CDP-101 – Career Development Foundations Certificate Course

Career Development Foundations

CDP-101 – Online Course – Class size is limited.

(CCS Preparation Course / CCDP Ethics & Theory Courses)

COURSE SCHEDULE: START DATES & REGISTRATION

This Career Development Foundations Course is designed to provide you with the core competencies that you require to perform effectively as a Career Development Practitioner. If you want to learn how to apply ethics, theories, and models in your practice, are working toward your Certified Career Development Practitioner / Professional (CCDP) designation, or would like to be granted your Certified Career Strategist (CCS) certification in the future, you will discover that this course is designed to help you achieve your goal!

This course is rich with interactive group discussions and individual assignments. Throughout the course, you’ll discuss case studies representing real-life work scenarios. You’ll explore a wide range of complexities in career development practice. You will learn what is required of you in the Pan-Canadian CDP Competency Framework and the National Competency Profile for CDPs.

This course will also help you to:

Uncover and understand the professional competencies related to and required in our field.
Demonstrate a personal commitment to lifelong learning and ongoing professional development.
Position yourself to earn more as a qualified career development coach, consultant, or counsellor.
Earn 45 hours towards any Continuing Education Credits (CECs) you require.
Complete the ethics and theory requirements for your provincial Certified Career Development Practitioner / Professional (CCDP) certification.*
Become eligible to fast-track the Certified Career Strategist (CCS) credential.

CPC CDP-101 Course (Ethics & Theory)

Work toward your Certified Career Development Professional (CCDP)

In this short video, we’ll discuss membership with Career Professionals of Canada and our Career Development Foundations Course (CDP-101). This is the professional development course that will help you work toward your CCDP designation. CDP-101 provides prerequisite ethics and theory training and upon successful completion of this course, you can apply for certification through your provincial board or association.

Handout | Transcript

STEP 1 – APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP ($50 discount)

STEP 2 – REGISTER FOR YOUR COURSE (50% off for members)

Ethics & Standards (15 hours)

During the first part of the course, you’ll establish and build your practical and theoretical knowledge, personal self-awareness, and reflective foundation required for ethical service delivery. You will gain the tools you need to confidently identify the ethical implications of difficult situations that can arise in the field of career development. Learn how you can apply the Code of Ethics for CDPs and the associated Ethical Decision-Making Model to each scenario to ensure that you are working ethically. You’ll be fully equipped to handle ethical situations with confidence and integrity. You will be challenged to explore ethical considerations in a variety of environments and will practice addressing issues such as confidentiality and conflict of interest in the workplace.

This course will help you make good ethical decisions. You will:

Learn to discuss broad ethical considerations related to career development.
Identify appropriate ethical codes and principles to guide your work.
Learn to apply an Ethical Decision-Making Model.
Analyze specific cases to identify and articulate ethical dilemmas.
Identify proactive strategies to avoid ethical problems.

Theories, Models & Practices (30 hours)

Theories, models, and practices offer us the foundation for the work we do in our career practice. You’ll explore a wide range of existing and emerging theories and models, which form the basis of current practice of the career development profession in Canada. You will build a critical mass of knowledge on which to base your practice. Build your knowledge of the theoretical foundations of career development, including Maslow’s Theory of Human Motivation, Super’s Lifespan / Lifespace Model, Parson’s Trait and Factor Theory, Roe’s Personality Type Theory, Holland’s Theory of Career Choice, and Ginzberg’s Theory of Occupational Choice. You will examine issues of culture in relation to career development theories. By analyzing the strengths and limitations of these theories, models, and practices, you can apply them appropriately in your career interventions.

This course will give you the foundation needed to provide career development services. You will:

Learn to analyze and apply existing and emerging theories in professional practice.
Identify and describe various career development models and practices.
Relate models of human development to models of career development.
Explain and apply the main components of career development.
Identify the repercussions of social roles on career development.
Define a personal approach to service delivery, taking into account recognized theories, models, and practices.

Achieve the core requirements for your CCDP

This course is designed to meet the core requirements for the ethics and theory portions of the Certified Career Development Practitioner / Professional (CCDP). This course includes BOTH of the approved core competency courses that are required for your CCDP provincial designation. Contact your provincial association to receive approval for credits through this course.*

Ready yourself for your CCS certification

This course is designed to prepare you to apply for your National Certified Career Strategist (CCS) national designation. Upon passing CDP-101, you will have completed the base requirements for the Certified Career Strategist (CCS) certification through Career Professionals of Canada. You will bypass the formal assessment of a case study. Note that you must have a more than one year of related work experience and you must pay the application fee to be granted the designation through CPC’s CCS Course-Based Program.

Work towards your certifications today!

CDP-101 Course Overview

CDP-101 Program Format

This is an intensive 3-week distance learning course.

You will be expected to spend a similar amount of time on this course as you would in a classroom-based environment of 45 hours over 3 weeks.

