Get the Skills to Become a Community Support Worker

Professional Support Worker Training in as Little as 22 Weeks

Community Support Workers offer support, services, and encouragement to people with mental health issues, substance abuse problems, developmental challenges, or physical disabilities. Professionals in this field are employed by a variety of community social services programs and educational assistance and have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives every day.

With diverse career outcomes in the community, DCC offers 7 certificate and diploma options tailored to your interests ranging from 22 weeks to 1 year:

  • Education Assistant Certificate
  • Education Assistant & Community Mental Health Certificate
  • Social Service Worker Certificate
  • Social Service Worker and Community Mental Health Certificate
  • Community Mental Health Certificate
  • Community Support Worker Diploma (all specialities)
  • Community Support Worker (international learner co-op)

If you’re a patient and non-judgmental “people person” looking to get started in a respected professional career where you can help others, you could be well-suited to succeed as a professional Community Support professional.

Community Support Worker

56-Week Diploma | $52,140 median annual salary*

  • Expected Job Openings in BC (2022-2032): 11,460**
  • Occupations include Community Development Worker, Child and Youth Worker, Addictions Worker
NOC 2021 codes 42201 and 43100

* https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/227164/BC visited on May 24, 2024. Salary source for social and community service workers in British Columbia with lowest 10% earning $40,794 to the highest 10% of workers earning $65,175.

**https://www.workbc.ca/career-profiles/social-and-community-service-workers visited on May 24, 2024.

Community Support Worker - Diploma

Total: 1154 hours, 56 weeks

Introduction to Microsoft Computer Skills (60 hours)
Workshops:

  • Standard First Aid (16 hours)
  • FoodSafe Level 1 (8 hours)

CSW – Social Service Worker (300 hours)
CSW – Education Assistant (300 hours)
CSW – Community Mental Health (300 hours)
Practicum Placement (150 hours)


Community Support Worker:
Education Assistant and Community Mental Health - Certificate

Total: 804 hours, 39 weeks

Introduction to Microsoft Computer (60 hours)

Workshops: 

  • Standard First Aid (16 hours) 
  • FoodSafe Level 1 (8 hours)

CSW – Education Assistant (300 hours)
CSW – Community Mental Health (300 hours)
Practicum Placement (100 hours)


Community Support Worker:
Social Service Worker and Community Mental Health - Certificate

Total: 804 hours, 39 weeks

Introduction to Microsoft Computer (60 hours)
Workshops:

  • Standard First Aid (16 hours) 
  • FoodSafe Level 1 (8 hours)

CSW – Social Service Worker (300 hours)
CSW – Community Mental Health (300 hours)
CSW – Practicum Placement (100 hours)


Community Support Worker:
Social Service Worker - Certificate

Total: 454 hours, 22 weeks

Introduction to Microsoft Computer (60 hours)
Workshops: 

  • Standard First Aid (16 hours) 
  • FoodSafe Level 1 (8 hours)

CSW – Social Service Worker (300 hours)
Practicum Placement (100 hours)


Community Support Worker:
Education Assistant - Certificate

Total:  454 hours, 22 weeks

Introduction to Microsoft Computer (60 hours)
Workshops: 

  • Standard First Aid (16 hours) 
  • FoodSafe Level 1 (8 hours)

CSW – Education Assistant (300 hours)

Practicum Placement (100 hours)


Community Support Worker:
Community Mental Health - Certificate

Total:  454 hours, 22 weeks
Introduction to Microsoft Computer (60 hours)

Workshops: 

  • Standard First Aid (16 hours) 
  • FoodSafe Level 1 (8 hours)

CSW – Community Mental Health (300 hours)
Practicum Placement (100 hours)


Community Support Worker with Cooperative Work
Experience - Diploma (International Learners)

Total: 2044 hours, 102 weeks

Introduction to Microsoft Computer Skills (60 hours) 

Workshops: 

  • Standard First Aid (16 hours) 
  • FoodSafe Level 1 (8 hours)

CSW – Social Service Worker (300 hours)
CSW – Education Assistant (300 hours)
CSW – Community Mental Health (300 hours)
Preparation for Cooperative Work Experience (20 hours)
Cooperative Work Experience (1000 hours)
Conclusion of Cooperative Work Experience (20 hours)

Community Support Worker Program

Community Support Worker Program Curriculum Guide

Upon successful completion of this program, you will have the skills to facilitate effective working and personal relationships with individuals in ways that actively support the differently abled person’s ability to cope with daily concerns of living, and with emotional and psychological development.

