How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (2024)

Updated April 5, 2024

3 min read

How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (1)

An advocate is a person who supports and speaks up for individuals or groups who are marginalized or in need of assistance. Advocates work to promote the rights and interests of their clients, often through providing legal advice, representation, or lobbying for policy changes. They may work in a variety of settings, including nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and private law firms. Advocates must have strong communication skills and a deep understanding of the issues facing their clients.

How long does it takes to become an advocate?

It takes approximately 5 to 6 years to become an advocate.

Year 1-4: Bachelor's DegreeMost advocates need a bachelor's degree, which typically takes four years to complete.

Year 5: Additional Training and ExperienceAfter obtaining a degree, one typically needs 6-12 months of experience.

Year 5-6: On-Site and On-Job TrainingAdditionally, 1-3 months of on-site training and 1-3 months of on-job training are usually required.

  • Salary$39,497
  • Growth Rate12%
  • Jobs Number74,970
  • Most Common SkillCPR
  • Most Common DegreeBachelor's degree
  • Best StateNew York

Advocate pros and cons

Pros

  • Making a difference in people's lives

  • Working for a cause you believe in

  • Helping to shape policy and legislation

  • Developing skills in research, analysis, and communication

  • Contributing to social justice and equity

Cons

  • Dealing with difficult or emotionally taxing issues

  • Working long hours, including evenings and weekends

  • Facing opposition or resistance from those who disagree with the cause

  • Managing high caseloads or clients with complex needs

  • Balancing the needs of multiple clients or causes at once

Newest jobs for Advocate in Ashburn, VA

Receive alerts for the newest job postings.

Advocate career paths

An advocate can take on many roles. They can become a counselor, therapist, or case manager to provide support and guidance to individuals. They may also choose to work as a senior case manager, director of social services, or clinician. In some cases, they may become a director or an education director. They can also work as a social worker, clinical supervisor, or clinical manager. They can also work as a consultant or an office manager.

Key steps to become an advocate

  1. Explore advocate education requirements

    If you're interested in becoming an advocate, you must consider how much education you need. Based on real advocate resumes, 57.9% of advocates have a bachelor's degree. Regarding higher education levels, 10.6% of advocates have master's degrees. Even though most advocates have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    Most common advocate degrees

    Bachelor's

    57.9

    %

    Associate

    16.4

    %

    Master's

    10.6

    %

  2. Start to develop specific advocate skills

    Advocates respond to crisis hotline calls, provide information regarding shelter services and community referrals, and monitor and follow-up with clients. They provide direction and assistance to chronically homeless participants, accompany hospital cases, and deliver case management, crisis intervention, and information/referrals to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. They also collaborate with law enforcement, victim advocates, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure perpetrator accountability.

    SkillsPercentages
    CPR12.09%
    Customer Service10.83%
    Developmental Disabilities10.58%
    Cleanliness10.33%
    Patients8.17%

    Show more

  3. Complete relevant advocate training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New advocates learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an advocate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real advocate resumes.

  4. Research advocate duties and responsibilities

    Advocates provide information, support, and referrals to clients facing difficult situations. They answer crisis hotline calls, provide emergency support for sexual assault survivors, and monitor and follow up with clients after initial visits. They also work with community agencies and businesses to address clients' needs for food, clothing, employment, and other necessities. As one advocate put it, "Provided psychological and legal advocacy services to victims of domestic violence utilizing individual, group, crisis-line and walk-in counseling."

    • Develop and maintain communication and contact with community services organizations and other agencies concern with veterans and public service programs.
    • Perform CPR and a as needed.
    • Administer first aid and CPR in emergency situations.
    • Record daily efforts make into an ETO software system.
  5. Prepare your advocate resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your advocate resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an advocate resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Advocate Resume templates

    Build a professional

    Advocate

    resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume.

    Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Advocate resume.

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (2)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (3)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (4)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (5)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (6)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (7)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (8)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (9)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (10)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (11)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (12)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (13)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (14)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (15)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (16)

    How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (17)

  6. Apply for advocate jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an advocate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (18)

Are you an Advocate?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average advocate salary

The average Advocate salary in the United States is $39,497 per year or $19 per hour. Advocate salaries range between $26,000 and $58,000 per year.

Average

Advocate

Salary

$39,497Yearly

$18.99

hourly

More advocate salary info

What Am I Worth?

How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (19)

How do advocates rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Advocate reviews

How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (20)

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022

Pros

Working collaboratively with clients to help them understand themselves and experience their authentic selves.Learning from my clients.

How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (21)

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Cons

Secondary trauma and balancing administrative work with direct services.

Advocate FAQs

Have more questions?

See all answers to common community and social services questions.