This course blends videos, reading, quizzes, online discussions, reflection exercises, and small projects, creating a dynamic and interactive learning environment with a flexible schedule.

Proactive class participation is encouraged and required. Discussion forums enable you to communicate with students when it is convenient for you, rather than at a specific time.

Join this fully-facilitated, part-time online course.

You participate in the online class and complete daily modules on your own schedule.
You have full access to all course material at any time and day during the course.
You work along with other students in the class and participate in group discussions.
Your class instructor is available weekdays to review your progress and answer your questions.

Gain knowledge and build your expertise by focusing on your needs.

To give you highly personalized attention and mentoring, class sizes are limited. One-on-one support, group discussions, exercises, and follow-up assignments will enable you to actively develop your skills.

Your Master-Level Certified course leader will be available to answer your questions. You’ll also connect with and learn from other course participants. Through these interactions, you will learn how and when to apply various techniques to enable clients to succeed in their employment endeavours.

CDP-101 Required Text (Provided)

Get valuable resource material that you will use again and again.

You will receive The Canadian Career Strategist, Career Professionals of Canada’s Certified Career Strategist eGuide.

The eGuide is a valuable resource. It thoroughly discusses current concepts and strategies to enable practitioners to provide ethical services. Many opportunities will be provided for you to become familiar with the material. This eGuide and associated resources will be assets throughout your career.

You will also receive various resources and reference sheets along with additional relevant readings, which will be posted on the course site.

CDP-101 Topics Covered

CCS Study Guide Chapters

Students will be supplied with The Canadian Career Strategist, Career Professionals of Canada’s Certified Career Strategist eGuide. Students receive a copy of the newest edition, which covers the new CDP Competency Framework, Competency Profile for CDPs, and the Code of Ethics for CDPs.

Part 1 — Career Foundation

Chapter 1 – The Career Strategist
Chapter 2 – National Competency Profile
Chapter 3 – Ethics & Integrity

Part 2 — Career Development

Chapter 4 – Career Development Model
Chapter 5 – Career Theories
Chapter 6 – Careerpreneurial Mindset

Part 3 — Career Planning

Chapter 7 – Stress & Emotional Intelligence
Chapter 8 – Self Discovery & Inner Reflection
Chapter 9 – Career Assessments
Chapter 10 – Labour Market Information

Part 4 – Career Management

Chapter 11 – Personal Career Branding
Chapter 12 – Social Networking
Chapter 13 – Career Transition

Part 5 – Certification

Chapter 14 – CCS Testing Process
Chapter 15 – MCCS Testing Process

CDP-101 Course Completion

Students must achieve an overall grade of at least 80% to successfully complete the course.

Online assignments and group discussion participation (60%)
Homework assignment submission of a case study (40%)

Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to bypass the formal assessment of a case study. If you have one year of related work experience you may be considered for the Certified Career Strategist (CCS) designation by Career Professionals of Canada. Note that you must pay the application fee to be granted the designation through CPC’s CCS Fast-Track Program. Certification program costs are outlined on the Career Professionals of Canada website.

CDP-101 Technology Platform

Distance Education | Fully-Facilitated | Online Course

This custom-designed, fully-facilitated online format is ideal for adult learners. When you register, you will receive login instructions by email so that you can get comfortable with the platform and program, and start your pre-course work right away.

The distance education format is a combination of videos, reading, quizzes, online discussions, reflection exercises, small projects, and final homework assignment. Your active participation in all these aspects enriches your learning experience.

As this course is offered online, you must have reliable internet access and be comfortable using internet technology, downloading resources, and communicating in discussion forums.

CDP-101 Pricing

Professional Members of Career Professionals of Canada: $550
Supporting Organizations (ask for code): $770
Non-Members: $1100

CPC Members receive a 50% discount on all professional development courses and webinars.

All career practitioners are welcome to register for professional development courses. Members of the following Supporting Organizations receive a 30% discount on all professional development courses. Contact your association for the discount code:

We can accommodate special online training programs for large organizations and groups; please contact us directly for more information and your special rates.

Fees are in Canadian dollars and taxes will apply based on your province of residence.

CPC courses fill up very quickly and we often have a waiting list. To reserve your spot, you must pay for the course in full. Fees are paid at the time of registration for each course. Cost includes all required texts. For more details read CPC's policy for course withdrawal, transfer & change.

Check Career Professionals of Canada’s Events Schedule and register for upcoming courses

Course Registration

* The Certified Career Development Professional / Practitioner (CCDP) is under the jurisdiction of provincial / territorial Career Development associations. Across Canada, the field is evolving and processes are becoming formalized. Not every province / territory offers CCDP certification. However, some are well established and others are well underway. Currently, CCDP applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the province / territory. Please check with your association to confirm that this program qualifies for CCDP credits under their program.

Career Professionals working together for career success!

Career Professionals of Canada

Working Together For Career Success