Establishment of the complete text of 19 articles, promulgated on August 30, 2000 as per Examination Yuan (89) Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No.10993.
Amendment to Article 14, promulgated on July 25, 2001 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 0900005462.
Amendment to Article 5, promulgated on July 31, 2001 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 0900005368.
Amendment to Articles 1, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, and 15, promulgated on April 29, 2003 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 09200036491.
Amendment to Article 7, promulgated on December 24, 2003 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 0900108581.
Amendment to Article 15, promulgated on January 13, 2006 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 09500003831.
Amendment promulgated on February 4, 2009 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 09500007541.
Amendment to Articles 7, 11, 12, 13, and 19, promulgated on October 13, 2009 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 09800080231.
Amendment to Articles 1, 4, 5, 6, 15, and 19, promulgated on August 6, 2013 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10200066911.
Amendment to Articles 14 and 16, promulgated on November 20, 2013 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10200097011.
Deletion of Articles 17 and 18 and the replacement of Article 17 with Article 19, promulgated on March 24, 2017 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10600015091.
Amendment to Articles 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 14, and 15, promulgated on September 8, 2017 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10600063291.
Amendments to Articles 7 and 9, promulgated on November 21, 2018 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10700041011.

The text of these Regulations is as follows:

Article 1

These Regulations are established as per Article 11, Paragraph 1 of the Professional and Technical Personnel Examinations Act.

Article 2

The Senior Professional and Technical Examination for Social Workers (hereinafter the “Examination”) shall be held annually.

Article 3

The Examination is conducted in written form.

Article 4

Persons who meet circumstances as stipulated in the Social Workers Act to be ineligible for practice as a social worker, or who meet circumstances as stipulated in other regulations to be ineligible of sitting in national examinations, may not sit the Examinations nor apply for partial exam subject exemption.

Article 5

Candidates of R.O.C. nationality, whom have completed degrees from public or private junior colleges or higher levels, or have completed foreign degrees from junior colleges or higher level recognized by the Ministry of Education in fields related to social work, and have acquired credits in Social Work Practicum or Social Work Field Work courses, and have studied all 15 courses listed in the following 5 fields acquiring a total of 45 credits (3 credits per course), and have obtained a graduate certificate and can provide proof of verification for completing all the said courses, may sit the Examination:

1. Two subjects in the field of Introduction to Social Work

(1) Introduction to Social Work.

(2) Introduction to Social Welfare or Ethics in Social Work.

2.Three subjects in the field of Direct Social Work Practice:

(1)Social Case Work

(2) Social Group Work

(3) Community Work or Community Organization and Development

3.Four subjects in the field of Human Behavior and Social Environment:

(1)  Human Behavior and Social Environment

(2) Sociology

(3) Psychology

(4)  Social Psychology

4.Four subjects in the field of Social Policy and Legislation and Administrative Management

(1) Social Policy and Legislation

(2) Administration of Social Welfare

(3)Program Planning and Evaluation

(4) Social Work Management or Non-Profit Organization Management.

5.Two subjects in Social Work Research Methods:

(1) Social Work Research Method or Social Research Method

(2) Social Statistics

The Ministry of Examination will review all required courses related to social work in junior colleges or higher level institutes, those of which meet requirements stipulated in the above paragraph will be approved and publicly announced by the Ministry of Examination. Graduates from the approved institutes are not required to submit a proof of verification for completing all the said courses.Standards for the credits in Social Work Practicum or Social Work Field Work courses shall be established by the Ministry of Examination.

Article 6

Candidates, whom meet eligibility requirements stipulated in Article 5, Paragraph 1 and meet any one of the conditions stipulated below, may apply for partial exemption from the Examination:

1.Persons with five plus years of social work experience in the R.O.C., with proof of verification issued by the central competent authority.

2.Persons who have acquired a foreign social worker certificate and have one plus years of social work experience in the R.O.C., with proof of verification issued by the central competent authority.

3.Persons who have worked at a public or registered private junior college level and above, in the position of a lecturer for three plus years, or an assistant professor or associate professor for two plus years, or a professor for one plus years, and have taught in at least two of the subjects stipulated in Paragraph 1 of Article 5, and have one plus years of social work experience in the R.O.C., with proof of verification issued by the central competent authority.