Search for advocate jobs

Advocate jobs by state

  • Advocate jobs in Alaska
  • Advocate jobs in Alabama
  • Advocate jobs in Arkansas
  • Advocate jobs in Arizona
  • Advocate jobs in California
  • Advocate jobs in Colorado
  • Advocate jobs in Connecticut
  • Advocate jobs in District of Columbia
  • Advocate jobs in Delaware
  • Advocate jobs in Florida
  • Advocate jobs in Georgia
  • Advocate jobs in Hawaii
  • Advocate jobs in Iowa
  • Advocate jobs in Idaho
  • Advocate jobs in Illinois
  • Advocate jobs in Indiana
  • Advocate jobs in Kansas
  • Advocate jobs in Kentucky
  • Advocate jobs in Louisiana
  • Advocate jobs in Massachusetts
  • Advocate jobs in Maryland
  • Advocate jobs in Maine
  • Advocate jobs in Michigan
  • Advocate jobs in Minnesota
  • Advocate jobs in Missouri
  • Advocate jobs in Mississippi
  • Advocate jobs in Montana
  • Advocate jobs in North Carolina
  • Advocate jobs in North Dakota
  • Advocate jobs in Nebraska
  • Advocate jobs in New Hampshire
  • Advocate jobs in New Jersey
  • Advocate jobs in New Mexico
  • Advocate jobs in Nevada
  • Advocate jobs in New York
  • Advocate jobs in Ohio
  • Advocate jobs in Oklahoma
  • Advocate jobs in Oregon
  • Advocate jobs in Pennsylvania
  • Advocate jobs in Puerto Rico
  • Advocate jobs in Rhode Island
  • Advocate jobs in South Carolina
  • Advocate jobs in South Dakota
  • Advocate jobs in Tennessee
  • Advocate jobs in Texas
  • Advocate jobs in Utah
  • Advocate jobs in Virginia
  • Advocate jobs in Vermont
  • Advocate jobs in Washington
  • Advocate jobs in Wisconsin
  • Advocate jobs in West Virginia
  • Advocate jobs in Wyoming

Updated April 5, 2024

How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (22)

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Advocate Related Careers

  • Case Worker
  • Counselor
  • Customer Service Advocate
  • Family Counselor
  • Family Support Specialist
  • Family Support Worker
  • Family Worker
  • Foster Care Worker
  • Licensed Social Worker
  • Outreach Worker
  • Patient Advocate
  • Program Counselor
  • Rehabilitation Counselor
  • Service Counselor
  • Service Worker

Advocate Related Jobs

  • Case Worker Jobs
  • Counselor Jobs
  • Customer Service Advocate Jobs
  • Family Counselor Jobs
  • Family Support Specialist Jobs
  • Family Support Worker Jobs
  • Family Worker Jobs
  • Foster Care Worker Jobs
  • Licensed Social Worker Jobs
  • Outreach Worker Jobs
  • Patient Advocate Jobs
  • Program Counselor Jobs
  • Rehabilitation Counselor Jobs
  • Service Counselor Jobs
  • Service Worker Jobs

Advocate Jobs By Location

  • Advocate Charleston Jobs
  • Advocate Chicago Jobs
  • Advocate Depew Jobs
  • Advocate Kirkland Jobs
  • Advocate Louisville Jobs
  • Advocate Lynchburg Jobs
  • Advocate Mobile Jobs
  • Advocate New York Jobs
  • Advocate Newark Jobs
  • Advocate Norfolk Jobs
  • Advocate Red Bank Jobs
  • Advocate Rialto Jobs
  • Advocate Rockville Centre Jobs
  • Advocate Swatara Jobs
  • Advocate Wayland Jobs

Advocate Jobs By Company

  • Advocate Jobs In Target
  • Advocate Jobs In HCA Healthcare
  • Advocate Jobs In CVS Health
  • Advocate Jobs In U.S. Department of the Treasury
  • Advocate Jobs In AdventHealth
  • Advocate Jobs In Conduent
  • Advocate Jobs In Centene
  • Advocate Jobs In Capital One
  • Advocate Jobs In Aon
  • Advocate Jobs In UC Health
  • Advocate Jobs In UnityPoint Health
  • Advocate Jobs In Paychex
  • Advocate Jobs In HUB International
  • Advocate Jobs In EnergySolutions
  • Zippia Careers
  • Community and Social Services Industry
  • Advocate

Updated April 5, 2024

Browse community and social services jobs

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
How To Become An Advocate: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kareem Mueller DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6653

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kareem Mueller DO

Birthday: 1997-01-04

Address: Apt. 156 12935 Runolfsdottir Mission, Greenfort, MN 74384-6749

Phone: +16704982844747

Job: Corporate Administration Planner

Hobby: Mountain biking, Jewelry making, Stone skipping, Lacemaking, Knife making, Scrapbooking, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.