Social worker exam continues growth in popularity

As an increasing number have signed up for the qualification examination for social workers, the workforce has become more professional, China's civil affairs regulator said on Tuesday.

Since 2019, the applicants who registered for the exam have been growing significantly. Last year, more than 800,000 applicants sat for the test, setting a new record. Applicants include social workers, employees from social organizations and university graduates, said Meng Zhiqiang, an official from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, at an online news conference on Tuesday.

This year's examination for social workers will be held on June 18 and 19. Application and preparation work for the examination has begun across the country.

China has 737,000 licensed social workers. The country has different types of licenses in social workers—assistance social workers, social workers and senior social workers—all earned via the qualification exam.

Social workers have played important roles in many fields, such as poverty alleviation, rural revitalization and epidemic control, facilitating grass-root governance, he added.