The Facilitating Career Development (FCD) class leads to three possible career credentials. You must complete the FCD class to apply for the Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) and Certified Career Service Provider (CCSP) credentials. It can also be used for the Certified Career Counselor (CCC) credential.

1. Facilitating Career
Development (FCD) class
Certifications available to you after completing the FCD class
(Formerly known as the CDF class)
Jim Peacock
Peak-Careers Consulting
www.Peak-Careers.com
JimPeacock @Peak-Careers.com
DB/PC/Certifications explained
NOTE: This is my understanding and my personal thoughts on the
new CCSP certification. I am on the CCSP Advisory Council for
NCDA, but this presentation is not affiliated with NCDA, only my
attempt to answer the many questions I have received from a
variety of people.
Updated April 2020 to reflect a few minor changes

2. Successful completion of the
FCD class…
Required to apply for these two certification.
• Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF)
• Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP)
It can also be used to meet the “career specialization”
requirement for the Certified Career Counselor (CCC)

3. What it is not.
Completing the FCD class does NOT mean that you
are certified, only that you can now APPLY for
certification.
• There is no “CDF” certification nor a “FCD”
certification. (Even though you will see this on
LinkedIn profiles and resumes)
• Your NCDA or CCE approved instructor will give
you a Certificate of Completion for the class, that
you will use to apply for the credential of your
choice.

4. Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) credential
• The original career credential offered through the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE).
This is a degree and experience based credential. - - GCDF credential holders are trained to
help people, both individually and in a group setting, make informed decisions when considering
their own career development. It is recognized globally.
• APPLICATION requirements:
A. Certificate of Completion of the FCD class
B. Hours of experience with one or more of the FCD competencies signed by a supervisor.
Example- you could have provided ‘helping skills’ in any setting
1. Graduate degree = minimum 1400 hours
2. Bachelors degree = minimum 2800 hours
3. Associate degree = minimum 4200 hours
4. High school / GED = minimum 5600 hours
C. Application fee of $100
D. Annual maintenance fee of $40 and 75 hours of professional development every 5 years.
E. Additional information / details can be found at http://www.cce-
global.org/Credentialing/GCDF

5. Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP) credential
• New career credential offered through the National Career Development Association (NCDA) beginning August 2017.
This is a competency based credential. -- a credential for individuals from an array of backgrounds, to deliver
services and demonstrate core competency in the field of career services.
• The new CCSP credential is also global in nature and is issued by a commission of NCDA, so it benefits from current
research, techniques, resources, and outcomes data from an array of experienced professionals across the field of
career development. We believe that the CCSP will represent the most prestigious credential in this field due to its
rigorous requirements.
• APPLICATION requirements.
A. Certificate of Completion of the FCD class from a NCDA approved instructor
B. Application including:
1. Complete four Case Studies - Case study competencies will be on: helping skills, theory, assessment, and
job search. Your case studies will be based upon the field you work in (higher education, workforce
development, schools, etc..)
Once you open a case study, you must complete your response within 45 minutes. You may not receive
assistance from anyone else. After each case study or question, you may continue to the next or stop and
return later to your application.
C. Application fee of $100
D. Annual maintenance fee of $40 and 30 hours of professional development every 3 years.
E. Additional information and details can be found at https://ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/credentials_ccsp

6. CCSP Case studies
• Case study competencies will be on: helping skills, theory, assessment,
and job search. Your case studies will be based upon the field you work
in (higher education, workforce development, schools, etc..)
• NOT an English paper
• CCSP typically 2-5 paragraphs
• Blind reviewed
• If don’t pass a case study, must wait a month for new one. If don’t pass
again, must wait a year.

7. Certified Career Counselor (CCC) credential
• New career credential offered through the National Career Development Association (NCDA) beginning
August 2017. This is a competency based credential. ---- the new standard of professional excellence for
individuals trained as counselors, who will specialize in the delivery of career counseling services.
• The most important aspect of this credential that differentiates it from other recognized practitioners is that it
recognizes the intersection of counseling and career development.
• Three core elements to becoming a CCC
A. Advance degree in counseling
B. Subsequent training in the career specialization **Certificate of Completion of the FCD class from a
NCDA approved instructor can be used to demonstrate this.
C. Demonstration of competencies required of career counselors
1. Complete four Case Studies - Case study competencies will be on: theory, ethics, multicultural
influences, assessment, and labor market / employment trends.
Your case studies will be based upon the field you work in (higher education, workforce
development, schools, etc..)
Once you open a case study, you must complete your response within 60 minutes. You may not
receive assistance from anyone else. After each case study or question, you may continue to the
next or stop and return later to your application.
D. Fees, additional information, and details can be found at
https://ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/credentials_ccc

8. Jim Peacock
Peak - Careers Consulting
www.Peak-Careers.com
JimPeacock@Peak-Careers.com
207-649-9761
Providing Professional Development for Career Practitioners
Rebalance / Philanthropy / Strategic
My words to guide me in 2020
This slideshare is designed to give you an overview of the credentials
available to you upon successful completion of the Facilitating Career
Development (FCD) class.
(Formerly known as the CDF class).
It is not intended to give you ALL the information to make your
decision. Please explore the websites for each credential that I have
noted.