Membership
Full Membership
Full membership is open to anyone who is working more than 20 hours per week and holds a CORU-approved social work qualification or is a CORU registered Social Worker qualified over one year.
Membership Benefits
- Legal protection for your CORU registration
- Exclusive Access to Job Advertisements
- Join any Special Interest Group
- Join our Supervisor & Independent Social Worker Directory
- Discounted rates on IASW CPD
- Online CPD Resources & Support in Maintaining a CPD Portfolio
- See more member benefits below!
Part Time Membership
Part-Time membership is open to anyone who is working less than 22 hours per week and holds a CORU-approved social work qualification or is a CORU registered Social Worker qualified over one year
Part-Time Member Benefits
- Legal protection for your CORU registration
- Exclusive Access to Job Advertisements
- Join any Special Interest Group
- Online CPD Resources and Support in Maintaining a CPD Portfolio
- Discounted rates on IASW CPD
- See more member benefits below!
Non-Working Membership
Non-Working membership is open to anyone who is not currently working but holds a CORU-approved social work qualification or is a CORU registered Social Worker.
Non-Working Member Benefits
- Exclusive Access to Job Advertisements
- Discounted rates on IASW CPD
- Join any Special Interest Group
- See more member benefits below!
Overseas Membership
Overseas membership is open to members who reside outside of the Republic of Ireland but have obtained their CORU-approved social work qualification in the Republic of Ireland or is a CORU registered Social Worker.
Overseas Member Benefits
- Exclusive Access to Job Advertisements
- Discounted rates on IASW CPD
- Join any Special Interest Group
- See more member benefits below!
First Year Post Qualify Membership
First Year Post Qualify (FYPQ) membership is open to anyone who is working more than 20 hours per week and holds a CORU-approved social work qualification and is a CORU registered Social Worker qualified under one year. After 12 months of FYPQ, this membership automatically transitions to Full membership.
First Year Post Qualify Member Benefits
- Discounted from Full Membership
- Discounted rates on IASW CPD
- Exclusive Access to Job Advertisements
- Legal protection for your CORU registration
- Join any Special Interest Group
- See more member benefits below!
Student Membership
Student membership is open to anyone currently enrolled in a CORU-Approved Social Work qualification course. Eligibility for Student membership category is limited to the length of your course. In the February after a Student’s course is completed, the membership will automatically transition to First Year Post Quality.
Student Member Benefits
- Exclusive Access to Job Advertisements
- Join any Special Interest Group
- Free online access to the Irish Social Worker Journal
- See more member benefits below!
Retired Membership
Retired membership is open to anyone who is a retired Social worker who holds a CORU-approved social work qualification or is a CORU registered as a Social Worker.
Retired Member Benefits
- Discounted rates on IASW CPD
- Join any Special Interest Group
- Quarterly IASW member newsletter
- Free online access to the Irish Social Worker Journal
- Opportunities to contribute to national standards, policy and legislation
- See more member benefits below!
Frequently Asked Questions
From joining and renewals to member benefits and professional protection, here are the answers to the questions we hear most often.
What member benefits are included with IASW membership?
Our top member benefits include:
- Online CPD resources and support in maintaining a CPD portfolio
- Exclusive access to social work job advertisements
- Free member-only CPD events & reduced rates for conferences, lectures, training and CPD activities
- Fitness to Practise Legal Expenses Cover for full, Part-Time and First Year Post Qualify memberships
- Participation in Special Interest Groups and committees
Also enjoy a wide range of professional supports, resources and opportunities, including:
- Free online access to all published editions of the Irish Social Worker Journal
- Opportunities to contribute to national standards, policy and legislation
- Quarterly IASW member newsletter
- Invitation to the IASW Annual Conference and AGM
- Free inclusion on the IASW Independent Social Workers Directory
- Free inclusion on the IASW Supervision Directory
How do I join IASW?
Choose the membership category that best reflects your current circumstances and complete the online membership application. Membership can begin at any point during the year.
Which membership category should I choose?
Your membership category depends on your professional status, employment situation and stage of career. If you are unsure, contact the office at administrator@iasw.ie and we can guide you to the most appropriate option.
