Career Development Professional | Continuing Education

About the program

Career Development Professional is a part-time, online graduate certificate program that will prepare you for the career development sector. The world of work is rapidly changing, and new careers are emerging to meet current and future workforce needs. Career development professionals provide information, advice and guidance related to career exploration, human resources, skills acquisition, job search, and maintenance. This program provides training to enter and/or advance in the field of career development in roles such as employment advisors, career resource specialists, job developers, or career management professionals.

This program may also appeal to practitioners working in the field who want to gain additional formal credentials, job coaching experience or attain their Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP). The Career Development Professional graduate certificate program can help you master the 16 key competencies which are the basis for the CCDP examination.

Program information

All courses must be successfully completed within 5 years of acceptance into the program.

Admission to the program is required prior to registration for courses.

Course fees to complete this program total approximately *$4,000.00.

*This is the estimated amount for domestic students and may differ if students take equivalent courses. Fees are paid when registering for each individual course and are subject to change each term.

Admission requirements

An Ontario College Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Degree or equivalent or a minimum of 5 (five) years of full-time work experience, within the past ten years, as an employment counsellor, career advisor, human resources professional or similar role AND
Submission of a current resume AND
A two to three page double spaced letter of application stating your career goals and indicate how your education and experience to date have prepared you for entry into the program. The letter should also include verifiable details of any volunteer experience.
- Please use the following questions to complete the letter of application: Why are you interested in this program? Why are you a strong candidate for this program? What personal and/or life experience have impacted your decision to develop your skills and knowledge in the field of career development? What are your long-term career goals?

Note re: admission requirements

Applicants possessing degrees/diplomas from institutions where the language of instruction was not English will be required to provide test scores as evidence of their English language proficiency. Test scores, if required, would be a minimum of TOEFL iBT 88 with no individual skill less than 22; IELTS 6.5 with no bands less than 6.0; CAEL 70 with no sub-test band scores less than 60; PTE Academic 58; CELAP (Conestoga English Language Assessment and Placement) 82 or higher; Cambridge Exams 180 (no individual score less than 170); or equivalent scores in other recognized standard tests of English.
We offer a language program for students whose English language skills are below the standard required for admission but who have met all other admission criteria. You will be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate program after completion of level 4 of the General Arts and Science - English Language Studies (ELS) program with an overall grade average of 80% and no grade less than 75%. Your placement in the ELS program is determined by scores on an in-house English language test or TOEFL or IELTS.

Admission procedures

Apply at Ontario Colleges - www.ontariocolleges.ca
Final selection is made following an assessment of the admission requirements.
Applicants should submit the letter of application and resume directly to the Conestoga College Admissions Office at admissions@conestogac.on.ca

Program requirements

Students must be accepted into the program to be eligible for the practicum seminar and practicum project courses.
Students must have reliable Internet access and a device that meets these requirements.
This program uses eTexts.

Graduate opportunities

This program will appeal to individuals who are engaged or interested in some form of career development work in professional settings. These include: community-based employment services agencies, multicultural settings, self-employment, post-secondary and adult learning institutions, labour adjustment contexts, human resource departments, and employment-related programs in all branches of government.

Unsure of which program best suits your long-term career goals? Student Recruitment Advisors can provide one to one advising for prospective domestic students looking to take a program at Conestoga College. Please reach out to SRA@conestogac.on.ca to book an appointment.

For more details on related occupations, job market information and career opportunities, see the Government of Canada website: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home

Program outcomes

Complete research using various tools and methods in order to analyze trends and current Labour Market Information to be responsive to market changes.
Apply self-reflective and critical thinking skills to enhance counselling, teaching, and learning strategies with groups and individuals that meet ethical principles.
Apply evidence-based career development practices that incorporate a comprehensive set of tools, techniques, and strategies to support clients with diverse identities.
Complete needs assessments with clients to select appropriate approaches for meeting their career and employment goals.
Design strategies that incorporate local, national, global, social, economic and political trends to assist clients with career decision-making.
Integrate appropriate technologies into the full spectrum of Career Development strategies to maximize service delivery to clients.
Source relevant legislation and social policies to plan programs, interventions and referrals for clients.

Program related resources

Student Academic Handbook

Program contact

Moira Smee
msmee@conestogac.on.ca
519-748-5220, ext. 3205

Interested in taking this program full time?

See our Career Development Professional full-time program for more information.

Continuing Education

Upcoming registrations

Mark your calendar with our registration dates, so you can plan your future.

Spring registration: Now open
Fall registration: Opens July 21, 2025

Disclaimer

The College reserves the right to alter information including requirements and fees and to cancel at any time a program, course, or program major or option; to change the location and/or term in which a program or course is offered; to change the program curriculum as necessary to meet current competencies in the job market or for budgetary reasons; or to withdraw an offer of admission both prior to and after its acceptance by an applicant or student because of insufficient applications or registrations, over-acceptance of offers of admission, budgetary constraints, or for other such reasons. In the event the College exercises such a right, the College’s sole liability will be the return of monies paid by the applicant or student to the College.

Students actively registered in cohort delivered programs who take longer than the designed program length of time to complete their studies are accountable for completing any new or additional courses that may result due to changes in the program of study. Unless otherwise stated, students registered in non-cohort delivered programs must complete the program of study within seven years of being admitted to the program.