Career Development Practitioner Program (Postgraduate) (C406)
Program Description
Leadership Claims
Career Development Practitioner is the only Career Development graduate certificate program in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Graduation from the program provides the full academic component and partial fulfillment of work experience hours for certification by the Career Development Practitioners' Certification Board of Ontario (CDPCBO).
Program Overview
George Brown College's Career Development Practitioner (C406) program will prepare students to provide advice and guidance related to career exploration, skill acquisition, job search and maintenance. This one-year post-diploma certificate program provides training to enter and/or advance in the field of career development.
Full Description
George Brown College's Career Development Practitioner (C406) is a three-semester (one-year) graduate certificate program that prepares graduates to enter the career development sector. The program may also appeal to practitioners working in the field who want to gain additional formal training and job-coaching experience. The career development sector includes nonprofit/community-based, government, post-secondary and private/corporate organizations.
The key objective of the field is to assist clients to be self-sufficient in career exploration, skill acquisition, job search and maintenance. Career Development Practitioners coach and counsel others on:
- job search
- career planning
- career choice and change
- academic and training advising
- identifying and meeting staffing needs
Career Development Practitioners may work with specialized and diverse groups such as:
- youth
- women
- people with disabilities
- immigrants and refugees
This program has been designed to meet the changing needs of the sector and will help meet demand for trained Career Development Practitioners in the GTA and beyond.
The curriculum is designed to meet the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners.
Graduation from the program provides the full academic component and partial fulfillment of work experience hours for certification by the Career Development Practitioners' Certification Board of Ontario (CDPCBO).
What can you expect from the Career Development Practitioner program?
The program will combine in-class experiential training in counselling and coaching, theory and practice. Courses may also be conducted online or in a blended format.
The use of technology will enable students to participate in exciting ways that will build on previous knowledge and skills.
The final semester is dedicated to a supervised field education opportunity that ensures graduates leave with practical experience that will be recognized by employers.
To provide students with a rich learning experience, we offer a variety of teaching methods such as:
- seminars
- lectures
- online learning
- small group work
- guest speakers
- field visits
What Career Development Practitioner key skills and knowledge will you gain?
- emerging trends and techniques in job search and career exploration
- individual and group facilitation/counselling
- job development and employer engagement
- ethics and professional practice
- career development theory
- diversity, accessibility, equity and inclusion
- use of technology and social media
- career and employment information resources
- employment legislation and programs
Who are our Career Development Practitioner students?
Our students have completed a college diploma or a university degree.
Due to the varied nature of the work and workplaces of Career Development Practitioners, it is expected that graduates may come from a wide variety of programs of study including:
- psychology
- sociology
- education
- social and community services
- business
- marketing
- human resources
People who are interested in others, are excited about the opportunity to assist others in professional and life decisions and to help them to be self-sufficient in job search and job retention will be attracted to this field of study.
Practitioners contribute to the emotional and financial well-being of their clients and their families, their communities and the economy.
Your Field Education Options
Students are required to complete approximately 300 hours of field education in semester three and will be supported in developing relationships with our community partners to obtain a placement opportunity in the GTA setting and further afield.
Placements will be chosen by students based on their learning goals, environments sought, clientele, location and other factors and will be approved by the program coordinator.
George Brown College has extensive connections with employers in all parts of the sector including community-based organizations, college and university career centres, internal corporate career services and career-management firms.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CDPR 4000 | Trends in Career Development |
| CDPR 4001 | Needs Assessment |
| CDPR 4004 | Theories of Career Development |
| CDPR 4005 | Work Search |
| CDPR 4006 | Human Rights, Diversity and Equity |
| CDPR 4018 | Professional Practice and Ethics |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CDPR 4007 | Group Facilitation |
| CDPR 4009 | Career and Employment Resources |
| CDPR 4010 | Accessibility in the Workplace |
| CDPR 4011 | Individual Counselling and Coaching |
| CDPR 4013 | Informal Assessment Tools |
| CDPR 4016 | Employer Engagement |
| CDRP 4017 | Digital Literacy in Career Development |
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CDPR 4014 | Work-Integrated Learning Seminar |
| CDPR 4015 | Practicum |
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Apply evidence-based career development practices in advising diverse client groups.
- Utilize self-reflective and critical thinking skills to enhance counselling, teaching and learning strategies with groups and individuals.
- Develop a commitment to ongoing professional development to actively respond to changing labour market and professional requirements.
- Integrate appropriate career information resources and tools with career and employment strategies to enable clients to meet their employment goals.
- Perform needs assessments and develop subsequent interventions using techniques and skills that enable diverse ranges of clients to meet employment goals.
- Design consulting, advising and teaching strategies that incorporate trends and issues of the changing labour market to assist clients in job search and career transitions.
- Integrate emergent technologies into the full spectrum of Career Development processes and applications to maximize service delivery to clients navigating changing labour market requirements.
- Adhere to relevant legislation and social policy to plan programs, interventions and referrals for client groups.
- Use current work search tools and strategies to facilitate successful client job search.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
International Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first three semesters of programs starting in Fall 2022. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2023 and at later dates.
** Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the three semesters of the program starting in Fall 2023. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2024 and at later dates.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid webpages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
- a two- or three-year diploma or a bachelor's degree from a college or university
English Language Proficiency
Applicants with international transcripts must provide English language proficiency test results or complete the George Brown College English assessment to provide evidence of their English language proficiency. For more information please visit our English Proficiency Chart.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Special Requirements
Our field placement partners may require students to show proof of vaccination. It is your responsibility to ensure all pre-placement requirements are met.