With diverse career outcomes in the community, DCC offers 7 certificate and diploma options tailored to your interests:

  • Community Support Worker Diploma (all specialties) – 1154 hours, 56 weeks
  • Community Support Worker: Education Assistant and Community Mental Health Certificate – 804 hours, 39 weeks
  • Community Support Worker: Social Service Worker and Community Mental Health Certificate – 804 hours, 39 weeks
  • Community Support Worker: Social Service Worker Certificate – 454 hours, 22 weeks
  • Community Support Worker: Education Assistant Certificate – 454 hours, 22 weeks
  • Community Support Worker: Community Mental Health Certificate – 454 hours, 22 weeks
  • Community Support Worker with Cooperative Work Experience Diploma – 2044 hours, 104 weeks (International Learners)

Locations:

Delivery: On campus & online with practicum placements in your local community.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must meet these requirements prior to acceptance into the program:

• Grade 12 graduation from BC secondary school or equivalent (ABE)*, or equivalent* from another school system OR be a mature applicant (must be 19 years old on the first day of class)

• If a mature applicant, then provide proof of completion of grade 10 English from a BC secondary school or equivalent* from another school system or complete one of the following assessments:

Accuplacer
• Next generation reading minimum score 230
• Next generation writing minimum score 230

Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLB PT) within the last year
• Listening 6
• Speaking 6
• Reading 6
• Writing 6

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

  • Academic or General test within the last two years
    • Overall band score of 5.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each of speaking, listening, writing, reading.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• Overall score of 46-59
• Reading 8-12
• Writing 18-20
• Speaking 16-17
• Listening 7-11

Applicants must meet with a DCC official and complete the required documents.

*Equivalent:
For detailed information about equivalencies please speak with your DCC Admissions Advisor. Entrance requirements may be met with evidence of secondary and post-secondary studies at an equivalent level, and/or with successful assessment testing.

Applicants interested in working with a school district upon graduation from the Community Support Worker program should note that many school districts require graduation from grade 12 for employment.

Criminal Record Checks

Discovery Community College will submit each applicant’s criminal record check (CRC) on-line to the Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP). The status of the CRC does not automatically prevent an applicant from attending this program. However, any CRC that reveals “relevant” offences may limit work experience options.

Some work experience hosts may require their own RCMP criminal record check. It is the student’s responsibility to provide this directly to the host. We recommend that students apply to the RCMP for their criminal record check at the start of their first semester. If the criminal record check reveals information that raises concerns relevant to the placement the host may decline the placement.

Immunizations

Some work experience hosts require that students have a negative TB skin test or chest x-ray. It is the student’s responsibility to book this test at least six weeks before their work experience. Not having this test may restrict your choice of work experience host.

You should have a negative skin test dated within six months of the work experience placement. If you had a positive skin test (10 mm of induration or greater) at your last test, then a negative chest x-ray within one year of the placement is required.

Important Note

The Community Support Worker program is not equivalent to, or recognized as, a BC Health Care Assistant program. Graduates are not eligible for registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry (BC CACHWR).

Domestic Fees

Community Support Worker Full Diploma Fees

Application Fee: $100.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $17,416.15
Textbooks & Supplies: $603.71
Total: $18,179.10

Community Support Worker –
Community Mental Health Certificate Fees

Application Fee: $100.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $8,812.00
Textbooks & Supplies: $347.78
Total: $9,306.22

Community Support Worker –
Education Assistant Certificate Fees

Application Fee: $100.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $8,801.13
Textbooks & Supplies: $241.89
Total: $9,184.16

Community Support Worker –
Social Service Worker Certificate Fees

Application Fee: $100.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $8,879.63
Textbooks & Supplies: $278.92
Total: $9,301.55

Community Support Worker –
Education Assistant & Community Mental Health
Certificate Fees

Application Fee: $100.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $13,533.67
Textbooks & Supplies: $518.72
Total: $14,207.38

Community Support Worker –
Social Service Worker & Community Mental Health
Certificate Fees

