Circular stipulates on the practice of social work and updating social work knowledge.

 

CIRCULAR

Regulations on social work practice and updating social work knowledge

 

Pursuant to Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP of the Government on social work;

Pursuant to Decree No. 42/2025/NĐ-CP of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

At the proposal of the Director of the Social Assistance Administration;

The Minister of Health issues this Circular detailing certain provisions of Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP on social work regarding:

 

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

1. Social work practice at point b, Clause 1, Article 45;

2. Updating social work knowledge at Article 34;

3. Guidelines for building training program frameworks and updating social work knowledge at Clause 2, Article 37.

SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to:

Article 3. Building the content of social work practice1. Social work practice shall be conducted at units and facilities providing social work services as stipulated at point b, Clause 2, Article 35 of Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP (hereinafter referred to as social work practice facilities).

Social work practice facilities shall build the content of social work practice.

2. The content of social work practice includes:

a) Professional ethics in social work;

 

Chapter II

b) Competence and professional level in social work;

c) Practical skills in social work;

d) Communication and resource mobilization skills, connecting to implement social work activities; e) Coordination skills in implementing social work activities. 3. The basic content of social work practice is specifically detailed in Appendix 01 attached hereto.

Article 4. Duration of social work practice

1. For bachelor's degree and above, the duration of practice is from twelve months, corresponding to 800 hours of practice carried out within the registered practice period.

2. For college degree, the duration of practice is from nine months, corresponding to 650 hours of practice carried out within the registered practice period.

3. For associate degree, the duration of practice is from six months, corresponding to 500 hours of practice carried out within the registered practice period.

4. Social work practice facilities and practitioners shall reasonably arrange time based on mutual agreement to ensure sufficient practice content as prescribed, without being required to complete the practice time according to administrative hours or working hours of the facility.

5. During the social work practice period, practitioners shall participate in training sessions on laws related to social work, social security, professional knowledge in social work, professional ethics in social work, communication and conduct skills of social workers, with a total duration of ten sessions (each session four class periods; one hour of practice is equivalent to one class period). Training time shall be counted towards the total social work practice time. Practitioners participating in training must provide proof materials to the practice facility as the basis for calculating social work practice time.

3. The basic content of social work practice is specifically provided in Appendix 01 issued together with this Circular.

Article 4. Duration of Social Work Practice

1. For bachelor's degree level and above, the duration shall be at least twelve months, corresponding to eight hundred hours of practice carried out within the registered practice period.

2. For college level, the duration shall be at least nine months, corresponding to six hundred fifty hours of practice carried out within the registered practice period.

3. For intermediate level, the duration shall be at least six months, corresponding to five hundred hours of practice carried out within the registered practice period.

4. Social work practice bases and practitioners shall reasonably arrange time based on mutual agreement to ensure sufficient practice content as prescribed, without being required to complete the practice time strictly according to administrative or working hours of the base.

5. During the process of social work practice, practitioners shall participate in training on laws and regulations related to social work, social welfare, professional knowledge in social work, ethics of social work profession, communication and conduct skills for social work practitioners, totaling ten sessions (each session consists of four class periods; one hour of practice is equivalent to one class period). Training time shall be counted towards the total duration of social work practice. Practitioners participating in social work training must provide documentation evidencing their participation to the practice base as a basis for calculating the duration of social work practice.

Article 5. Building a plan to guide practical training

1. Based on the synthesis of trainees' needs and the capacity to accept trainees, social work practice bases shall build a practical training guidance plan before January 15 each year.

2. The practical training guidance plan includes the number of trainees that the base can accept in a year, the number and list of trainers.

3. Social work practice bases shall send their annual practical training guidance plans to the competent health authority of the provincial People's Committee before February 1 each year for consolidation, monitoring, and management of practical training activities. At the same time, social work practice bases must publicly post such plans on their websites (if available).

Article 6. Practical Training Guidance

1. The organization of social work practical training shall be carried out in accordance with Article 36 of Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP.

In cases where multiple trainers guide a single trainee, the head of the social work practice base must clearly assign the scope and specific time for practical training guidance for each trainer. A trainer who guides a particular content must provide comments on that content.

2. Issuing the Certificate of Practical Training Experience in Social Work according to Model No. 05 stipulated in the Appendix accompanying Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP.

 

Chapter III

UPDATE OF SOCIAL WORK KNOWLEDGE

Article 7. Bases and Content for Updating Social Work Knowledge

1. The bases for updating social work knowledge are social work practice bases and the bases specified in Clause 4 of Article 34 of Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP..