How can I change my membership category?
If your circumstances change, such as moving from student membership to professional practice or changing your working hours, contact the IASW office to update your membership.
What happens when I graduate as a Student Member?
Student memberships automatically transition to First Year Post Qualify membership category in the February after your graduation.
For example, if you graduate in 2028, your membership will automatically move to the First Year Post Qualify category in February 2029.
This means you can continue your membership journey without interruption as you move from student to professional practice.
How does my membership renew?
Membership renews automatically to maintain uninterrupted access to member benefits and services. Members paying annually will receive at least 30 days’ notice before their renewal payment is collected. Members paying monthly will continue on their chosen payment schedule unless they request a change.
Can I cancel my membership?
Yes. If you wish to cancel your membership, please contact the IASW office and a member of our team will assist you.
What is Fitness to Practise Legal Expenses Cover?
Fitness to Practise Legal Expenses Cover is legal protection for your CORU registration should a complaint be made to CORU. This coverage is a member benefit available exclusively to:
- Full Members
- Part-Time Members
- First Year Post Qualify Members
The cover is designed to provide legal expenses support in relation to Fitness to Practise matters.
Learn more here [this will link to the FTP page]
What should I do if I receive a complaint from CORU?
If you receive correspondence from CORU regarding a complaint or Fitness to Practise matter, you should contact the IASW immediately.
Early contact is important. Our team can advise you on the next steps and guide you through the supports available to eligible members.
Who needs Fitness to Practise Legal Expenses Cover?
Complaints can be made against any CORU registered Social worker, even if you are currently employed, on maternity leave or retired. All social workers who are currently registered with CORU should have Fitness to Practise Insurance.
Can I join at any time during the year?
Yes. Membership is available throughout the year, and your membership period runs from the date you join.
Do I need to be CORU registered to become a member?
Membership eligibility depends on your qualification and membership category. If you have questions about eligibility or registration requirements, please contact the IASW office. CORU registration is a requirement for Full, Part-Time,
How do I update my personal information?
You can update most of your personal information by logging into the Member Portal and navigating to the section you wish to update.
For security and membership administration purposes, some information can only be updated by the IASW office, including:
- Your name
- Your membership category
- Other membership-related records
Member Portal Login: [Insert Member Portal Link]
If you’re unsure whether you can update a particular detail yourself, please contact the IASW office.
How do I update my payment method?
TBD
How do I update my Directory Listing?
If you are listed on the IASW Independent Social Workers Directory or Supervision Directory and would like to update your information, please contact the IASW office.
When contacting us, please include:
- The information you would like added
- Any information you would like removed
- Any changes to your contact details or areas of practice
We will update your listing as soon as possible.
I am a retired member. What are my options in relation to my IASW membership?
Your membership options depend on whether you intend to maintain your CORU registration.
If you plan to remain CORU registered, we strongly recommend maintaining a working membership category that includes legal protection for your CORU registration which is the Fitness to Practise Legal Expenses Cover.
A complaint can be made against any CORU-registered social worker, including those who are retired and not currently practising. Maintaining this protection may provide valuable reassurance should a Fitness to Practise matter arise.
If you do not plan to maintain your CORU registration, our Retired Membership category allows you to remain connected to the profession and continue to:
- Receive member communications
- Access selected member benefits
- Participate in Special Interest Groups
- Stay informed about developments in social work policy and practice
How do I get more involved with IASW & advocacy efforts?
One of the best ways to become actively involved in IASW is by joining a Special Interest Group (SIG).
Our SIGs play an important role in shaping:
- IASW policy positions
- Responses to consultations and emerging issues
- Professional advocacy priorities
- Continuing Professional Development activities
- Professional discussions within specialist areas of practice
By joining a SIG, you can contribute directly to the conversations and decisions that influence social work practice and policy in Ireland.
How do I register for an event, training or course?
You can register for IASW events, training programmes and CPD activities through our Events page.
You do not need to be logged into your member account to register.
Members automatically receive discounted rates where applicable, and some events are offered exclusively to IASW members.
Visit our Events page to view upcoming opportunities and register online.