Frequently Asked Questions

on the Certified Career Development Practitioner in BC.

Download a printable version of the FAQs.

General Questions

• How did certification evolve in BC?
• Who awarded the Career Management Association of BC the authority to grant the CCDP credential?
• Who else is involved in the governance of this credential?
• What is the difference between 'Certification' and a 'Certificate' from a school?
• Why is having a credential important for this sector?
• Was there a pilot phase for the certification process?
• What is the grandfathering option?
• Do I have to become CCDP certified to obtain employment as a career development practitioner?
• How will people know who is and isn't certified?

Processing the Application Questions

• How long will it take for my application to be reviewed?
• What is the cost?
• Who reviews my application?

Criteria for Certification

• What is required to become certified?
• What kind of work experience is considered relevant for this credential?
• What training is required to become certified?
• Does having a Career Development Practitioner certificate from a college mean that I am already CCDP certified?
• Is the CCDP credential recognized in other provinces?
• What is a competency?
• Is there a separate application form for the grandfathering option?
• Will individuals applying for the CCDP certification have to be members of the CDA?

Completing the Application Questions

• How can I start to prepare my certification application?
• What do you mean by 'Statements of Evidence' from Section 8 of the application form (section 5 from the old application form)?
• Can I use one example to provide evidence of more than one competency or sub points of a competency?
• Who should I ask to be my references?
• What do I do if my transcripts or other evidence documents are not in English?
• How can I ensure that information submitted as part of my application will remain confidential throughout and following the application review process?
• Will materials submitted with my application be returned to me?

Re-certification Questions

• When will I have to apply for recertification and is it the same process?
• What will constitute Continuing Education (CE) Credits?
  

General Questions

How did certification evolve in BC?
Beginning in 2004, members of the BC Career Information Partnership (BCCIP) consulted 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 (based on the extensive work done on a national level to develop the Canadian Standards & Guidelines for Career Practitioners), 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 in 2006 and in June 2007, the CMA (now the BC Career Development Association) was endorsed as the professional association to govern the process and grant the CCDP credential. More information on the BCCIP can be found at www.workinfonet.bc.ca/bccip/index.htm
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Who awarded the Career Management Association of BC the authority to grant the CCDP credential?
The BC Career Information Partnership (BCCIP) provided the Career Management Association of BC (now the BC Career Development Association) with the authorization to implement the Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP) credential in BC. The exclusivity to grant this credential by the CMA is held by the province of BC. This means that no other individual or organization is endorsed by the sector to offer a BC based credential.
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Who else is involved in the governance of this credential?
The Career Management Association of BC (now the BC Career Development Association) 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 the following:

• Governing Board of the BC Career Development Association
• Certification Review Committee
• Certification Committee
• Certification Appeals Committee
• Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Board
• Education Advisory Committee
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What is the difference between 'Certification' and a 'Certificate' from a school?
These terms, although often used interchangeably, are different.

• Certification is a type of credentialing process that is often used in unregulated professions like career/employment development in Canada. In our sector, certification was an unregulated process for individual training institutions until 2006, when we became self-regulating as an industry (please refer to question 1 for the history).

A certificate or diploma is a document issued by a training/education organization that indicates the completion of a set amount of training hours or credits in a specific topic area. This is separate from Certification which usually requires proof of additional training, skills/competency and/or time working in the field, as is the case for the CCDP Certification.
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Why is having a credential important for this sector?
Credentialing of the Career Development Practitioner reinforces the message that career development is a profession that consumers, funders and the general public can feel confident in and will want to invest in. This is critical to the ongoing success and sustainability of the career development sector. The value and importance of implementing a credential for the career development professional addresses many factors such as:

• Establishing standards for professional knowledge, skills and practice
• Advancing the profession
• Protecting the public
• Assuring clients that professionals have met overall standards of practice
• Meeting the needs of employers, practitioners and the public to identify individuals with certain knowledge and skills
• Furthering an organization's overall business goals, to ensure that consumers or funders have access to skilled professionals knowledgeable in the delivery of the organization's programs and services
• Increasing the value of the profession with a view to increasing the compensation structures of the career development practitioner role
• Reflecting an individual's attainment of knowledge, of a specifically defined course of study or of technical skills recognized by a service provider
• Providing the certified individual with a sense of pride and professional accomplishment
• Demonstrating an individual's commitment to a profession and to life-long learning
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Was there a pilot phase for the certification process?
Yes, the Career Management Association of BC (now the BC Career Development Association) implemented a pilot project for the certification process in January and February of 2008. An application process was set up to allow for a cross section of individuals to participate in the pilot. The pilot process was completed and the CMA moved into the actual certification initiative on March 1, 2008.
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What is the grandfathering option?
The grandfathering option allows individuals who have not completed formal certificates/diplomas/degrees in career development the opportunity to have their years of experience recognized. The original deadline for grandfathering was February 28, 2011 and it has now been extended to February 28, 2012 to allow more professionals the opportunity to have their experience recognized. Once the grandfathering option ends, applicants will be required to have a combination of formal education and experience in order to apply for their CCDP certification. For more information on grandfathering, please visit http://www.bccda.org/cert-criteria.cfm
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Do I have to become CCDP certified to obtain employment as a career development practitioner?
No. The certification process for career development practitioners has always been voluntary. When consulting with the career development community, many hiring managers did indicated an interest in having staff that were CCDP certified as they believed it would increase their competitiveness by providing assurances of quality to their clients, their boards and their funders.
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How will people know who is and isn't certified?
Once an applicant becomes certified, he or she will be eligible to use the CCDP designation following their name (typically on documents such as business cards, resumes and marketing materials). The Career Development Association will maintain a database of Certified Career Development Practitioners for verification.
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Processing the Application Questions

