Community and social service workers administer and implement a variety of social assistance programs and community services, and assist clients to deal with personal and social problems.

To be a community or social service worker, you usually need a university or college program in social work, child and youth care, counselling or other social science/health-related field.

For some occupations in this group, previous experience in a social service environment as a volunteer or in a support capacity may replace formal education requirements.

To be a social service worker, you may need to be a member of the provincial/territory regulatory body in your province/territory.

With additional training and experience, you may move up the ranks to become a family and marriage counsellor, social worker or probation officer.

Most recent entrants have an undergraduate university degree, and almost 1 in 20 has a graduate degree.