Human Services Certificate

*This is an overview of the program. The course sequencing is meant to serve as a guideline for your semester planning. Please note that the scheduling of courses, program sequencing and curriculum are subject to change.*

The Human Services certificate curriculum focuses on the nature of the individual, the dynamic process of life, and the human ability to adapt to the environment. The curriculum will view the human being holistically and explore cause and effect relationships of human conditions.

This certificate program is designed to prepare graduates with the generalist values, skills, and knowledge domains for entry-level employment in three human service field areas: as a direct support professional providing direct client services, as an assistant activity professional providing therapeutic leisure activities, or as an associate addiction counselor providing direct services for individuals with substance addictions. The three options allow the student to select the knowledge domains as required in the certification fields of the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals, the National Association of Activity Professionals, and the Pennsylvania Certification Board for associate addiction counselors.

Graduates are employed as providers of direct services to individuals and small groups, e.g. direct support professional, direct support staff, case aid, residential advisor, family advocate, home aide, residential aid, activity assistant, residential assistant, associate addiction counselor, clinical technician, or therapeutic support staff assistant. Graduates are employed in a variety of settings, including group homes, correctional centers, day treatment centers, sheltered workshops, extended care facilities; community-based living homes, and social service agencies throughout the community. Lehigh Carbon Community College is an institutional member of the National Organization of Human Services and the Council for Standards in Human Services Education.

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
• Use critical thinking and problem solving skills to assess the needs of individuals, families, and groups within the community.
• Assist in goal planning and making suggestions of appropriate strategies, services, or interventions.
• Use effective verbal and written communication skills to communicate with clients and document services.
• Assist in formulating a systematic method to evaluate the outcome of services and make referrals as appropriate.
• Describe the effect of one’s own values and beliefs in the role of the human service worker.

Option I: Direct Support Professional
Provides knowledge and skill domains for certification from the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals for professionals who work in community-base homes or day centers for adults with developmental, intellectual, or mental health disabilities.

Option II: Assistant Activity Professional
Provides background knowledge for certification by the National Association of Activity Professionals for assistant activity professionals working in long term care or adult day care facilities for the elderly.

Option III: Associate Addiction Counselor
Provides knowledge domain required by the Pennsylvania Certification Board for associate addiction counselors who work at a technician level at agencies serving clients with drug and alcohol addictions.

Program Admission Requirements

a. Submission of high school transcript or GED and transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.

b. Acceptable scores on the LCCC skills assessment

c. To participate in fieldwork experiences, students must present the original copy of the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History clearance, the PA Criminal Record Check, and health examination and immunization records to the college. Depending upon the fieldwork site, the student may also be required to present a PA Driver History report, an FBI Background Check Transmittal form, and records of tuberculosis and Hepatitis B immunization. Copies of the submitted records will remain on file at the college for one year after fieldwork coursework is completed.

d. The student is responsible for all special program costs: health examinations, immunizations, clearance record fees, books, supplies, and transportation to Human Service agencies.

e. Human Services students are responsible for locating and selecting fieldwork agency sites. Students are responsible for presenting credential levels required by the fieldwork agency. It is the sole discretion of the fieldwork agency and future employers as to what level of credentialing is required by the position roles and duties at the human service agency. Students who possess a “record” status may experience limitations in available fieldwork placements and future employment in the human services field.

 Program Graduation Requirements:

a. Obtain a 2.2 cumulative GPA for graduation in the Human Services program and earn a minimum “C” grade in all Human Services courses.

Human Services (Certificate)

Approximate Cost of Program

• On-Campus Room & Board: Not Offered

• More cost information can be found here: Tuition & Fees

Length of Program
Intended time to complete: 12 months

Program prepares graduates to enter occupations such as these:	O*NET Links
• Social and Human Service Assistants (21-1093)

O*NET OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development, HR professionals, students, researchers, and more.