The requirements for years of service listed in the preceding Subparagraph 3 shall be calculated starting as of the issuance date of the lecturer or assistant professor or associate professor or professor certificate issued by the Ministry of Education. The calculation of years of service for part-time lecturers or assistant professors or associate professors or professors shall be 50% of the total accumulated years.

Article 7

The exam subjects include general and professional subjects:

1.General subjects：

(1)Chinese (essay).

2.Professional subjects:

(2)Social work.

(3)Human behavior and social environment.

(4)Direct social work practice.

(5)Social work research method.

(6)Social work management.

(7)Social policy and legislation.

Article 8

Candidates whom, in accordance with stipulations of Article 6, have been approved for partial exam subject exemption should sit exams in the following subjects:

1. Social Work

2. Direct Social Work Practice

3. Social Work Management

4. Social Policy and Legislation

Article 9

All subjects consist of both essay and multiple-choice questions, with the exception of Chinese, which is tested in essay format.

Article 10

Review of applications for partial examination subject exemption shall be conducted by the Social Workers Review Committee established by the Ministry of Examination. Results of the review, upon approval by the Ministry of Examination, shall be submitted to the Examination Yuan for record.

Article 11

When registering, candidates should submit the following documents and fees by mail:

1.Registration form.

2.Proof of exam eligibility.

3.Copy of citizen identification card. Overseas Chinese should submit their Overseas Chinese Identity Certificate issued by the Overseas Community Affairs Council, or submit their valid R.O.C. passport with approval from an overseas embassy or consulate, representative office, economic and cultural office, or other agency authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereinafter “Overseas Missions”) proving them to be R.O.C. nationals residing in a foreign country.

4.A 2.5-cm by 3.5-cm close-up photograph showing the head and top of the shoulders. Head coverings should not be worn and the photo should be taken within one year.

5.Registration fee.

Documents and fees for online registrations should be submitted in accordance with guidelines found in the Examination Information Pack and on the registration website of the Ministry of Examination (MOEX).

Article 12

According to stipulations of Article 6, candidates should submit the following documents and fees when applying for partial subject exemption from this Examination:

1. Partial examination subject exemption application form.

2. Eligibility verification documentation.

3. Copy of citizen identification card. Overseas Chinese should submit their Overseas Chinese Identity Certificate issued by the Overseas Community Affairs Council or submit their valid ROC passport with approval from overseas missions proving them to be ROC nationals residing in a foreign country.
4. A 2.5-cm by 3.5-cm close-up photograph showing the head and top of the shoulders. Head coverings should not be worn and the photo should be taken within one year.

5. Application fee for full exemption from examination.

Candidates may apply for a partial exam exemption by mail at any appropriate time. However, candidates applying for partial exam subject exemption must complete application procedures and submission of all documents and fees two months prior the scheduled examination, partial exemption approval shall not be granted otherwise.

Article 13

For all submissions of foreign diploma, certificate of degree, full transcripts of studies, credit verification, social worker certificate, proof of work experience, examination transcript or qualification notice, copy of regulation, or any other relevant verification documents, the original copy must be provided along with mandarin translations and copy of verification from overseas missions or with mandarin translations verified by a domestic public notary.

The submission of original copies of the abovementioned documents may be replaced with copies verified, by overseas missions, and also, by local public notaries to be exactly identical to the original copy.

Article 14

Qualification standard for this Examination is set at total subject score of 60 points.

The calculation of the abovementioned total subject score is made up by general subjects (accounting for 10% of total scores) and professional subjects (accounting for 90% of total scores). In circumstances where there are no general subjects, the total score should be the average score of all examination subjects.

If the examinee were to receive a zero point score for any one subject, or were to receive a total score below 50 points for professional subjects, he/she shall be regarded as disqualified. Missing attendance at any examination subject shall result in a zero point score.

Article 15

Foreign candidates, who meet eligibility requirements as stipulated in Article 5, Paragraph 1 and do not meet conditions stipulated in Article 4, may sit the Examination, and may apply for partial examination subject exemption in accordance with Article 6.

Article 16
Qualifiers of this Examination shall be reported to the Examination Yuan by the MOEX for the issuance of a qualification certificate. The Ministry of Health and Welfare shall also be informed accordingly.

Article 17

These Regulations shall come into effect upon promulgation.

In case of any discrepancy between the English version and the Chinese version, the latter shall prevail.