Application Fee: $100.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $13,599.85
Textbooks & Supplies: $432.77
Total: $14,183.31

International Fees

Community Support Worker Full Diploma (International) Fees

Application Fee: $150.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $22458.00
Textbooks & Supplies: $603.71
Total: $23,270.95

Community Support Worker Full Diploma (International) w/Co-Op Fees

Application Fee: $150.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $24,258.00
Textbooks & Supplies: $603.71
Total: $25,070.95

Community Support Worker –
Education Assistant Certificate (International) Fees

Application Fee: $150.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $11,331.97
Textbooks & Supplies: $241.89
Total: $11,765.00

Community Support Worker –
Community Mental Health Certificate (International) Fees

Application Fee: $150.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $11,346.1
Textbooks & Supplies: $347.78
Total: $11,890.32

Community Support Worker –
Social Service Worker Certificate (International) Fees

Application Fee: $150.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $11,411.52
Textbooks & Supplies: $278.92
Total: $11,883.44

Community Support Worker –
Education Assistant & Community Mental Health
Certificate (International) Fees

Application Fee: $150.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $17,458.77
Textbooks & Supplies: $518.72
Total: $18,182.48

Community Support Worker –
Social Service Worker & Community Mental Health
Certificate (International) Fees

Application Fee: $150.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $17,522.3
Textbooks & Supplies: $432.77
Total: $18,155.76

Why Upskilling is Essential in Today’s Job Market

Like many Canadians, you may be concerned about the rising cost of living and the need to find ways to increase your income potential. If you’re looking to stay ahead of the curve, training to obtain new qualifications could be a great solution.

Discovery Community College is dedicated to offering convenient, supportive, and affordable career training. With a range of funding options available, there has never been a better time to invest in upskilling.   Contact us today to learn how we can help you get ahead in today’s job market.

Becoming a Qualified Community Support Worker

If you’re looking for a rewarding and fulfilling career, look no further than a career in community support.

During this program, you will learn:

  • Life Span Development
  • Mental Health
  • Supportive Care
  • Child Development
  • And more!

Career Opportunities

This program provides learners with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to work in a personal support role with youth and adults in a variety of community settings. Ready-to-work graduates are qualified to work in areas such as:

  • Community Social Service Agencies
  • Support Services
  • Group Home Settings
  • The Public School System as support personnel for children with special needs
  • And more!

There has never been more funding for career training than there is right now. A variety of funding opportunities may be available to you, including WorkBC, Student Aid BC, and employment grants. An experienced Financial Aid Representative is available to answer any questions you may have, can assist with potential funding applications and help you discover the best options for your specific needs.

Is a Career as a Community Support Worker Right for You? Take the Discovery Community College “Community Support Worker Career Training Readiness Quiz”

This fun, online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for. Get your Community Support Worker career training readiness score now >>

Community-Based Practicum

At Discovery, we believe that you should not only complete training with theoretical knowledge, but with real experience in the industry. That’s why learners in the Community Support Worker Program will complete a 6-week practicum during their training.

Your practicum enables you to apply what you’ve learned in a real setting and gain not only experience to put on your resume, but also industry connections, references, and confidence. We help you feel supported by making sure that our program gives you access to all the tools you need to secure your first job and build your career.

Convenient Learning Options

At Discovery Community College, you don’t have to put your life on hold to start career training. We offer accessible learning including on-campus, online and blended on-campus and online learning options.

Many of our learners are raising families and some continue to work while training. We will help you choose a schedule that works for you.

International Learners

As an international learner at Discovery Community College, our co-op based training programs allows you to gain real-world experience in the community with a cooperative work experience placement upon completion of the program.

Over 35 Years of Success

Discovery Community College has been training learners just like you for successful careers for over 35 years. Our college is a well-respected institution, who has formed alliances with numerous community partners. We are also registered with and designated by the Private Training Institutions Branch of British Columbia, formally PPSEC, since 1996.

Is a Rewarding Community Support Worker Career Right For You?

If you’re interested in learning more about Community Support Worker and exploring whether this might be the career path for you, fill out the form on this page to receive more information.

Our friendly and knowledgeable Admissions Representatives are happy to answer any questions you may have and can help with everything from courses to financial aid.

To speak with an Admissions Rep right away, give us a call at 1-877-315-5241.

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