Social worker’s competence in the context of non-university training

Peculiarities of the professional competence of a social worker in the context of his/her training are analysed in this work. The concept of the competence content and the varieties of competence; as well as the influence of social workers, the content of the professional training study programs while developing social workers’ professional competence are analysed. In the research similarities and differences of the content of the study programs in 5 Lithuanian non-university educational institutions training social workers are analysed. On the basis of this analysis a questionnaire was made up seeking to determine knowledge priorities for social workers’ professional activities. A social worker’s competence on the first, second and third level of studies in Lithuanian colleges is developed by the disciplines giving knowledge and practical skills enabling to fulfill qualified professional activities. However, in all colleges the task is implemented differently, the prevailing tendency being that the number of credits for the same subjects differs. The results of the research proved this hypothesis. A social worker’s competence gained in non-university studies is sufficient for the fulfilment of professional activities