A Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW) is a separate class of the Registered Social Worker designation which recognizes advanced practice skills and specialized knowledge in mental health and clinical social work, typically counselling and psychotherapy, human development, and mental health disorders.

To qualify to become a RCSW, the following additional minimum requirements must be met:

• Graduation with a Master of Social Work degree from an accredited and approved university
• Approved, extensive and specialized coursework in the areas of counselling / psychotherapy, human development and mental health disorders, including specialized and approved training in mental health diagnosis using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
• 3000 hours of post-graduate supervised clinical experience
• Professional references
• Passing a comprehensive North American clinical board exam

RCSWs are authorized in the province of British Columbia to use and apply the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V).