Diploma in Social Services Worker

The Social Services Worker Diploma (SSWD) program provides opportunities for students to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and qualifications to enable them to work in a human services worker field. The program involves two years of full-time study, with a combination of practice, theory, and academic course requirements aimed to prepare students to become critical practitioners with an emphasis on advocacy, social justice, and social change. The program may also be taken on a part-time basis.

Career Prospects
The SSWD program prepares students to work as paraprofessionals in a variety of social service and health agencies. Typical jobs include, but not limited to: financial assistance worker, bail supervisor, residential service worker, social work assistant, mental health assisted living worker, family support worker, supported employment, community living worker, transition houses, women's programs, Aboriginal support worker and family violence worker.

Graduation from a B.C. secondary school, or

Completion of standing equivalent to graduation from a B.C. secondary school, or

Deficient in no more than two courses from a B.C. secondary school graduation, which, if available, must be completed while attending College, or

For certain programs, acceptable by special arrangement in view of the applicant’s experience, maturity, or ability.

International students and domestic students who received their secondary education in French or another language must show that they have met the NLC English requirement for baccalaureate-level programs specified above by demonstrating one of the following: · An IELTS result with an overall score of 6.0 or higher with no band less than 6.0. Students with a writing band of 6.0 are required to complete English 099 with a "B" grade or higher in their initial semester. Alternatively, NLC will accept a TOEFL iBT of 78, Canadian Academic English Assessment (CAEL) 60 overall band, Canadian Language Benchmark Assessment (CLBA) 8 in each section, Pearson Test of English (PTE) 57, Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) 76, Cambridge-Michigan Language Assessment (CaMLA) 69 plus NLC's Writing Assessment.