Credentialing FAQ

FAQs are listed for each credential on that credential's page. General FAQs are listed below.

Study Guides provide help for applicants for the CCC , CCSP , CMCS , CSCDA . Additional resources can be found in the Standards section of the website, including the NCDA Code of Ethics and the Multicultural Career Resource List .

More information is available at the annual NCDA Career Development Conference and Career Practitioner Institutes.

Read more about NCDA Credentials in NCDA Publications:

Would you like to let others know that you provide help to those with career needs? Credential holders are eligible for an exclusive web listing on the NCDA website! This is an excellent way to market your services to those who visit www.ncda.org looking for career help. The web listing is $50 annually or $125 for three years and can be paid when you receive your credential welcome email or renewal email.

General Credentialing FAQs:

Why has NCDA embarked on this credentialing initiative?
How do I apply for the new credentials?
I have applied, but have not heard anything more?
When completing questions on my assessment, should I use specific resources and citations?
What is a “Blind Review”?What happens if I don’t pass?
What is the cost to apply for each certification?
What is the cost to maintain a credential?
How do I keep my credential up-to-date?
How do I find continuing education relevant to career development?
What additional benefits can I expect from being a credential holder?
Can I see what others think of being a credential holder?
Can NCDA tell me which credential is right for me?
I have a different question or comment. Who can I ask?

 

Why has NCDA embarked on this credentialing initiative?
The National Career Development Association (NCDA) is the recognized leader in developing standards for the career development profession, for the provision of career counseling programs and services, and for the evaluation of career information materials. Members and the public-at-large have repeatedly asked for clarification among the distinctions between the variety of practitioners providing career services. NCDA’s Board of Directors has long reflected on the need for industry credentials for its members. In spring 2016, the NCDA Board formed a committee to research the viability and plan for the establishment of a credentialing entity to address the need for formal certifications for the career development field. The new credentialing entity is the NCDA Credentialing Commission.

  

How do I apply for a credential?
An online application process will be used for all NCDA credentials. All applications will be reviewed by a credentialed and trained reviewer and processed by NCDA staff. Applicants will be notified via email regarding their credential award. You can read the steps for each credential by clicking on the credential you are interested in. Once you have reviewed everything, then you are ready to apply now.

 

I have applied but have not heard anything more.
You should receive an email response within two weeks after submitting the credentialing application. Please check your spam folder or see if your institution is blocking emails.  You may also call NCDA headquarters if you need to update your email address. No applications are processed on Fridays or holidays, when NCDA headquarters is closed.

 

When completing questions on my assessment, should I use specific resources and citations?

No, your response should not reference specific resources or contain any citations.  The NCDA assessment is not an "open book" assessment, thus, it is not reasonable to expect that applicants would remember specific quotes from books, articles, or papers, nor would they have appropriate citation information like page numbers, publishing dates, and the like. If one wishes to make reference to a theory, a practice, a thought leader or course material, we would accept a general reference, for example, "According to NCDA ethics. . . " or "Schlossberg's Transition Theory focuses primarily on specific times in life when change is occurring rather than the total life span."   Any assessments that cite specific page numbers from outside sources or use exact quotes in their answers will not be accepted, and applicants will be required to complete the assessment again.   

 

What is a “Blind Review”?
When the applicant’s work samples and/or case studies are transferred to the “review” phase, the appointed reviewer will not have access to core identifying information on the applicant. This process in meant to address any potential bias on the part of a reviewer.

 

What happens if I don’t pass?
Those who do not pass their first attempt may retest with new assessment items within one month. If the retest is also unsuccessful, the applicant must wait one year to reapply. 

 

What is the cost to apply for each certification?
The application fee is:

  • $100.00 for the Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP)

  • $175.00 for all the other credentials

Application fees are non-refundable.

What is the cost to maintain a credential?
There is a fee to maintain each credential, as well as a $35.00 late fee for not paying in a timely manner. The maintenance fee provides ongoing access for the online logging of continuing education clock hours, credentialing processes and the use of the credentialing logo. Credentials will need to be renewed every 3 years and continuing education is required.

 

How do I keep my credential up-to-date?
All of NCDA Credentials require continuing education.  The required 30 contact hours every 3 years must meet the NCDA’s Credentialing Commission’s requirements regarding competency area and activity type, as described in the Continuing Education Manual. Maintain your continuing education contact hours by logging them as follows:

Record the activities that you attend for recertification of your NCDA Credential in the Credential Holder Continuing Education Log. The activities must occur within the three-year certification cycle at renewal of your credential. You must obtain 30 contact hours during each three-year cycle. Any course or activity offered by an NCDA approved provider, or state licensure-approved provider, that addresses one or more of your credential competency areas is acceptable. (See the CE Manual for details.) You will need to keep your log updated in case you are randomly selected for an audit at your recertification time. You must maintain proper documentation in your files (hard copies or scanned copies of certificates, agendas, letters, etc.) in the event of an audit of CE contact hours. If you are an NCDA member, your CE contact hours at NCDA-sponsored events will be documented for you and available when you login to your NCDA member account.

 

How do I find continuing education relevant to career development?
NCDA publishes a Continuing Education Manual. Record your continuing education in the Credential Holder Continuing Education Log. NCDA members can login to the Members Only section to see their NCDA events documented. The Continuing Education webpage provides detailed information about options.

 

What additional benefits can I expect from being a credential holder?
The Credentialing Commission has declared the following benefits:

  • Supports your professional brand and profile in the field of career development
  • Formal validation of your professional background and qualifications
  • Highlights your strengths and expertise as a practitioner, educator and/or supervisor
  • Portable, national competency-based credential, that reaches beyond a certificate of training
  • Provides credibility and transparency for heightened consumer confidence
  • Built upon rigorous quality standards, scope of practice and ethical guidelines
  • Supports core standards of practice for practitioners and consumers
  • NCDA offers support for credentials via research, advocacy and continuing education.

As a credential holder, you are eligible for an exclusive web listing on the NCDA website to let others know that you provide help to those with career needs! This is an excellent way to market your services to those who visit www.ncda.org looking for career help. The web listing is $50 annually or $125 for three years. You can sign up for this exclusive benefit when you receive your welcome email or annual maintenance notice.

 

Can NCDA tell me which credential is right for me?
The choice of the credential must match the eligibility requirements. NCDA provides some information that may help the decision, but NCDA cannot review a person's background or experiences or make the choice for anyone.

 

Can I see what others think of being a credential holder?
Yes. Testimonials from current credential holders are available on the specific credential page. You are also welcome to contact the NCDA Credentialing Commission.
If you do share your own testimonial, image, etc, please give Permission for NCDA to use Credential Holder's Information.

 

I have a different question or comment. Who can I ask?

First, review all the credentialing webpages, especially the FAQs for each credential.

Ask your question here.

NCDA headquarters is closed on Fridays and holidays, which may result in delayed processing or responding.

Credentialing