What Is “Certification”?

What IS the FCD course, if it’s not the entire certification?

It IS a little more complicated than just taking the FCD (Facilitator in Career Development) course and getting the certification, and it’s important to know why you’re taking the course, so you can decide whether the CCSP (Certified Career Services Provider) or the GCDF (Global Career Development Facilitator) certification is actually worth it to you.

Note that the CCSP is a certification offered by the NCDA (National Career Development Association) and that the GCDF is a certification administered by the CCE (Center for Credentialing and Education).

I’m careful to say that the course “leads to” certification, because you must have completed the FCD course TO GET TO the next step of certification, which for NCDA‘s CCSP, is taking an online test administered by the NCDA. It is primarily based on case studies, in which you are asked to explain how you would help a student or client, using the knowledge and resources you have gained in the FCD course.

Getting the full GCDF certification depends on the hours of experience you need to accumulate before you can apply for certification, which is administered by the CCE (Center for Credentialing and Education).

And, where does one find that GCDF information?

When you get to the CCE site, go to their Professional Services section and click on Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF). Then click on United States under GCDF Countries, to get to the specific information on the GCDF Program. (That includes Maintain Your Credential; Continuing Education; Training; Ethics; FAQs; and, finally, Application. )

But wait!!!  To get the nitty gritty information on how to actually get the certification, you have to click on the Application (which is a pdf and prints out very nicely). The critical part for you is on page 5, where it lists the number of hours of experience you are required to accumulate to be eligible for full certification.

I know you don’t want to go through all that just to find out, so here it is (accurate today, but be aware that it could change in future). Always go to the CCE website for the definitive, current information.

• If you have a Graduate Degree, you’ll need to document 1,400 hours of experience. (This works out to about 35 weeks, working full-time, or about 70 weeks, working 20 hours/week.)
• If you have a Bachelor’s Degree, you’ll need to document 2,800 hours of experience. (Multiply the 1,400 hours by 2.)
• If you have an Associate’s Degree, you’ll need to document 4,200 hours of experience. (Multiply the 1,400 hours by 3.)
• If you have a High School Diploma or GED, you’ll have to document 5,600 hours of experience. (Multiply the 1,400 hours by 4.)

Note that if you can document the hours that you have been doing some kind of career work, even if as a volunteer, you may be qualified to apply for the full GCDF certification the moment you finish the class.

For more information on why this certification is important, see WHY.

If you have questions, comment below, use the CONTACT Kate form, or leave a message in my Voice Mailbox 206-923-8810.