BC Certified Career Development Practitioner (BC CCDP)

History of Certification

The concept of certification in BC has been discussed in many forums, in many places by many people over the years. Beginning in 2004, members of the BC Career Information Partnership (www.workinfonet.bc.ca/bccip) began consulting with the BC Career Development Practitioner community to determine if there was interest in developing a credential for the sector. Throughout the consultations this initiative was met with interest and enthusiasm. As a result, the members of BCCIP created a draft model for certification and in 2006 BCCIP began the process of endorsing an appropriate body to grant the credential. The Career Management Association of BC (CMA) was successful in an RFP that was tendered over the Fall of 2006 and Winter of 2007 and in June 2007 CMA was endorsed as the professional association to govern the process and grant the CCDP credential.

Click for a detailed description of the History of Certification in BC.

The Career Management Association of BC would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the history of Certification in BC.

What is a Certified Career Development Practitioner?

The Career Development industry is vast in terms of the kinds of roles that touch on the field of career development. A Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP) is a professional who has exhibited career development knowledge, needs assessment and referral skills and expertise as well as having interpersonal competence as a professional in the career development industry. Additionally, a CCDP is required to have skills and expertise in at least three of the following areas: assessment, facilitated individual and group learning, career counselling, information and resource management, work development, and community capacity building. Certified Career Development Practitioners have also committed to adhering to a professional Code of Ethics as outlined by the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners.

Work roles within the career development field may include:

• Career Practitioners
• Career Educators
• Career Development Specialists
• Employment Counsellors
• Career Counsellors
• Career Coaches
• Rehabilitation Consultants
• Job Placement Professionals
• Co-Op Coordinators
• Family and Personal Counsellors
• Educators, Trainers, Facilitators
• Human Resource Professionals
• Product Developers
• Program Managers, Executive Directors
• Policy Makers
• Business, Trade and Industry
• Sector Councils

Certified Career Development Practitioners are members of a professional association. If you wish to become a member of the CMA, click here for more information.

Who is involved in governing this credential?

The Career Management Association of BC has created a governance process that is inclusive in nature, taking into consideration the needs of multiple stakeholders including the needs of the career development practitioner.

There are multiple roles in the overall governing model including:

• CMA Certification Committee.
• • The role of this Committee is to guide the direction of the CCDP credential.
  • Several members of this Committee are also Board Members of the Career Management Association of BC.
  • • Visit Board Members for current members
• Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Board. Click here to view list of Advisory Board members.
• • The role of the Advisory Board is to provide expertise and information to the BC certification process in the form of dialogue and feedback.
• Certification Review Committee
• • This committee's role is to review applications for certification. The membership of this committee evolves over time and changes depending on the number of applications received for processing.
• Certification Appeals Committee
• • Applicants unsatisfied with a decision of the Certification Review Committee may appeal that decision to the Appeals Committee in writing to the Registrar within 60 days of issuance of the Certification Review Committee decision. Note that appellants are required to pay a non-refundable fee + HST to cover the administrative costs of their appeal. Applicants wishing to launch an appeal should contact the Registrar for more information about the appeal process.
    
  • The Appeals Committee may consider new evidence not considered by the Certification Review Committee and may uphold or overturn any decision of the Certification Review Committee. Decisions of the Appeals Committee are final and may not be appealed further.
  • The Appeals Committee is apprised of a Co-Chair of the Certification Committee and a Co-Chair from the Certification Review Committee who was not a reviewer of the original application. The other Co-Chair of the Certification Committee will act as a tie break vote if required.
• Education Advisory Committee. Click here to view list of Education Advisory Committee members.
  • The role of this committee is to provide the Advisory Board and the CMA Certification Committee with support, information and guidance in relationship to the education of Career Development Practitioners.

Presentations Available
For organizations who are interested in learning more about the Credential, the Career Management Association of BC is available to provide information sessions and presentations. These presentations can range in length from 30 minutes to a full day, depending on the needs of the audience. Depending on the location of the presentation, there may be a fee involved.

If you are interested in hosting a presentation, please email the Registrar at registrar@bccma.ca.