2. The content for updating social work knowledge shall be implemented according to Appendix 02 issued together with this Circular.

3. Schools, centers, and training institutions related to social work (hereinafter referred to as training institutions) shall develop and promulgate frameworks for training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge according to Appendix 03 issued together with this Circular. The process of developing training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge shall be as follows:

a) Determining the need and content for updating: Training institutions shall conduct surveys to determine the content for building training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge. The determination of the need for updating knowledge shall be based on surveys of the needs of social work practitioners, practical requirements of the profession, legal regulations issued, and professional development orientations in the field of social work.

b) Establishing a Board or Team to draft training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge: The head of the training institution shall decide to establish a Board or Team to draft training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge. The number of members of the Board or Team shall be decided by the head of the training institution. Members of the Board or Team must meet the following conditions: Hold a bachelor's degree or higher in social work or a relevant field corresponding to the training program content; Have at least five years of experience in teaching, research, or practicing social work; Preference shall be given to those who have participated in drafting training programs, textbooks, or specialized materials.

c) Organizing the development of training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge: The Board or Team to draft training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge shall develop training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge.

d) Reviewing training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge: The head of the training institution shall establish a Review Board for training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge. The Review Board shall consist of an odd number of members, a minimum of five including the Chairman, two opposing members, a secretary member, and other members. Members of the Review Board shall not be members of the Board or Team to draft training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge.

The program and materials are approved when at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Evaluation Board present agree. After receiving the conclusion of the Evaluation Board, the Drafting Team is responsible for incorporating, revising, and completing the program and materials before submitting them to the Head of the Training Institution for issuance.

d) Issuing training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge: The Head of the Training Institution signs the decision to issue the training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge after they have been evaluated by the Evaluation Board and meet the requirements stipulated in this point; publicly announcing the training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge on the Training Institution's website (if available).

Training programs and materials for updating social work knowledge shall be reviewed and updated at least once every three years or whenever there are significant changes in policies, laws, science, technology, and practical social work experiences.

Article 8. Updating Social Work Knowledge through Participation in Short-term Training Programs and Seminars on Social Work

1. Short-term training programs and seminars on social work are those that use training programs and materials developed, reviewed, and issued according to the provisions of Clause 3, Article 7 of this Circular. Knowledge updating institutions may use training programs and materials from other institutions that have been issued with the written consent of the issuing institution.

2. Organizational form: direct or online or a combination of both.

3. Knowledge updating institutions develop plans for organizing short-term training programs and seminars and publicly announce them on their websites (if available) prior to implementation.

4. The Head of the Knowledge Updating Institution selects and arranges teaching staff and experts in social work or collaborates with other institutions to meet the requirements of the training program.

5. Social workers participating in short-term training programs and seminars on social work abroad must align with their professional practice content.

6. Certification for participation in short-term training programs and seminars: After completing a short-term training program or seminar, social workers are credited with credit hours and issued certificates by the Head of the Knowledge Updating Institution according to the Model Number 02 annexed to Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP.

Article 9. Updating Social Work Knowledge through Participation in Conferences, Seminars, and Roundtables on Social Work

1. Conferences, seminars, and roundtables on social work are organized by institutions specified in Clause 4, Article 34 of Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP or in collaboration with or participation from other institutions.

2. Organizational form: direct or online or a combination of both.

3. Certification for participation in conferences, seminars, and roundtables: Social workers participating in conferences, seminars, and roundtables are credited with credit hours and issued certificates for updating social work knowledge by the Head of the Knowledge Updating Institution according to the Model Number 02 annexed to Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP.

Article 10. Updating Social Work Knowledge through Participation in the Compilation of Textbooks, Teaching Materials, and Professional Materials on Social Work

1. Social workers who lead or participate in specialized teams compiling textbooks, teaching materials, and professional materials on social work and whose works are published by the main drafting unit.

2. Certification for participation in the compilation of textbooks, teaching materials, and professional materials: Social workers are credited with credit hours and issued certificates for updating social work knowledge by the Head of the Knowledge Updating Institution according to the Model Number 02 annexed to Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP.

Article 11. Updating social work knowledge through conducting scientific research and teaching social work

1. Updating social work knowledge through conducting scientific research related to the scope of practice:

a) Social workers shall be the principal or participant in implementing scientific and technological tasks and innovation; they shall be the principal or participant in initiatives and technical improvements, writing scientific articles domestically and internationally on social work content relevant to their scope of practice. Scientific and technological tasks and innovations must be evaluated and recognized by the Evaluation Council as meeting requirements or have a decision recognizing results; initiatives and technical improvements must be recognized; scientific articles must be published in domestic and international scientific journals, newsletters, special issues;

b) Certification for conducting scientific research: Social workers updating social work knowledge through scientific research shall have their credit hours calculated by the Head of the Institution and be issued a certificate of social work knowledge update according to Model No. 02 attached as an appendix to Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP.

