which must include a peer reflection. There is no maximum. The pieces should show how you use feedback, research and reflection in your practice. Record them across the year rather than in a single rush before the 30 November deadline.

Who Has to Renew and What Happens If You Miss It

Every social worker who wants to keep practising in England must renew, including those on maternity or other extended leave, those currently unemployed, those with an open fitness-to-practise case, and retired social workers who want to stay on the register. Registration sits at the centre of specialist social work recruitment, because an agency cannot put forward a social worker whose registration has lapsed.

The register also records specialisms, showing whether a social worker qualifies as an Approved Mental Health Professional or a Best Interest Assessor. Agencies must confirm your registration under the current agency rules, which is one reason placing a locum without full vetting carries real risk.

What happens if you miss the 30 November deadline?

Missing the deadline removes you from the register, and you cannot legally practise or use the protected title "social worker" until you re-register. Re-registration is a separate, longer application than renewal, and it can interrupt your employment while it clears. Renewing well before 30 November avoids a gap in your right to practise.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Social Work England renewal deadline?

The renewal window runs from 1 September to 30 November every year, and you must complete all three actions by 30 November. Your renewed registration then covers 1 December to 30 November the following year. Applying early leaves time to fix any problem before the deadline.

How much is the Social Work England registration fee?

The annual renewal fee is £90 (Social Work England). You can pay it in full, or as two direct-debit instalments of £45 if you set the direct debit up before 24 September. After that date, only the full payment option is available.

How much CPD do I need to renew my registration?

You need at least two pieces of CPD recorded on your online account, one of which must include a peer reflection. You can add CPD during the renewal application or separately, but it must be on your account by 30 November for your renewal to be valid.

Do locum social workers need to renew their registration?

Yes. Every practising social worker in England needs current Social Work England registration, whether permanent or locum. Agencies confirm registration before any placement, so a lapsed registration stops you working. Locum social workers should renew early to avoid any break in available bookings.

What happens if my registration lapses?

A lapsed registration removes you from the register, and you cannot practise or use the title "social worker" until you re-register. Re-registration is a longer process than renewal and can pause your employment. Renewing before 30 November is the only way to avoid the gap.

Get help staying registered and in work

Charles Hunter Associates places registered social workers into permanent and locum roles across England, so contact our team if you want your next role lined up once your renewal is confirmed.