What’s Up on the Canadian Career Certification Front?

By Sharon Graham.

The field of Career Development has made significant strides towards certification, training, and quality standards. Here is an update on three important initiatives you need to know about. Start 2017 right with a clear understanding of your role and requirements within our profession of Career Development.

Career practitioners across the nation have adopted the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners (S&Gs). Practitioners have embraced the need for professionalism by registering with their respective provincial association. Many provinces have already launched certification programs for Career Development Practitioners (CDPs). Membership with Career Professionals of Canada (CPC) has also increased sharply in the last year as has the number of applicants for CPC certifications.

Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP)

The Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP) program is overseen by the Canadian Council for Career Development (CCCD).

Certification defines our scope of practice, supports quality, and ensures accountability. According to Sareena Hopkins of the CCCD, “Certification raises the bar for our field, demonstrating to our employers, funders, policy makers, and the public that our work is grounded in professional excellence. It operationalizes the competency standards and ethical guidelines that were established through the S&Gs.”

Across Canada the field is evolving and processes are becoming formalized. Currently, not every province offers certification. However, some are well established and others are underway. At this time, certification is mandatory for Career Counsellors in Québec; it is voluntary in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. To ensure inclusivity for practitioners who are established prior to the start of the certification, provinces have instituted “grandparenting” provisions and/or “employment pathways” to certification.

The base requirement and process for attaining the Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP) is not the same for each province. Through the CCCD, associations are working to safeguard inclusivity and reciprocity for practitioner mobility and transferability.

Career Professionals of Canada Certifications

Career Professionals of Canada’s certifications are not to be confused with provincial certifications. CPC certification is a validation and credentialing program based on Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).  CPC recognizes all qualified and competent practitioners including those who may not have a formal education in career development. CPC certifications are designed to help these practitioners demonstrate and obtain recognition for learning that they acquire through work and life experience.

CPC certifications are a validation of a practitioner’s competency in one of four specific areas:

• Certified Resume Strategist (CRS) – Practitioners providing resume writing or consulting support.
• Certified Interview Strategist (CIS) – Practitioners providing interview consulting, counselling, or coaching support.
• Certified Employment Strategist (CES) – Practitioners providing career transition consulting, counselling, or coaching support.
• Certified Career Strategist (CCS) – Practitioners providing career development support. Note: Career Development Practitioners (CDP) and Certified Career Development Practitioners (CCDP) are eligible to be conferred the Certified Career Strategist (CCS) designation immediately upon application through CPC’s Fast-Track Recognition Program.