Certified Career Strategist (CCS) Credential

This program is open to all career development practitioners, employment consultants, and career professionals who serve the Canadian labour market. If you provide clients with strategic career development advice, you are a potential candidate for the Certified Career Strategist (CCS) credential.

We are a welcoming and inclusive community. If you are starting out in the profession and would like to earn your CCS, start with the Career Development Foundations Course.

Once you attain your CCS you can add the credential next to your name. You can include the CCS logo on your résumé, business card, website, and anywhere you want to gain additional visibility as an expert and specialist in the field.

You can use your CCS to:

• Advertise your expertise and market your services.
• Show additional value to employers and clients.
• Feature your credentials on your own résumé.

Watch our CPC Certification Information Session video to learn more about attaining your designations.

The CCS is a Canadian standard for validating the expertise of career development professionals. The CCS certification was designed by Career Professionals of Canada and validated by an independent group of industry leaders in academia and providers of career services. The CCS supports provincial CCDP certification programs (Certified Career Development Practitioner / Certified Career Development Professional) and upholds the principles provided in the Competency Framework for Career Development Professionals.

• The CCS is recognized by Canadian career service providers in government, academic, not-for-profit, outplacement, and private business.
• Career services feature the CCS logo on their website and marketing material to give clients confidence that they are working with a credentialed practitioner.
• Canadian funding organizations recognize and support the CCS for their approved service providers.

In order to apply for and attain your Certified Career Strategist (CCS), you must be a registered professional member of Career Professionals of Canada. If you are not already a member, you can join membership and register for your certification at the same time.

To obtain your Certified Career Strategist (CCS) designation you must have a minimum of 1 year full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid qualifying work experience in Career Development. The process is straightforward:

1. Join CPC Membership.
2. Register and pay the certification application fee.
3. Study the material in the CPC eGuide or take an approved course.
4. Submit your application within 12 months of applying for certification. Include your résumé and either a fictionalized case study, or, if you have passed an approved course with a minimum grade of 80%, your transcript/certificate of completion.
5. Pass an assessment of your submission.

To keep your certification, you need to maintain a current membership with Career Professionals of Canada.

To prepare for your certification, you will be given a comprehensive Certification Study Guide (The Canadian Career Strategist e-book).

This guide is a valuable resource. It thoroughly discusses current concepts and strategies to empower you to work effectively with your clients. By following this guide, you will learn how and when to apply various techniques to enable your clients to succeed in their careers.

The knowledge you will acquire by studying this guide will be an asset throughout your career.

The Career Development Foundations Course - Ethics & Theory (CDP-101) is designed to help you attain your CCDP Certification. Ethics and Theory are mandatory courses for the provincial Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP) certification. If you are working towards your CCDP, then take this course.*

If you have completed CPC’s Career Development Foundations Course (CDP-101) or an approved Ethics and Theory course (minimum 45 hours), or if you have attained your CDP or CCDP, you may be granted your CCS recognition through the Course-Based Process.

You may be eligible for the CCS if you have a completed training in the area of Career Development Ethics and Theory. You must have a minimum of one year's experience in career development and have successfully completed an approved certificate or diploma course (45 hours minimum).

If you have successfully completed your Certified Career Development Professional (CCDP) designation or an approved CDP certificate or diploma course, you may also qualify.

To obtain and maintain your Certified Career Strategist (CCS) designation, you must:

• Register for membership and pay the Certified Career Strategist (CCS) application fee.
• Have a minimum of 1 year full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid qualifying work experience in career development.
• Submit a copy of your course transcript or certificate of completion, along with a copy of your résumé.

After completing your self-assessment, if you have determined that you may be eligible for certification, you may request pre-approval of your eligibility for the course-based process. Email a copy of your course transcript and/or certificate of completion, along with a copy of your résumé directly to Certification@CareerProCanada.ca.

The Master Certified Career Strategist (MCCS) credential is the exclusive standard reserved only for the top strategists in our industry.

Once you have attained your Certified Career Strategist (CCS), you can work towards your Master Level (M-Level).

In order to apply for and attain your certification, you must be a registered professional member of Career Professionals of Canada.

To start the CCS process, all you need to do is:

• Register for CPC Membership
• Apply for your CCS Certification

If you are joining CPC as a new member, you can apply for membership and register for your certification at the same time through the CPC Application Form. If you are already a member, just email us to apply for your CCS Certification.