What is the FCD course and how does it lead to national certification?
The FCD (Facilitating Career Development) course is the first step leading to certification as a CCSP (Certified Career Services Provider), through the NCDA (National Career Development Association), or as a GCDF (Global Career Development Facilitator) through the Center for Credentialing and Education.
Developed by the National Career Development Association, this eLearning course, as led by Dr. Kate Duttro, runs from 10-20 weeks, according to mutual agreement between instructor and students. It develops fundamental skills and provides a broad overview of and background in career development.
The course is expected to require approximately 120 hours of time devoted to learning, including 24 hours of interaction with me or guest speakers. It accommodates a variety of learning styles and uses a combination of text and article reading, discussions, personalized training exercises, “virtual” training online, reflective at-home exercises, and writing.
Some of the topics you’ll learn about include:
- Basic helping and facilitation skills
- Career development models and theories
- Career planning processes
- Job search techniques, including networking, resumes, interviews and negotiation
- Informal and formal assessment
- Career resources and labor market information
- Developing and maintaining a career resource center
- Diversity and specific population needs
- Ethical and scope-of-practice issues
- Training others and program marketing
- Career portfolios
- Case management and referral skills
- Dependable Strengths Articulation
- and more . . .!
These vital Career Development Competencies form the backbone of the NCDA Curriculum:
- Helping Skills – Be proficient in the basic career facilitating process, while including productive interpersonal relationships.
- Labor Market Information and Resources – Understand labor market and occupational information and trends. Be able to use current resources.
- Assessment – Comprehend and use (under supervision) both formal and informal career development assessments, with emphasis on relating appropriate assessments to the population served.
- Diverse Populations – Recognize special needs of various groups and adapt services to meet their needs.
- Ethical and Legal Issues – Follow the CDF code of ethics and know current legislative regulations.
- Career Development Models – Understand career development theories, models, and techniques as they apply to lifelong development, gender, age, and ethnic background.
- Employability Skills – Know job search strategies and placement techniques, especially in working with specific groups.
- Training Clients and Peers – Prepare and develop materials for training programs and presentations.
- Program Management/Implementation – Understand career development programs and their implementation, and work as a liaison in collaborative relationships.
- Promotion and Public Relations – Market and promote career development programs with staff and supervisors.
- Technology – Comprehend and use career development computer applications.
- Consultation – Accept suggestions for performance improvement from consultants or supervisors.
The Certification Process
As an Instructor listed on the NCDA Registry, I issue a Certificate of Completion to each individual who successfully completes the course. The certificate allows them to apply for the CCSP credential, through NCDA (National Career Development Association). Or they may apply for the GCDF credential (which I also hold), through CCE (Center for Credentialing Education), a subsidiary of NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors).
To qualify for the CCSP credential, in addition to a Certificate of Completion for the FCD class taught by a qualified Instructor, you must pass a test administered online by the NCDA, and which may include any of the material covered in the course. You may want to take the test immediately after completing the course.
To qualify for the GCDF, in addition to a Certificate of Completion for the CDF course taught by a qualified CDFI, you must document that you meet one of the following combinations of education and experience in some phase of career development.
- Graduate degree + approximately a year of experience
- Bachelor’s degree + approximately 2 years of experience
- Associate degree + approximately 3 years experience
- High school diploma/GED + approximately 4 years of experience
You are expected to apply for the GCDF certification within two years of taking the CDF course.
Please see the Center for Credentialing and Education site for credentialing details, how to maintain it, and for an application form.
For my take on it, see “Getting the Full Certification,” under BLOG, on this website.