Some possible jobs within this career area are:
Depending on your personal career path, you might need to get licensed to start work. Counselors, for example, need special training. There are also many professional organizations related to human services careers. While your degree might qualify you for employment, membership to a national association could give you the credentials you need to get promoted or advance your career.
Some certifications related to human services careers include:
- Professional Licensing/Certification
- Associate’s Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master’s Degree
- PhD
Human services careers are steadfast in the job market. Human resources professionals help companies grow, and also help to recruit talented workers. Nonprofit organizations provide services to people in need or crisis. Whether it’s a guidance counselor in high school or a marriage counselor in adulthood, chances are good that we’ll encounter someone who devotes their life to a career in human services.
Human services careers follow traditional education patterns, which means that you could earn an Associate’s Degree in two years and a Bachelor’s Degree in four years. Your career, however, could require additional certification, licensing or training. Consult a career counselor to make sure you’re doing all you need to start your career.
How to Become a Child Advocate
A child advocate is someone appointed by a court to speak on behalf of a child during legal proceedings and during other meetings related to the welfare of the child. The typical child who has been assigned a child advocate may have experienced family abuse or neglect. A person with a career as a child advocate spends time not only with the child, but also with social workers, family members, and court representatives.
If you have a child advocate career, you work to speak on behalf of children and spend time to understand each child's specific problems and needs.
Training Required for a Child Advocate Career
There are no specific educational requirements for a career as a child advocate; however, many child advocates have worked as child care workers. Many employers prefer to have child care workers who have had appropriate coursework in child care and have been certified or licensed. These certification and licensure requirements vary by state.
A career as a child advocate can be demanding and require long hours along with an ability to communicate clearly and effectively, especially in court proceedings.
Child Advocate Salaries
Child advocate career salaries vary, and a child advocate could even work on a volunteer basis. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay rate for a child care worker is $9.10 per hour. (Salary data retrieved 6/24/11)
To get the education you need to become a child advocate, find a degree program now!