When choosing a career in the helping professions, many wonder about the difference between human services and social work.
Pursuing a degree in human services or social work does not automatically define your career identity as a human services professional or a social worker. Starting in one field does not prevent transitioning to the other. But still. You have a lot of education options, and it’s hard to know where to start.
What is the benefit of being a human services worker vs. a social worker? Which path would be best for you?
Read on if you are interested in working as a change agent in the human services or social work fields.6
Please note, Rasmussen University’s Human Services Associate’s degree and Human Services Bachelor’s degree programs are designed for non-licensed positions and do not academically qualify graduates for any state professional license. These programs are not intended for those seeking employment as a licensed social worker, rather for those who intend to work in human services in non-licensed positions.
Human services and social work: Quick facts
- Human services is a newer term intended to cover non-licensure social service roles.
- Human services jobs usually require less education than social work jobs, which require a master's degree.
- Government agencies, non-profits and organizations in addiction recovery, family services, healthcare initiatives, community resources and more may hire both human services workers and social workers.
- Social workers need licensure, human services workers do not.
- Licensed social workers can provide counseling and diagnose mental illness; human services workers usually do not. For further information on professional licensing requirements, please check the appropriate board or agency in your state of residence.
What is human services?
The wonderful world of human services work runs deep and wide across many industries.
It is all-encompassing to careers related to social work, counseling, probation and case management.
Human services is a broad field for people who "hold professional and paraprofessional jobs in such diverse settings as group homes and halfway houses; correctional, intellectual disability, and community mental health centers; family, child, and youth service agencies, and programs concerned with alcoholism, drug abuse, family violence, and aging,” according to the National Organization for Human Services.1
You can think of it like this, the human services field includes non-licensed roles dedicated to helping humans who need social services. Graduates who earn a human services degree can assist on social cases as a social service assistant or work for community programs supporting everything from health to family resources.
The "human services" profession is a relatively new term. No specific practitioner is responsible for popularizing the human services sector. It was a unique and collective effort paved as an additional pathway to supporting human behavior or a stepping stone to other, more formally-licensed professions.
Research indicates that "as [other helping professions morphed] in the 1950s and 1960s, colleges and universities began offering the first educational opportunities in human services."2
Any human-facing profession relies on skilled human services professionals. These professionals, trained to apply practical and theoretical methods, enhance the quality of service delivery.
After all, "The primary purpose of the human services professional is to assist individuals and communities to function as effectively as possible in the major domains of living,” as the National Organization for Human Services writes.3
What is social work?
Social work is singularly focused on performing social work competencies. This field requires licensure, and the education for it is not available at Rasmussen University.
Social work began as volunteer efforts to connect families to services and resources to help restore lives when many were facing poverty.4
The profession also concentrated on immigrant acculturation and gave a hand to citizens who were vulnerable and inhibited. Its service-driven roots met a surge in need during and after the Great Depression and World War II, with growing crises in mental health.5
Due to the profession's lucidity, the "social worker" title became reserved for those who graduate with a social work degree from a program accredited to oversee social workers' academic standards and competency.
To clarify and avoid ambiguity, the term "social worker" should only be used by individuals who have graduated from an accredited social work program (not available at Rasmussen University) and earned a license. Most of these positions require a master's degree.
Services also include research efforts, advocacy, and support for disabled clients and those in vulnerable situations or facing insecurities. Social workers receive specialized training in various fields, including gerontology and school social work.
Similarities between human services and social work
Both human services and social work are governed by a well-defined code of ethics, which serves as a guiding framework for delivering quality services and ensuring integrity in their practices.
Furthermore, they offer a comprehensive range of educational pathways, from associate degrees to doctoral degrees, providing opportunities for individuals to advance their knowledge and expertise in their respective fields.
Differences between human services and social work
One of the main differences between human services and social work is the education requirements. Human services degree programs are available at the associate and bachelor's degree levels. (Two year and four year programs, respectively).
Whereas, a social worker needs to complete a bachelor's degree program (4 years) and a master's degree program (2+ years). They also need to obtain a license for the state they intend to work in.
This is because human services careers operate within a unique framework without a formal state licensure track or a universally-recognized title.
Those with a human services associate’s degree have typical career paths as:
- Community Service Assistant
- Social Service Assistant
- Human Service Assistant
Those with a human services bachelor’s degree have typical career paths as:
- Child and Youth Services Worker
- Community Services and Outreach Manager
- Family Support Worker
Human services leaders may have graduate-level degrees, leveraging their advanced training and expertise to guide initiatives and influence policy in the realm of human services.6
The education requirements human services roles have range from a high school diploma, an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree and on.
Social work professionals, on the other hand, can follow a state licensure pathway after completing graduate-level education, gaining supervised work experience, and passing a qualifying law and ethics exam. After this they can obtain credentials such as Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Licensing is regulated by statutory requirements and overseen by state composite boards. Graduates without licenses often find employment in hospitals, schools, mental health facilities and hospices. In contrast, those with graduate degrees who are licensed have opportunities to forge their own pathway and establish mental/behavioral health practices, may pursue elected roles, and attain positions in C-suite management.
Prospective social work license applicants should review state laws, academic requirements and application regulations before making a final decision.
Choosing between human services and social work
Finding a career that aligns with your personal passions, supports a balanced lifestyle, and fosters human growth and development is possible in both of these fields.
To make an informed decision regarding a career path, consider the following three practical tips:
1. Talk to people in the field
Consult with experienced professionals in your field of interest. Engage in research, ask pertinent questions, and seek shadowing or volunteer opportunities. Many organizations that offer human services jobs also have opportunities for volunteers.
2. Consider the type of help you want to offer
Both of these fields are large and include non-profits, government agencies, private companies and organizations that operate on a local or national level. Your type of employer will make a difference in the role and where you do it.
Look into direct services as well as advocacy and education organizations. Then, cross reference the type of work you are interested in with the labor statistics in your area to determine the kind of opportunity available.
Global organization, UNICEF offers charts and explanations to demonstrate different skill areas and areas of qualification necessary in social service agencies. Check out their social service resource page for more ideas about the types of work you could do.7
Helping as a career
These professions aren't easy, but they are so important! If you have the determination to assist people in the ways they need it most, both human services and social work would be a great choice for you.
Now that you understand the main differences, you might be wondering what human services workers do. Check out What Can You Do With a Human Services Degree to get the details.
Wishing you the best in your search! May you G.R.I.T. forward to achieve greatness, as "goals require intense tenacity."
This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice.
1Facts. (2025). National Association of Social Worker. https://www.socialworkers.org/News/Facts/Social-
2Issitt, M. (2024). Human Services. EBSCO Knowledge Advantage. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/human-services
3National Organization for Human Services. (2015). Ethical standards for human services professionals. https://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards/
4 Stuart, P. (2019, March 26). Social Work Profession: History. Encyclopedia of Social Work. Retrieved 20 Oct. 2025, from https://oxfordre.com/socialwork/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.001.0001/acrefore-9780199975839-e-623.
5Types of Social Work. (2025). National Association of Social Worker. shttps://www.socialworkers.org/News/Facts/Types-of-Social-Work
6Rasmussen University’s Human Services Associate’s degree and Human Services Bachelor’s degree programs are not designed to meet, and do not meet the educational requirements for professional licensure as a therapist, counselor, social worker, psychologist, or other similar licensed careers, in any state.
7Build capacity and supportive systems, Social Service Workforce, UNICEF, https://www.sbcguidance.org/do/social-service-workforce
