Artisan in Social Work
The Artisan in Social Work is a TVET-CDACC Level 4 competency-based programme that trains students in fundamental social work and community development support skills. The course is examined by TVET-CDACC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn basic counselling, community engagement, welfare assistance, communication, and field work support skills.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 67,189 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 150,000 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificate or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 1 year, full-time, with 1 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 53 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Adolescent Mentorship Officer, at 14 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The curriculum covers basic units including communication skills, numeracy skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills, employability skills, environmental literacy, and occupational safety and health practices. Core units focus on basic counselling, communication, welfare assistance, safety in social work, project support, community engagement, and field work under supervision.
Kenya's social development sector, including NGOs, community-based organisations, government departments, and faith-based organisations, creates demand for entry-level social work support personnel. Community development projects, welfare programmes, and humanitarian initiatives require trained assistants for field operations and community engagement.
Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in community and field environments. Students practice communication, counselling support, community engagement, welfare distribution, and field assistance under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment in social work organisations or community projects where students apply their skills in real field environments.
Graduates work as social work helpers, field assistants, community assistants, and welfare helpers in NGOs, community-based organisations, government departments, and faith-based organisations. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Social Work and Community Development Level 5 and Level 6 for specialised social work roles.
This programme is suitable for KCSE certificate holders with a mean grade of E or KCPE certificate who are interested in community service and seeking entry-level positions in the social development sector.
What you study
8 subjects- Basic Community Engagement
- Basic Welfare Assistance
- Communication
- Basic Field Assistance
- Safety
- Workplace Practices
- Client Handling
- Social Work Assistance
Modules
8 in the programmeWorkplace Safety
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Occupational safety and health practices in social work environments including personal safety, field visit safety, and basic hazard awareness.
Basic Community Engagement
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Basic community engagement and interaction including community entry, rapport building, and supporting community participation in social programmes.
Basic Welfare Assistance
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Assisting with basic welfare activities including distribution of relief supplies, beneficiary registration, and support during community welfare programmes.
Communication
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Basic communication skills including active listening, information gathering, interpersonal communication, and simple reporting for social work support.
Basic Field Assistance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Assisting with field operations including home visits, community surveys, data collection, and basic field support for social work activities.
Client Handling
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Basic client interaction and handling including greeting, information provision, referral support, and assisting clients accessing social services.
Workplace Practices
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Basic workplace practices and conduct including professionalism, confidentiality, teamwork, and routine office procedures in social work environments.
Social Work Assistance
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
General assistance to social workers including file preparation, client scheduling, documentation support, and routine social work office duties.
Specialisations
Welfare Support
Focus on welfare assistance including relief distribution, beneficiary registration, food aid support, and basic welfare programme assistance.
General Social Work Support
General social work assistance including file preparation, client scheduling, documentation support, and routine office duties under social worker supervision.
Field Support
Focus on field operations including home visits, community surveys, data collection, and basic field assistance for social work programmes and activities.
Community Engagement
Focus on community interaction including community entry, rapport building, mobilisation support, and basic community participation in social programmes.
A day as a student
Students spend virtually all their time in practical sessions — engaging communities, assisting with welfare activities, communicating with clients, and performing basic social work assistance tasks.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Quick entry to social sector workforce. | Entry-level positions have modest salaries. |
| Most affordable entry point to social work. | Social work can be emotionally demanding. |
| Foundation for progression to craft, certificate, and diploma. | — |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 241 social sciences coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
Public TVET 67,189/yr. Private: KIBCo 14.8K, WICHS 150K/yr (kibco.ac.ke, wichs.university).
TVET government funding and HELB loans are available.
Funding options
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans
Scholarships
4 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties.
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
BursaryKenyan
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
HELB TVET Loans
LoanKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
TVET Funding
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
Scholarships you could apply for
6 usable where it is taught- Equity Group Foundation Wings to Fly
Closes 28 February 2027FullEquity Bank
Full secondary + university
- Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullAga Khan Foundation
Full university study
- Family Bank Foundation Education Support
Closes 30 June 2027PartialFamily Bank
KES 80,000 per year
- HELB Undergraduate Scholarship
Closes 31 July 2027PartialHigher Education Loans Board
KES 40,000 to 60,000 per year
- County Government Scholarships
Varies by countyPartialCounty Governments
KES 50,000 to 200,000 per year
- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
KCPE certificate holders are also eligible. No specific subject requirements.
When it next starts
Taught at 53 institutionsIncluding Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Chuka University, Kibabii University.
Including Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Chuka University, Kibabii University.
Including Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Chuka University, Kibabii University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsTheory Assessment
Test15% of the mark
Basic written assessment of supporting social work knowledge.
Competency-Based Practical Assessment
Practicum60% of the mark
TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical social work skills.
Practical Projects
Project25% of the mark
Completion of basic social work assistance tasks.
Accreditation
TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council
NationalRequired
Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.
Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and certified by TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesSocial Work Helper
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 45,000
Support social work operations.
Field Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 24,000 to Ksh 42,000
Support field operations.
Community Assistant
High demandKsh 23,000 to Ksh 40,000
Support community engagement operations.
Welfare Helper
Moderate demandKsh 22,000 to Ksh 38,000
Support welfare programmes.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as social work helpers and community assistants in NGOs, community organisations, and government departments across Kenya.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Adolescent Mentorship OfficerSocial Sciences14Low exposure
- Correctional CounselorSocial Sciences15Low exposure
- Child Protection OfficerSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- CriminologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Human Rights InvestigatorSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Social GerontologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Community Resilience SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
- Gender Integration SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Artisan social work is not a real qualification
It is a TVET-CDACC certified qualification providing entry to social work.
Social work assistance doesn't need training
Even basic social work tasks require communication and safety knowledge.
Artisan graduates are stuck in low-level roles
Artisan graduates can progress to craft, certificate, and diploma in social work.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.