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Transition specialist vs community support specialist

The differences between transition specialists and community support specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a transition specialist and a community support specialist. Additionally, a transition specialist has an average salary of $42,506, which is higher than the $39,320 average annual salary of a community support specialist.

The top three skills for a transition specialist include patients, customer service and social work. The most important skills for a community support specialist are social work, mental health, and rehabilitation.

Transition specialist vs community support specialist overview

Transition SpecialistCommunity Support Specialist
Yearly salary$42,506$39,320
Hourly rate$20.44$18.90
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs39,829111,431
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

What does a transition specialist do?

In learning institutions, a transition specialist is primarily in charge of providing career advice to students, guiding them in their journey for career growth. It is their duty to conduct interviews to identify the students' career goals, conduct skills assessments, research career opportunities for students, and refer them to programs or services, assisting them in the documentation procedures. Furthermore, as a transition specialist, it is essential to build rapport with students and other clients, encouraging them to pursue their short and long-term goals.

What does a community support specialist do?

A community support specialist is responsible for supporting and providing care services for citizens with mental health conditions and other medical illnesses. Community support specialists coordinate with organizations and health institutions to generate resources that would help the patients in their daily activities, medications, and treatment plans. They also strategize community events and activities to observe the patients' social and personal behaviors and endorse them to a mental health professional for in-depth examination and counseling.

Transition specialist vs community support specialist salary

Transition specialists and community support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Transition SpecialistCommunity Support Specialist
Average salary$42,506$39,320
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $74,000Between $27,000 And $56,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew JerseyAlaska
Best paying companyA.T. KearneyMeta
Best paying industryFinanceNon Profits

Differences between transition specialist and community support specialist education

There are a few differences between a transition specialist and a community support specialist in terms of educational background:

Transition SpecialistCommunity Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at BinghamtonCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Transition specialist vs community support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between transition specialists' and community support specialists' demographics:

Transition SpecialistCommunity Support Specialist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 29.7% Female, 70.3%Male, 28.8% Female, 71.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9%Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between transition specialist and community support specialist duties and responsibilities

Transition specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage incoming/outgoing referrals and some ICD-9 medical coding.
  • Provide job site assessment and training in collaboration with vocational rehabilitation counselor for follow-up.
  • Refer students to community resources for financial, medical, educational, and rehabilitation services.
  • Complete daily progress notes in medical record per ISP and pertinent events.
  • Collaborate with clinicians to ensure patients receive recommended products prior to discharge.
  • Support patients residing in psychiatric hospital settings to successfully transition into the community.
  • Show more

Community support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide PSR services to clients with mental illness in order to help them achieve the highest standard of living possible.
  • Review notes complete by other community support workers to assess progression towards individualize goals for patients on caseload.
  • Complete CPR and first aid training.
  • Participate in IEP meetings and academic action plans.
  • Develop new techniques to engage teenage males with autism in focuse areas of activity.
  • Provide direction to the program's register nurse and ensure compliance with OPWDD regulations.
  • Show more

Transition specialist vs community support specialist skills

Common transition specialist skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Social Work, 9%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Community Resources, 5%
  • Community Agencies, 5%
Common community support specialist skills
  • Social Work, 11%
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Rehabilitation, 10%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Independent Living, 5%
  • Substance Abuse, 5%

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