Best Schools Offering “Social Work” Degree in the Philippines

James Ryan Jonas

If you love helping others and finding ways to improve the quality of life of people, you might be interested to take up Bachelor of Science (BS) in Social Work as a course.

With this career, you are definitely setting yourself up for a bright future that gets to impact not only your life but also the lives of millions of other people.

Registered Social Workers

In the Philippines, registered Social Workers are tasked with the following responsibilities:

  • Identify people who are in need of help
  • Help individuals of all stages of life to cope with and solve everyday problems
  • Advocate for and create plans to improve well-being
  • Work with persons, families, or groups
  • Respond to those in need of help in crisis situations
  • Research and refer their clients to community resources
  • Work in an array of public and private organizations

Several social workers describe the profession as challenging, fun, and fulfilling all at the same time because they get to meet different people and help them solve their problems.

Registered Social Workers Board Exam

In the Philippines, to become a Registered Social Worker, an individual must both:

  • 1. Be a graduate of a “BS in Social Work” course in an accredited educational institution in the Philippines; and
  • 2. Pass the Social Workers Licensure Examination, which is administered by the Board of Social Workers under the supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

The Social Workers Board Exam is conducted once a year, either in June or July of every year.

If you’re interested to be a registered social worker soon, take note that the scope of the Social Workers Licensure Exam consists of the following topics, among others:

  • Human Behavior and Social Environment
  • Social Welfare, Ethics, Policies, Program including secondary social work method namely: Administration Research, and Supervision
  • Social Work Method (Social Case Work, Social Group Work, Community Organization)
  • Field Practice

Best Schools for Social Work in the Philippines

Do you want to know which universities in the Philippines are able to consistently top the Social Workers Licensure Exam?

We compiled the data from previous Social Workers Licensure Exams to determine the top schools with the highest Social Workers Board Exam passing rates.

Check out the table below to see if your school is one of the best Social Workers schools in the Philippines!

Schools ranked by Social Workers Board Exam Passing Rate

RANKSCHOOLCITY / LOCATIONPASSING RATENUMBER OF PASSERSTOTAL NUMBER OF TAKERS
1Leyte Normal UniversityTacloban100%134134
1Asian Seminary of Christian MinistriesMakati100%1818
1St. Joseph's College Of Quezon CityQuezon City100%1111
2Mindanao State University - Main CampusMarawi City98%527533
2Bicol University - DaragaDaraga98%344348
3Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng MaynilaManila97%151155
3Bicol University - TabacoTabaco City97%138141
3Universidad de ManilaManila97%126129
3Saint Bridget CollegeBatangas City97%7779
3St. Theresa's College - CebuCebu City97%3940
4Universidad de Sta. IsabelNaga City95%7983
4University of the Philippines DilimanQuezon City95%6568
4Cavite State University - Indang CampusIndang95%3941
4Miriam CollegeQuezon City95%2021
4La Concordia CollegeManila95%1920
5Saint Louis UniversityBaguio City94%305324
5Silliman UniversityDumaguete City94%3739
6Lourdes CollegeCagayan de Oro93%107115
6Palawan State UniversityPuerto Princesa City93%103110
6Urdaneta City UniversityUrdaneta City93%1415
7Ateneo de Davao UniversityDavao City92%7783
8Asian Social InstituteManila91%4246
8St. Paul University PhilippinesTuguegarao City91%4145
8La Consolacion University PhilippinesMalolos City91%2123
9Mindanao State University - MaguindanaoDatu Odin Sinsuat90%113125
9Sacred Heart CollegeLucena City90%98108
9Medical Colleges of Northern PhilippinesTuguegarao City90%910
10Philippine Christian UniversityManila88%104117
10Centro Escolar UniversityManila88%7787
10Southern Christian CollegeMidsayap88%5360
10College of the Immaculate ConceptionCabanatuan City88%3742

Note: The table above only ranks schools with at least 10 Social Workers Board examinees. Also, the passing rates just count the first-time takers; repeaters are not included in the passing rate. All figures are based on the four (4) previous Social Workers Licensure Exams conducted in July 2017, July 2015, June 2014, and June 2013.

Source: PRC Philippines (www.prc.gov.ph)

James Ryan Jonas teaches business management, investments, and entrepreneurship at the University of the Philippines (UP). He is also the Executive Director of UP Provident Fund Inc., managing and investing P3.2 Billion ($56.4 Million) worth of retirement funds on behalf of thousands of UP employees.