2. Updating social work knowledge through teaching social work within the scope of practice:

a) Social workers assigned or invited to participate in teaching programs leading to degree issuance or certification courses in the field of social work relevant to their scope of practice;

b) Certification for participating in teaching social work: Social workers participating in teaching social work within their scope of practice shall have their teaching hours counted towards credit hours by the Head of the Institution and be issued a certificate of social work knowledge update according to Model No. 02 attached as an appendix to Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP.

Article 12. Updating social work knowledge through self-updating of social work knowledge and other forms

1. Forms of self-updating of social work knowledge and other forms include:

a) Social workers participating in guiding theses and dissertations relevant to their scope of practice, with such theses and dissertations being approved by the Thesis and Dissertation Evaluation Council;

b) Social workers participating in the Thesis and Dissertation Evaluation Council; professional councils reviewing training programs and materials on social work relevant to their scope of practice.

2. Social workers updating social work knowledge through self-updating of social work knowledge and other forms shall have their hours counted towards credit hours and be issued a certificate of social work knowledge update by the Head of the Institution overseeing or directly managing the social worker's activities according to Model No. 02 attached as an appendix to Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP.

Article 13. Conversion to credit hours and certificates for participation in updating social work knowledge

1. The conversion of various forms of updating social work knowledge to credit hours shall be carried out according to Appendix 04 issued together with this Circular.

2. For social workers updating their social work knowledge organized by foreign institutions: The confirmation of time spent on updating social work knowledge shall be calculated by the Head of the Institution updating social work knowledge and issued a certificate of social work knowledge update according to Model No. 02 attached as an appendix to Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP.

 

Chapter IV

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Article 14. Responsibilities of Social Work Practitioners and Participants in Updating Social Work Knowledge

1. Adhere to the internal regulations and rules of social work practice institutions and knowledge updating institutions, and follow the guidance of the practice instructors.

2. Ensure the safety of service recipients during the practice period, keep confidential information about the recipients and the social work practice institution, and maintain confidentiality during the practice period.

3. Shall not independently carry out specialized activities to provide social work services to recipients without permission from the practice instructor, except in emergency situations to ensure the safety and confidentiality of the recipient's information.

Article 15. Responsibilities of Social Work Practice Institutions

1. Organize practice guidance activities according to the content and plan of practice guidance of the institution.

2. Within three working days from the date the practitioner receives the confirmation certificate for the social work practice process, the social work practice institution must submit to the specialized health authority under the provincial People's Committee a list of recipients who have received the confirmation certificate for the social work practice process for monitoring and managing the practice guidance activities, and publish on the institution's website the information of practitioners, including both the practice instructors and the time they spent practicing at the institution (Name; date of birth; place of work; duration of practice).

Article 16. Responsibilities of Social Work Knowledge Updating Institutions 1. Develop plans, allocate funds, and create conditions for social workers to update their social work knowledge; monitor, manage, confirm, and calculate credit hours for those participating in social work knowledge updates.

2. Assign staff responsible for managing the social work knowledge updating activities of the institution.

3. Organize social work knowledge updating activities in accordance with this Circular and be responsible for the quality of knowledge updates conducted by the institution.

4. Manage and store training program files, short-term training course records, conference and seminar files related to social work knowledge updates; manage the issuance of certificates for social work knowledge updates in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

This Circular takes effect from January 1, 2026.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 17. Effective Date

For practitioners who have already been issued a Confirmation Certificate for the Social Work Practice Process in accordance with Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP, they are exempted from repeating the practice. Those who are still in the process of social work practice before the effective date of this Circular shall continue to practice in accordance with Decree No. 110/2024/NĐ-CP.

Article 18. Transitional Provisions

1. The Social Assistance Department is responsible for organizing, guiding, disseminating, promoting, and implementing this Circular.

Article 19. Implementation

2. Local People's Committees at all levels direct the implementation and organization of this Circular in their respective areas. Health authorities under provincial People's Committees are responsible for organizing and guiding the implementation of this Circular within their jurisdiction; inspecting the implementation of social work practices and knowledge updates in their management areas.

3. The Director of the Ministry's Office, Heads of Departments and Bureaus under the Ministry of Health, and relevant agencies and organizations are responsible for enforcing this Circular.

