Education · 1 of 4

The path

A short college program, a field placement, then hired where you placed.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Grade 12 English is the usual admission requirement. Volunteer hours at a food bank, camp or drop-in centre matter more than your marks.

2. 2

   College program

   1 to 2 years

   A 1-year Community Service Worker certificate or a 2-year Social Service Worker diploma at a college such as George Brown, Humber, Mohawk, Red River or Douglas.

3. 3

   Field placement

   Built into the program

   Several hundred unpaid hours inside a real agency. Most graduates get their first job where they placed.

4. 4

   Clearances and first job

   Weeks

   A police record check with vulnerable sector screening, first aid and CPR, and often crisis intervention training.

5. 5

   Optional: upgrade later

   2 to 4 more years

   A Bachelor of Social Work is the usual next step if you want hospital work, clinical counselling or higher pay.