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
School of Social & Community Services
Email: communityservices@georgebrown.ca
Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Career Development Practitioner Program Co-ordinator:
Thanh Dinh thanhthi.dinh@georgebrown.ca
For more information about George Brown College
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Career Development Practitioner Program (Postgraduate) (C406)
Program Description
Leadership Claims
Career Development Practitioner is the only Career Development graduate certificate program in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Graduation from the program provides the full academic component and partial fulfillment of work experience hours for certification by the Career Development Practitioners' Certification Board of Ontario (CDPCBO).
Program Overview
Career Development Practitioners provide advice and guidance related to career exploration, skill acquisition, job search and maintenance. This one-year post-diploma certificate program provides training to enter and/or advance in the field of career development.
Full Description
Career Development Practitioner is a three-semester (one-year) graduate certificate program that prepares graduates to enter the career development sector. The program may also appeal to practitioners working in the field who want to gain additional formal training and job-coaching experience. The career development sector includes nonprofit/community-based, government, post-secondary and private/corporate organizations.
The key objective of the field is to assist clients to be self-sufficient in career exploration, skill acquisition, job search and maintenance. Career Development Practitioners coach and counsel others on:
- job search
- career planning
- career choice and change
- academic and training advising
- identifying and meeting staffing needs
Practitioners may work with specialized and diverse groups such as:
- youth
- women
- people with disabilities
- immigrants and refugees
This program has been designed to meet the changing needs of the sector and will help meet demand for trained Career Development Practitioners in the GTA and beyond.
The curriculum is designed to meet the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners.
Graduation from the program provides the full academic component and partial fulfillment of work experience hours for certification by the Career Development Practitioners' Certification Board of Ontario (CDPCBO).
What can you expect from the program?
The program will combine in-class experiential training in counselling and coaching, theory and practice. Courses may also be conducted online or in a blended format.
The use of technology will enable students to participate in exciting ways that will build on previous knowledge and skills.
The final semester is dedicated to a supervised field education opportunity that ensures graduates leave with practical experience that will be recognized by employers.
To provide students with a rich learning experience, we offer a variety of teaching methods such as:
- seminars
- lectures
- online learning
- small group work
- guest speakers
- field visits
What key skills and knowledge will you gain?
- emerging trends and techniques in job search and career exploration
- individual and group facilitation/counselling
- job development and employer engagement
- ethics and professional practice
- career development theory
- diversity, accessibility, equity and inclusion
- use of technology and social media
- career and employment information resources
- employment legislation and programs
Who are our students?
Our students have completed a college diploma or a university degree.
Due to the varied nature of the work and workplaces of Career Development Practitioners, it is expected that graduates may come from a wide variety of programs of study including:
- psychology
- sociology
- education
- social and community services
- business
- marketing
- human resources
People who are interested in others, are excited about the opportunity to assist others in professional and life decisions and to help them to be self-sufficient in job search and job retention will be attracted to this field of study.
Practitioners contribute to the emotional and financial well-being of their clients and their families, their communities and the economy.
Your Field Education Options
Students are required to complete approximately 300 hours of field education in semester three and will be supported in developing relationships with our community partners to obtain a placement opportunity in the GTA setting and further afield.
Placements will be chosen by students based on their learning goals, environments sought, clientele, location and other factors and will be approved by the program coordinator.
George Brown College has extensive connections with employers in all parts of the sector including community-based organizations, college and university career centres, internal corporate career services and career-management firms.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CDPR 4000 | Trends in Career Development |
| CDPR 4001 | Needs Assessment |
| CDPR 4004 | Theories of Career Development |
| CDPR 4005 | Work Search |
| CDPR 4006 | Human Rights, Diversity and Equity |
| CDPR 4018 | Professional Practice & Ethics |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CDPR 4007 | Group Facilitation |
| CDPR 4009 | Career and Employment Resources |
| CDPR 4010 | Accessibility in the Workplace |
| CDPR 4011 | Individual Counselling and Coaching |
| CDPR 4013 | Informal Assessment Tools |
| CDPR 4016 | Employer Engagement |
| CDRP 4017 | Digital Literacy in Career Development |
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CDPR 4014 | Work-Integrated Learning Seminar |
| CDPR 4015 | Practicum |
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Apply evidence-based career development practices in advising diverse client groups.
- Utilize self-reflective and critical thinking skills to enhance counselling, teaching and learning strategies with groups and individuals.
- Develop a commitment to ongoing professional development to actively respond to changing labour market and professional requirements.
- Integrate appropriate career information resources and tools with career and employment strategies to enable clients to meet their employment goals.
- Perform needs assessments and develop subsequent interventions using techniques and skills that enable diverse ranges of clients to meet employment goals.
- Design consulting, advising and teaching strategies that incorporate trends and issues of the changing labour market to assist clients in job search and career transitions.
- Integrate emergent technologies into the full spectrum of Career Development processes and applications to maximize service delivery to clients navigating changing labour market requirements.
- Adhere to relevant legislation and social policy to plan programs, interventions and referrals for client groups.
- Use current work search tools and strategies to facilitate successful client job search.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
International Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first three semesters of programs starting in Fall 2021. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2022 and at later dates.
** Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2022. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2023 and at later dates.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
- A two- or three-year diploma or a bachelor's degree from a college or university
English Language Proficiency
Applicants with international transcripts must provide English language proficiency test results or complete the George Brown College English assessment to provide evidence of their English language proficiency. For more information please visit our English Proficiency Chart.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
School of Social & Community Services
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 2185
Email: communityservices@georgebrown.ca
Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Career Development Practitioner Program Coordinator:
Diane Moore dmoore@georgebrown.ca
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