During the implementation of this Circular, if there are difficulties or obstacles, agencies, organizations, and individuals are requested to report to the Ministry of Health (Social Assistance Department) for consideration and resolution./.

- To be filed: VT, BTXH, PC.

 

APPENDIX 01

Issued together with Circular No. /2026/TT-BYT dated January 1, 2026, by the Minister of Health

(PRACTICE CONTENTS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX 02

CONTENT TO UPDATE SOCIAL WORK KNOWLEDGE

(Issued together with Circular number /2026/TT-BYT dated month year 2026 of the Minister of Health)

 

 

APPENDIX 03

(Issued together with Circular number /2026/TT-BYT dated month year 2026 of the Minister of Health)

FRAMEWORK OF TRAINING AND UPDATING PROGRAMS

UPDATE OF SOCIAL WORK KNOWLEDGE

 

I. FRAMEWORK OF TRAINING AND UPDATING PROGRAMS FOR SOCIAL WORK KNOWLEDGE

Program framework, training and updating materials for updating social work knowledge, established, reviewed, and issued by the social work knowledge updating institution shall include the following contents:

1.1. Course name and general introduction to the course:

- The course name should be concise, specific, and clearly define the course content.

1.2. Target audience and entry requirements for participants:

Clearly specify the specific entry requirements for participants to join the course, such as professional qualifications, work experience...

1.3. Course objectives:

- General objectives

- Specific objectives

1.4. Updated program content

- Volume of knowledge:

- Training time, knowledge update time:

- Program structure:

1.5. Evaluation and issuance of social work knowledge update certificates:

- Clearly state the method of assessing attendance, regular assessments, final theoretical and practical assessments, and final course assessment to ensure quality.

+ Final theoretical assessment: Specify the number of questions and duration.

+ Final practical skill assessment: Specify the assessment method and tools, assessment location.

- Conditions for participants to obtain the certificate:

+ Attendance requirement: Allow up to 10% absence in theory classes, no absence in practical classes, make-up classes required in cases of force majeure.

+ Minimum passing scores for theoretical and practical skill assessments at the end of the course, note that if assessed theoretically, the minimum score must be 60%, and for practical skills in social work, it must be greater than 60%.

+ Achieve practical skill performance targets.

II. GUIDELINES FOR BUILDING UPDATING MATERIALS ON SOCIAL WORK KNOWLEDGE

Based on the established and issued program, the social work knowledge updating institution builds or selects teaching-learning materials accordingly.

2.1. Volume of knowledge

To ensure that participants have materials and use them through active learning methods, each class session should contain approximately 3-4 pages of A4 paper (for 1 credit/hour). Encourage the use of images and diagrams.

Practical exercises: The number of pages depends on the number of skills to be taught and learned, with detailed descriptions of the methods and tools used to teach skills.

2.2. Presentation of materials

- Focus on presenting content directly related to the objectives, widely recognized updated content; including practical skill content in social work.

- Balance between textual and visual channels.

2.3. Authors

Each training material for updating social work knowledge should be authored by a team, encouraging experienced practitioners in the field to compile and prepare materials for updating social work knowledge courses.

2.4. Structure and presentation of each lesson

a) Lesson title: As per the program.

b) Author's name: Clearly state the author's full name and position.

c) Lesson objectives: Similar to the program.

d) Lesson content: Including theoretical and practical sections

Part Theory:

- Content must ensure four requirements: 1) Basic knowledge, systematic (already recognized, affirmed); 2) Accurate and scientific (scientific content accurate, with evidence); 3) Updated with advances in science and technology, economy, society, legal documents on social work; 4) Practical (especially for Vietnamese practice).

Practical section: 

Practical Content

- Clearly state the skills to be practiced, if there are multiple practical skills, all must be recorded; practical situations for practicing.

- Each practical session must have at least one assessment checklist or grading scale or scenario (except for a single skill practical exercise that spans multiple sessions).

- Self-assessment questions should be placed at the end of each lesson. These questions are not necessarily used for exams or assessments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX 04

(Issued together with Circular number /2026/TT-BYT dated month year 2026 of the Minister of Health)

TABLE OF CONVERSION AND CALCULATION OF CREDIT HOURS BASED ON FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE UPDATE IN SOCIAL WORK

Regulation: 1 class hour equals 1 credit hour (1 class hour is equivalent to 1 hour in class, which is 50 minutes according to point b, Clause 1, Article 7 Circular No. 17/2021/TT-BGDĐT dated June 22, 2021 of the Ministry of Education and Training on standards for training programs; construction, review and issuance of training programs for higher education levels).