DSS Income Maintenance Caseworker

Learn the skills you need to be a better candidate for employment at your local Department of Social Services (DSS).

North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology (NC FAST) is a program designed to improve the way the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and county departments of social services do business. NC FAST introduces new technological tools and business processes that will enable workers to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time assisting families.

This NCFast class certificate is a preferred qualification for the DSS income maintenance caseworker jobs available in Guilford and surrounding counties. But to be selected as a potential candidate, you must meet one of the minimum qualifications listed in the job postings:

  • Graduation from high school or equivalency and four years of experience listed below.
    OR
  • Associate degree and two years of experience in clerical or other public contact experience, which includes negotiating, interviewing, explaining and gathering information, gathering and compiling data, analysis of data, and/or performance of mathematical or legal tasks.
    OR
  • Four-year degree from an accredited college or university.

Introduction to Human Services: DSS Income Maintenance Caseworker (course 1 of 2)

This course covers skills and strategies designed to provide employability skills training and career exploration for a career as an Income Maintenance Caseworker within the Division of Social Services (DSS). This course is a prerequisite for the Income Maintenance Caseworker course.

This 50-hour training will include:

  • Keyboarding
  • NCFAST System Terminology and Navigation
  • Customer Service
  • Resume and Interviewing
  • And more

Income Maintenance Caseworker – NC FAST (course 2 of 2)

This course is designed to cover a variety of skills associated with the Income Maintenance Caseworker role to determine service eligibility. Specific focus will include proficiency in the utilization of the NCFAST application.

This 48-hour training will include:

  • NCFAST System
  • Communication
  • Interviewing
  • Time Management
  • Data Gathering/Compiling
  • Data Analysis
  • And more

Frequently Asked Questions

Books/Materials: No cost. Material is provided electronically.

National Career Readiness Certificate:

  • Prep: Fee-waiver (no cost if you qualify)
  • Test: $30-55

PART 1
Registration fee: $133 

The course registration fee is waived for those who meet the following criteria:

  • Unemployed
  • Received notification of a pending layoff
  • Working and eligible for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (FEIT)
  • Working and earning wages at or below two hundred (200% of the federal poverty guidelines)

PART 2
Registration fee: $133

Payment for class is due at the time of registration.

Classes meet virtually via Microsoft Teams 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

A new class starts every couple of months.

Interest List: Email Jennifer Smith at jfsmith@gtcc.edu to add your name to our interest list and receive emails with course dates and registration instructions.

Students must have:
  • Good computer skills
  • A personal email account
  • A computer (laptop or desktop with full keyboard)
  • Access to the internet

Yes. To be successful in this training, students need to have good computer skills. The instructor will provide you with a tutorial for using Microsoft Teams (which is similar to Zoom).

Email Jennifer Smith at jfsmith@gtcc.edu to add your name to our interest list and receive emails with course dates and registration instructions.

Students who successfully complete the DHHS – DSS NC FAST Income Maintenance Caseworker Training will receive Certificates of Completion.

Outcome: Students who successfully complete both courses receive certificates of completion that demonstrate competency of specific defined skills based on the IMC position, as well as the ACT National Career Readiness Credential (NCRC) they have earned.

These credentials are an advantage to both students and DSS offices in that they reflect consistent learning outcomes and are thus transportable.

Although individual DSS offices may have specific local training needs, all offices will know what core competencies a potential hire candidate holds when they present credentials based on the developed training.

Course Requirements

NCRC

  • National Career Readiness Certificate: Bronze or higher
    • Prep: Fee-waiver (no cost)
    • Test: $30-54 (covers the WorkKeys Assessments – applied math, graphic literacy, and workplace documents)

Part 1

  • Attendance: At least 75% of the course. Students cannot miss more than 12 hours in Part 1.
  • Keyboarding assessment: Must have a minimum of 20 words per minute
  • DSS and NC FAST Terminology Tests: 80% or higher combined average score
  • NC FAST Case Assessment: 80% or higher score
Once all Part 1 items are completed, students will get a certificate and will be eligible to register for Part 2.

Part 2

  • Payment or scholarship of $133 before the start of Part 2 class
  • (NOTE: There is no fee waiver for Part 2.)
  • Attendance: at least 75% of course (students cannot miss any more than a total of 12 hours in Part 2)
  • NC FAST Case Assessment: 80% or higher score

TRAINING COMPLETE

  • ALL OF THE ABOVE ITEMS COMPLETED = CERTIFICATE FOR PART 2

The college will make a 100% refund of registration fees if you officially withdraw from class before the first meeting. Also if the class is canceled or full, GTCC will make a full refund. 

The college will refund 75% of the registration fee (of tuition only) if you officially withdraw from the class on the first day of class or before the class reaches the census date. The census date varies from class to class. Non-attendance is not a basis for a refund.