Social Sciences

Certificate in Social Work and Community Development

The Certificate in Social Work and Community Development is a two-year Craft Certificate programme examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and offered at technical and vocational training institutions across Kenya. It equips students with foundational skills in social work practice, community development, and social administration. The programme is accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) under the TVET Act, 2013.

Module I covers information communication technology, entrepreneurship, life skills, introduction to sociology, essentials of social policy, Kiswahili, legal aspects in social work and development, mathematics, foundations of accounting, and industrial attachment. Students learn foundational concepts in social work, sociology, and community development.

Module II advances to communication skills, introduction to community development, history and government of Kenya, community health, human growth and development, administration and management, business plan, and a trade project. The programme combines theory with practical field visits to community projects.

Entry requirements are a KCSE mean grade of D (plain) or a pass in a relevant Artisan Certificate. The programme is widely available at national polytechnics, technical training institutes, and social development colleges across Kenya.

Graduates pursue careers as social work assistants, community development assistants, project assistants, and welfare assistants in government ministries, county governments, NGOs, and community-based organisations. The programme provides a progression pathway to a Diploma in Social Work and Community Development, with Module I exemptions for certificate holders.

The programme includes an industrial attachment that provides students with practical field experience in community settings. Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding, and HELB loans are available for eligible students. The standardised annual tuition fee at public TVET institutions is KES 67,189.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Private, up to: Ksh 90,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 45 students
Award: Certificate

What you study

10 subjects

Introduction to Sociology
Introduction to Community Development
Social Policy and Administration
Human Growth and Development
Community Health
Legal Aspects in Social Work
Administration and Management
Entrepreneurship
Communication Skills
History and Government of Kenya

Modules

10 in the programme

Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
ICT fundamentals for social work practice and data management.
Introduction to Sociology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Sociological concepts, social structures, and group dynamics relevant to social work.
Essentials of Social Policy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Social policy principles, welfare systems, and policy analysis in Kenya.
Legal Aspects in Social Work and Development
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Legal framework governing social work practice and community development in Kenya.
Entrepreneurship
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Entrepreneurship principles for social enterprises and community projects.
Introduction to Community Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Community development concepts, participatory approaches, and community mobilisation.
Community Health
Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore
Public health principles, community health education, and disease prevention.
Human Growth and Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Human development across the lifespan and its relevance to social work practice.
Administration and Management
Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore
Administrative principles and management practices for social development organisations.
Trade Project
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Practical community development project applying social work competencies.

Specialisations

Social Work Practice
Focus on case management, client support, and welfare services.
Community Development
Specialisation in community mobilisation and project support.
Social Administration
Focus on administrative roles in social development organisations.
Welfare Services
Specialisation in welfare assistance and social protection programmes.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on sociology or community development with afternoon field visits to community projects, case study discussions, and group exercises in social work practice.

The trade offs

In its favour

Low entry requirements make it accessible to a wide range of students.
Module I exemptions when progressing to diploma level.
High demand for social work assistants in Kenya's NGO and government sectors.

Against it

Emotionally demanding work requiring resilience and coping skills.
Entry-level salaries may be modest compared to diploma holders.
Field attachment may require placement in remote or challenging environments.

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 courses

Public50k to 67k

50k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology67k at Kabete National Polytechnic

Private50k to 90k

50k at The East African University90k at Auscare International College

Annual 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

MMUST 50K, TVET 67,189/yr. TEAU 50K, Auscare 90K/yr (kenyaplex.com, teau.ac.ke)

Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding. HELB loans of up to KES 45,000 per year are available for eligible TVET certificate students.

Funding options

HELB Loan
KUCCPS Government Capitation
County Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB TVET Loan
LoanKsh 45,000Kenyan
Kenyan students placed by KUCCPS in accredited TVET institutions.
KUCCPS Government Capitation
SubsidyKsh 30,000Kenyan
Government-sponsored students placed by KUCCPS receive capitation funding.
County Bursary
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Various county governments offer bursaries for TVET students.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: D
Alternative entry: Pass in a relevant Artisan Certificate in social development or equivalent qualification approved by KNEC.

How you are assessed

3 components

End of Module KNEC Examinations
Written examination70% of the mark
KNEC-administered examinations at the end of each module.
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat20% of the mark
Internal continuous assessment tests throughout each module.
Trade Project
Project10% of the mark
Practical community development project as part of KNEC assessment.

Accreditation

Examined by KNEC and accredited by TVETA under the TVET Act, 2013. Institutions offering this programme must be registered and accredited by TVETA.

Accredited by

Kenya National Examinations Council
AcademicRequired
Examined by KNEC under course code 1410. Institutions must be TVETA-accredited.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
InstitutionalRequired
All TVET institutions offering this programme must be registered and accredited by TVETA.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Social Work Assistant
High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 480,000
Assists social workers in case management, client support, and welfare services.
Community Development Assistant
High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 480,000
Supports community development projects and mobilises community participation.
Project Assistant (NGO)
Moderate demandKsh 360,000 to Ksh 540,000
Assists in implementing NGO projects at community level.
Welfare Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 480,000
Provides welfare support services in government departments and organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find employment as social work assistants and community development assistants in government, NGOs, and community-based organisations across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office Suite
SoftwarePrimary

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Social work is just volunteering.
Social work is a structured profession with KNEC certification and employment opportunities in government, NGOs, and international organisations.
A certificate limits career growth.
The certificate provides Module I exemptions for the diploma, enabling faster progression to higher qualifications.
Community development is only for rural areas.
Graduates work in diverse settings including urban NGOs, schools, hospitals, and government departments.
Social work is low-paying.
While entry-level salaries may be modest, experienced social workers in international NGOs earn competitive salaries.