Southwestern Michigan College is pleased to announce that graduates of the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Social Work program will be eligible to apply for the Social Service Technician (SST) license through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

An SST assists clients in accessing needed social programs, working under a social worker or case manager to assess needs, providing support and managing cases, with common duties including intake, referrals, crisis intervention, documentation and connecting people to resources such as food, housing or childcare.

In social work, licensure is key to employment, further education and higher income potential.

“It is a credential that requires 60 hours of social work education in addition to work experience in the field,” Professor Christi Young said. “Students who graduate from our program are eligible as soon as they are employed in the field. It is a credential that adds merit to our degree and options for students as it is a billable license for health insurances.”

The SST credential formally recognizes individuals who are qualified to provide supervised social services across Michigan’s human-service agencies. By aligning the AAS curriculum with SST standards, SMC is expanding opportunities for graduates and helping meet the growing need for credentialed professionals across the state.

Graduates become immediately eligible to apply for SST registration, opening employment pathways with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), community mental health agencies and social-service nonprofits.

SST registration complements transfer options to bachelor’s programs (e.g., Ferris State University Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) partnership) while providing a direct-to-work credential.

SMC also signed articulation agreements with both Olivet and Western Michigan universities.

The partnership with Olivet, signed Dec. 8, creates a seamless transfer pathway for SMC students to complete their BSW degree entirely online through Olivet’s Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited program.

This latest agreement strengthens SMC’s longstanding commitment to “knowledge for all” by expanding affordable, high-quality academic opportunities that meet students where they are — academically, geographically and financially.

Students entering the program benefit from Olivet’s personalized approach to practicum oversight. Faculty and field coordinators work closely with each student to identify appropriate practicum placements within their home communities, removing any need to relocate while still ensuring rich, hands-on learning experiences.

Young said an advantage to having arrangements with both Olivet and Western is “they serve very different student profiles. They are not redundant. At this point, WMU is largely face-to-face for BSW, but has online options for MSW. With our program being online, it will serve students who want the on-campus experience.”

“Olivet offers a faster pace (eight-week quarters for some classes) that can be seen as more flexible,” Young continued. “It is also adult-friendly and potentially lower cost — especially for Pell students. Online tuition is $400/credit hour. They have a similar admission standard to SMC, with a 2.5 granting automatic admission for AAS completers.”

“While it is online completion-focused, students can live on campus and join athletic teams as well,” Young said.

Under April 7’s WMU agreement, students can complete their AAS in social work at SMC, transfer all their credits to WMU, finish their bachelor’s degree in two years, then complete their Master of Social Work degree in just 10 months on an accelerated track.

“Any BSW that is certified by the CSWE offers an Advanced Standing MSW, so both WMU and Olivet allow pathways into accelerated master’s programs,” Young said.