New standards expected from careers advisors

Although it will still be possible to operate as an unqualified career development practitioner, career guidance and development professionals will increasingly be required to have sufficient qualifications to enable them to join the Register of Career Development Professionals. Some government contracts now require that 50% of career development personnel have these qualifications.

The minimum qualification requirement for professional registration is a Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development (DCGD). Those with an NVQ4 in Information and Guidance can also gain ‘conditional entry’ to the register. The NVQ should be in a career guidance context and include the following units:

• Develop Interactions with Clients
• Assist Clients to Decide on a Course of Action
• Assist Clients to Plan the Implementation of a Course of Action
• Assist Clients to Review their Achievement of a Course of Action.

This will give ‘conditional entry’ to the register. This can be upgraded to full registered membership by undertaking the DCGD Level 6 units in:

• Career Guidance Theory
• Reflect on and Improve Professional Practice
• Use Career and Labour Market Information With Clients.

However, this option is not available for those with a Level 4 Diploma in Advice and Guidance, although they may be able to apply for recognition of prior learning for some of their work. Acceptance of this claim is entirely at the judgement of the Level 6 assessor and verifier.

You can read the full Pearson Think Tank report, ‘Careers 2020 Phase Two: A Cloudy Horizon’, here. (This report is no longer available).

f you need further clarification on entry to the Register of Career Development Professionals, see the cdi website.

Find out more about Pearson Think Tank. (Pearson Think Tank is no longer active).