Community Development Jobs and Careers
As of 2011, if figures prove accurate, community development could prove to be a field of substantial job growth. The skills a prospective community developer can cultivate can give you a number of options to explore and consider. You might begin your search by examining the needs in your local community or state and in seeking the agencies or other organizations that seek to address those needs.
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Identification
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Perhaps the most significant careers found within the field of community development are planning jobs. These may often be referred to as either urban or regional planners although not always so. The focus of these planners can range from service provision, housing, poverty alleviation and environmental concerns to a host of other infrastructural concerns. Community planners seek different methods for involving the community itself, as well as ways in which to optimize those resources available to that community at the given time.
Needs
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Community planners are often hired by town or city councils where they will be directed to help develop or improve things like transportation, roads, sewers, schools and libraries. They are also frequently taken on by firms specializing in architecture and engineering. Planners may also serve as private consultants who help organizations enhance practices such as environmental compliance and structural integrity. According to the Bureau of labor Statistics, community, urban or regional planners can reasonably expect to earn between $55,000 to $65,000 depending on their experience and specific skill-set, as of 2011.
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Education, Training & Certification
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As related careers are frequently offered by state, local or federal entities, there are general consistencies for the expected level of education. To become a community planner, you should hold an advanced degree, typically a master's degree, in a related field. However, this doesn't mean that you cannot gain admission at entry level in planning without it. If you already know the work you want to do, take courses specific to it. For example, for work with the environment, take ecology, geography, environmental law and so forth. If you aren't sure, take a wider set of humanities and social science courses. Certification is available through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) after you pass their examination. The only state that requires a license is New Jersey as of 2009. In Michigan you do have to officially register with the state to call or market yourself as a community planner.
Opportunities
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As of 2011, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) claims that job growth in these fields will be greater than average. The bureau states that urban planners in particular will see an estimated growth rate of 19% between the years of 2008 and 2018. You will see even greater chances of success in hiring -- on average -- if you possess the master's degree and you have already completed the aforementioned certification process with the AICP. The BLS also encourages you to become acquainted with geographic information systems software (GIS) as this is one of the most commonly used tools in community development and planning fields.
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References
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