Northern Essex Community College » Career Paths & Job Opportunities

Career Paths & Job Opportunities

Employment Outlook

Prospects for employment within the human services are projected to be excellent according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employment Projections 2006-2016, the New Hampshire Employment Projections 2004-2014 and the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2006-2016.

Finally, the employment projections for Massachusetts that are cited are outdated. Rather than Massachusetts Employment Projections through 2010, the new employment projections are Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employment Projections 2006-2016.

Job Opportunities

Graduates who choose to directly enter the workforce, are recruited by a variety of community agencies who work with children, adolescents, adults and seniors in a range of settings such as:

Hospitals
Schools
Vocational programs
Residential programs
Day habilitation programs
and Day treatment programs

Graduates may be given titles such as:

Case manager
Outreach worker
Advocate
Mental health worker
Crisis counselor
Residential counselor
Addiction counselor

Career Paths

The broad based skills of the program provide a foundation for a wide range of professional pursuits. Graduates who pursue advanced degrees will have opportunities to choose among many fields including:

Social work
Guidance counseling
Labor negotiations
Human resources
Academic advising
Organizational psychology
Mental health
Vocational rehabilitation

NECC Human Services Program Listing of Articulation Agreements

5/2003	Lesley University Human Services Program, Bachelor of Science Human Service Administration, Human Service Counseling, and Human Service Management
6/2003	Cambridge College Human Services Program, Human Services.
8/2003	Springfield College School of Human Services
2004	Salem State, School of Social Work
9/2005	Hesser College Bachelor of Science in Psychology
8/2006	Salem State College School of Social Work, renewed and signed
5/2007	Merrimack College Bachelor of Science in Human Services Administration

Licensing and Credentialing for Graduates

There are a variety of licenses and certifications possible to graduates of the Human Services Program.

Graduates from any of the NECC Human Service Certificate or Associate Degree programs are eligible to apply for credentialing through the National Organization of Human Services (NOHS) as Human Services Board Certified Practitioner.
Successful graduates of the Human Services Associate Degree program may pursue licensure within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Licensed Social Work Assistant (LSWA).

External Resources

Learn more about the current job market and trends within Human Services by visiting the following web sites:

Article printed from Northern Essex Community College: http://www.necc.mass.edu

URL to article: http://www.necc.mass.edu/academics/courses-programs/areas/human-services/alcohol-drug-abuse/career-paths/

Click here to print.