How long will it take for my application to be reviewed?
Applications are accepted on a continual basis. The average length of time to review and process an application remains between 6 and 8 weeks.
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What is the cost?
The application fee is currently $200 + HST. As of March 1, 2011, the fee will increase to $250 + HST March 1st, 2011. For those certified prior to February 28th 2011, recertification will be after 5 years with a fee of $150 + HST. For those certified March 1 2011 and after, recertification will be after 3 years  with a fee of $150 + HST (to align with other career practitioner certifications in other provinces).  Check the BCCDA website for up-to-date fee schedules.
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Who reviews my application?
The Career Development Association Certification Committee oversees the Certification Review Committee, which is comprised of CCDP certified peers from within the career development community (to provide a peer reviewed process) who have been trained in the certification criteria and requirements. The reviewers may work as front-line practitioners, program managers, executive directors, researchers, product developers or consultants.
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Criteria for Certification

What is required to become certified?
The criteria are a combination of education, work experience and competency based on the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners. Please see http://www.bccda.org/cert-criteria.cfm for the specific criteria.
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What kind of work experience is considered relevant for this credential?
The career development industry is vast in terms of the kinds of roles that touch on the field of career development. For the purpose of certification relevant work experience may include, but is not limited, to the following:

• Career Assessment:
  Individuals working in this area use formal and informal career assessment instruments, tests and tools to assist clients in developing awareness of themselves and their career options
• Career Counselling or Coaching:
  Individuals working in this area have knowledge of and use commonly accepted counseling/coaching theories, models and skills to counsel or coach clients in career planning and work search strategies
• Facilitated Learning:
  Individuals working in this area use commonly accepted principles of learning and group facilitation to teach or facilitate individuals and groups in theory based career development practices and work search strategies
• Information and Resource Management:
  Individuals working in this area determine the information needs of clients. They have knowledge of and use career, labour market and community resources to assist clients with their information needs
• Work Development:
  Individuals working in this area liaise with clients, employers and professionals to facilitate work related opportunities. They guide clients in completing application forms, preparing resumes, cover letters and portfolios and support clients in maintaining employment
• Indirect Services and Community Capacity Development:
  Individuals working in this area perform one of more of the following functions:
  • Develop, market, co-ordinate or manage career development programs, projects or services
  • Develop or implement strategies that connect career development and community economic development
  • Research, write or educate in the field of career development
  • Develop career development theories, models or practices

Examples of specific roles include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Career development practitioners, employment counsellors
• Career counsellors, career coaches
• Career educators
• Career development specialists
• Rehabilitation consultants
• Job placement professionals
• Co-op coordinators
• Family and personal counselors
• Educators, trainers, facilitators
• Human resource professionals
• Product developers
• Program managers
• Executive directors
• Policy makers
• Business, trade and industry
• Sector councils

Please see http://www.bccda.org/cert-policies.cfm for more information on relevant work experience.
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What training is required to become certified?
The Career Development Association has not yet evaluated or pre-approved any specific training programs to determine if their overall program meets the criteria for certification. It will be up to the individual applicants to provide evidence to support the relevancy of their program. If a certificate, diploma or degree is in career and/or employment counselling, then it is directly related. Other programs may be deemed to be related and relevant if a minimum of 6 – 10 courses can be shown to directly relate to employment and/or career development. These programs could include HR, social work

Please see http://www.bccda.org/cert-criteria.cfm for the specific criteria.
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Does having a Career Development Practitioner certificate from a college mean that I am already CCDP certified?
No, it doesn't. While many colleges and universities grant certificates and diplomas in Career Development (which remain as valid as when the training was completed), applicants must then use this education along with other information to apply for their CCDP certification, which is a regulated credential with other criteria beyond education.
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Is the CCDP credential recognized in other provinces?
BC is moving towards a cross-provincial standard for the CCDP credential. This standard is being set by three bodies:

• The Canadian Council of Career Development Associations, comprised of representatives from key career development organizations across the country
• An Education Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives in BC from all public and private training programs currently (or previously) granting certificates or diplomas for completion of career development training programs
• The CDA Certification Committee, comprised of career development practitioners who are also members of the CDA and or Board members of the BCCDA.
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What is a competency?
According to the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners, which are the standards used in BC's certification process, competencies are separated into:

• Core competencies, which consist of the skills, knowledge and attitudes that all career development professionals require
• Areas of specialization, are additional skills, knowledge and attitudes that may be required depending on the type of work setting and the client groups that are being served

When completing the CCDP application form you will be asked to demonstrate the competencies listed for Career Practitioners. You may support his by referring to training specific to the competency, or or competencies obtained through work experience , write a short paragraph for each competency or combined competencies that describes how you have demonstrated this competency through your work (provide examples where possible). This is not a test looking for one correct answer. You simply have to demonstrate your training in, or awareness/use of this competency in your work.
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Is there a separate application form for the grandfathering option?
No, the application form and process is the same for all applicants, regardless of whether they are applying through option A or B (please see http://www.bccda.org/cert-criteria.cfm ). Note that the grandfathering option has been extended to February 28, 2012.
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Will individuals applying for the CCDP certification have to be members of the CDA?
No, the current criteria states that an applicant applying for certification must have individual membership in good standing with a Canadian professional association that is related to career development. This requirement is in place to ensure that those granted the CCDP credential are linked to an association that provides opportunities for ongoing professional development, ensures that members stay current and up to date on industry trends and has a code for professional conduct. Note: an agency or organizational membership does not meet the membership requirement. In BC, associations that currently meet the criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Career Development Association (CDA)
• Human Resources Management Association (HRMA)
• Vocational Rehabilitation Association (VRA)
• Career Education Society (CES)
• Association of Co-Operative Educators
• Career Specialist Resource Group (CASPER)
• Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE)
• Canadian Counselling Association (CCA)
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Completing the Application Questions

How can I start to prepare my certification application?
The following are tips on how to begin your application:

• Download and review all application documents, including the criteria, application form, sample application form and reference form (http://www.bccda.org/cert_apply.cfm )
• Update your resume with skills and abilities gained through work experience, education and training
• Review the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners
  (www.career-dev-guidelines.org)
• Review the SAVIE self assessment tool (www.savie.qc.ca/carrieres/accueil.htm )
• Start developing your portfolio (evidence of competencies) to refer to when writing your application
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What do you mean by 'Statements of Evidence' from Section 8 of the application form (section 5 from the old application form)?
Statements of evidence refer to any information that serves to demonstrate or show proof of your individual competencies. As this evidence may be submitted in multiple formats (work experience, transcripts, workshop descriptions, reference statements), the wording is intentionally vague to allow for a wide range of options.
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Can I use one example to provide evidence of more than one competency or sub points of a competency?
Yes, but you will want to make sure that over the course of the entire application that you include a number of different evidences to ensure that the reviewers understand the scope of your competencies.
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Who should I ask to be my references?
References should be those that you believe will best represent your abilities and present independent evidence that your work experience and skills demonstrate your eligibility for certification. References may include supervisors, co-workers and colleagues from your present and from previous work experience. Criteria for acceptance as a references include:

• The applicant must have known the reference for at least one year
• The applicant must have known the reference in a professional capacity
• The reference must have recent knowledge of the applicant's work experience (within the past 5 years)
• The referee must not be a family member
• Ideally, the reference will be familiar with the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners
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What do I do if my transcripts or other evidence documents are not in English?
The current review process does have the capacity to review documents in French. For all other languages, translated documents are required.
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How can I ensure that information submitted as part of my application will remain confidential throughout and following the application review process?
The Career Development Association and the Certification Review Committee follow a Privacy Policy, a Code of Ethics and a Conflict of Interest guideline. All staff, reviewers, committee members and board members sign a Confidentiality Agreement. You can be assured that any and all information provided on your application remains confidential.
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Will materials submitted with my application be returned to me?
No, materials submitted as part of your application becomes the property of the Career Development Association upon receipt and neither originals nor photocopies will be returned.
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Re-certification Questions

When will I have to apply for recertification and is it the same process?
To maintain CCDP certification, applicants must renew their certification after 5 years, for certifications issued prior to February 28, 2011, or after 3 years for certifications issued March 1, 2011 or thereafter. Renewal of Certification requires submission of a completed Application for Certification Renewal form, a completed Continuing Education (CE) Credit claim form along with the renewal fee.
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What will constitute Continuing Education (CE) Credits?
Continuing Education Credits will only be awarded for activities completed within the five year period (for certifications issued prior to February 28, 2011) or the three year period (for certifications issued March 1, 2011 or thereafter), commencing on the date certification was issued and ending on the date that of application for certification renewal. To be eligible for CE credits, the content of professional development activities must address one or more of the competency areas as set out in the Canadian Standards and Guidelines. For a complete list of Continuing Education Credits, see policies 13 and 14, http://www.bccda.org/cert-policies.cfm
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