Career Development Professionals

Formal Description

“Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) provide assistance and information to job seeker clients on all aspects of employment search and career planning. They also provide advice and information to employer clients regarding employment issues and human resources. They are employed by public and private employment agencies, rehabilitation centres, hospitals, human resource departments of establishments, consulting firms, correctional facilities and by federal and provincial governments. Supervisors of career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) are included in this unit group.” (NOC 2021)

[See also: 41320 – Educational Counsellors]

Sample Job Titles

This category includes a variety of job titles that may not necessarily be reflected by the category title. For a full index of job titles, see the category entry on the ESDC site. Example job titles include:

Career Coach

Career Development Practitioner

Career Resource Centre Coordinator

Employment Consultant

Employment Services Assessment Officer

Job Counsellor

Outplacement Consultant

Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor

Workforce Development Officer

Typical Employment and Education Requirements

The following typical requirements are listed on the ESDC’s 2021 entry for this occupational category:

A bachelor’s degree or college diploma in employment counselling, career development or in a related field, such as human resources development, psychology, education or social services is required.
A master’s degree in counselling psychology or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work may be required.
Vocational rehabilitation professional certification may be required by employers.
In Quebec, membership in l’Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d’orientation du Québec is mandatory to use the titles ”vocational counsellor” and “vocational guidance counsellor”.
In New Brunswick, membership in the College of Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick is mandatory to use the title “Licensed career counsellor”.
In Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, Certified Career Development Professional/Practitioner (CCDP) certification may be required by employers.

Success with a Social Sciences Undergraduate Degree and Beyond

The requirements listed for each occupational category will tend to vary across particular roles, job titles, and contexts.

When reviewing typical requirements, please remember:

Degree and diploma listings often end with a purposefully open-ended phrase (“or a related field”, “or a similar discipline”) that acknowledges the variety and applicability of social sciences and liberal arts degrees.
Employers often focus less on the name or title of a candidate’s degree, and more on how they articulate their transferable skills and experiences.
Many qualifications and certifications are available as post-graduate certificates aimed at recent university graduates; these can make an excellent further education option for a social sciences or liberal arts degree.

Explore related Graduate Certificates, Master's Programs, or other relevant avenues for further education.

Learn More

Related Categories

Here are a few other categories that might interest you:

Financial Advisors

Educational Counsellors

Related Sectors

Whereas Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles, exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work. Here are just a few of the sectors that may be relevant to this category:

Careers in the Higher Education Sector

Careers in Organizations

Careers In Municipalities

Browse More Options by Sector

Academic Program Connections

As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs. Here are just a few examples of academic disciplines that have connections with this sector:

Anthropology Learn More

Learning about and appreciating diverse cultural backgrounds and social structures is crucial in the career development field working with clients from various cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Understanding how cultural factors influence career choices and work behaviours help provide more personalized and effective guidance.

Social Psychology Learn More

Social Psychology examines the factors that influence people’s motivation, attitudes, and decision-making. This knowledge is valuable for assisting individuals in clarifying their career goals, understanding their motivations, and making informed choices about their professional journeys.

Social Work Learn More

Social Work encourages a holistic approach to helping clients, recognizing the interconnections of various aspects of their lives. This perspective will allow Social Work students to understand how personal issues, family dynamics, health, and social factors can influence career choices, leading to more comprehensive and supportive career counseling

Work & Labour Studies Learn More

Work & Labour Studies courses prepare students with the workplace knowledge to guide clients or students towards pathways that fit their particular interests, strengths, and needs. Because of their insights into employer and worker relationships, the effects of technological change, and policy development, Work & Labour Studies students bring a sophisticated set of talents to the career development profession.

Browse More Options by Program

Careers & Experiential Education