Human Services - Human Services General Practice Certificate of Achievement

Cost: $2,083
Length: 34 weeks
Working 6 months later: Not reported

Program names, program descriptions and occupation titles appear here in English, because that is the only language the federal and state records publish them in. Everything else on this page is translated.

What happened to people who took this

People enrolled: 13

Small group — treat with caution

Finished the program: 100%Based on 4 peopleTypical California program: 85% of 1,951 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
Working 6 months later: Not reported
Earnings in one quarter after: Not reported

The jobs this trains for

This describes the jobs people do, not the classes this program teaches. It comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, which asks people already doing the work. The Department publishes it in English only, so the job names and the sentences below stay in English on this page.

Trains for more than one job. The outlook shown is the weakest of them.

No regional figures for this program's city

Aptos is not one of the metropolitan or rural areas California names when it publishes wages and openings. A neighbouring area's figures would look exactly like a correct answer, so none are shown and the statewide figures stand alone. About half of California's programs are in this position.

Social and Community Service Managers

Job ads may call this: Social Services Director · Adoption Services Manager · Clinical Services Director · Transitional Care Director

Some of what people in this job do. The Department rates how important each one is, and they appear in that order.

Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet objectives set by boards of directors or senior management.
Direct activities of professional and technical staff members and volunteers.
Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.
Participate in the determination of organizational policies regarding such issues as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits.

Show 2 more things this job involves

Prepare and maintain records and reports, such as budgets, personnel records, or training manuals.
Provide direct service and support to individuals or clients, such as handling a referral for child advocacy issues, conducting a needs evaluation, or resolving complaints.

Typical pay in California: $84,606per year
Projected openings: 35,490
Projected change: +19.3%
Usually needs: Bachelor's degree

Getting in

Experience needed first: Under 5 years in a related job
Training after you are hired: None

Employers usually expect some time in a related job as well as the training. Ask the provider what their graduates did before they were hired.

These are the federal government's answers for the occupation, not rules this provider sets. California publishes the same two answers for every one of these jobs.

What people in this job actually studied

Most common: Four-year degree — 40% of the people doing this work.

California says this job usually needs: Bachelor's degree. 27% of the people doing it went less far than that.

No high school diploma: 1%
High school diploma: 7%
Started college, no degree: 12%
Two-year degree: 6%
Four-year degree: 40%
Master's degree: 29%
Doctorate or professional degree: 5%

This counts people already doing this job, across the whole United States. Every other figure on this page is California's, and the federal government publishes no state version of this one. It is what people happen to have, not a rule about who gets hired. A small row does not mean you would be turned away, and a large one is not a promise of a job.

Social and Human Service Assistants

Pay, hiring, and what people studied

Job ads may call this: Advocate · Clinical Assistant · Social Services Aide · Social Work Assistant

Assess clients' cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions.
Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
Oversee day-to-day group activities of residents in institution.
Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.

Show 2 more things this job involves

Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.

Typical pay in California: $52,520per year
Projected openings: 73,580
Projected change: +16.1%
Usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent

Getting in

Experience needed first: None
Training after you are hired: Under a month

No earlier job experience is expected, and new hires are not put through a long training period. For work like this, a program is usually the way in.

What people in this job actually studied

Most common: Four-year degree — 32% of the people doing this work.

California says this job usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent. 2% of the people doing it went less far than that.

No high school diploma: 2%
High school diploma: 16%
Started college, no degree: 22%
Two-year degree: 12%
Four-year degree: 32%
Master's degree: 14%
Doctorate or professional degree: 2%

Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other

Pay, hiring, and what people studied

The Department publishes no list of daily tasks for this job. This is how it describes the work instead.

All community and social service specialists not listed separately.

Typical pay in California: $60,415per year
Projected openings: 19,440
Projected change: +9.7%
Usually needs: Bachelor's degree

Getting in

Experience needed first: None
Training after you are hired: None

No earlier job experience is expected, and new hires are not put through a long training period. For work like this, a program is usually the way in.

What people in this job actually studied

Most common: Four-year degree — 36% of the people doing this work.

California says this job usually needs: Bachelor's degree. 36% of the people doing it went less far than that.

No high school diploma: 2%
High school diploma: 9%
Started college, no degree: 16%
Two-year degree: 8%
Four-year degree: 36%
Master's degree: 24%
Doctorate or professional degree: 4%

Program details

This is a hybrid or blended program providing both in-person and online instruction.

The Human Services General Practice Certificate of Achievement prepares students to enter the field of human services in the areas of counseling theory and practice, substance abuse treatment, human development, child welfare, cultural competence, mental health, homelessness, community safety and prevention, domestic abuse, and prevention theory. The program prepares students by building the skills and knowledge needed to improve the overall quality of life of communities and service populations. Individual, family, and group counseling skills and theory and case management techniques are explored and developed. Students learn to apply strength based assessment and intervention techniques for individuals, families, and communities. Students will build critical thinking and technological skills, learn effective communication skills in helping relationships, and apply concepts of equity to program development, collaboration, ethics, and professionalism. This program conforms to the proposed guidelines for addiction studies within higher education prepared for the California State Department of Education and meets the accreditation standards set forth by the California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE).

Someone else may be able to pay for this

This program was on California's Eligible Training Provider List when the state last reported it to the U.S. Department of Labor (2026-08-04). Programs on that list can be paid for through an Individual Training Account. Listings are renewed periodically and can lapse, so a program listed when the state last reported may not be listed today. Ask before you rely on it.

The place to ask is an America's Job Center of California

A comprehensive center is where all the required partner programs can be reached; an affiliate site offers some of them. California's Employment Development Department directs people to CareerOneStop's finder to locate one. Contacting a center before traveling is worth it — the state notes that its own staff are not physically present at every location.

The rule: 20 CFR 678.305 — What is a comprehensive one-stop center? · 20 CFR 678.310 — What is an affiliated site? · California EDD — Office Locator

Capitola Career Center - America`s Job Center of California (AJCC)Affiliate site
Phone: 831-464-6286
2045 40th AvenueSuite BCapitola, CA 95010about 5.5 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Has a veterans' representative
SCCOE - Suenos Youth Program ServicesAffiliate site
Phone: 831-466-5672
229 Green Valley RoadSequoia SchoolsFreedom, CA 95019about 6.9 miles away
Hours: Monday-Friday 9a.m.-5p.m.
Santa Cruz County, Workforce, Watsonville Career CenterComprehensive center
Phone: 831-763-8933
500 Westridge DriveCounty of Santa Cruz, South County Government CenterWatsonville, CA 95076about 7.9 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm Closed 12:00 noon - 1pm

Distances are straight-line, so the drive is longer. Call before you travel: opening hours here are as the federal directory published them, and the state notes its own staff are not present at every location.

Find a center anywhere in California, and check what is on the list today:
CareerOneStop — American Job Center Finder (U.S. DOL) · California EDD — Office Locator · California EDD — Eligible Training Provider List

How this gets paid for, and what to ask →

Whether a person can have a program paid for is decided by their local workforce development board and the America's Job Center staff who interview them — not by this site, and not by the training provider. California has 45 local workforce development areas and each sets its own policies, so the answer can differ between two people in neighboring counties. Nothing here is a promise of funding or a determination of eligibility.

The rules cited here, and the state and federal sites linked to, are published in English.

How this site gets its figures, and what they do not tell you →