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Best career counselor certifications
The best certifications for a career counselor are Certified Professional Counselor, Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), and National Certified Counselor (NCC).
Career counselor certifications demonstrate your competency as a career counselor to employers. However, not all career counselor certifications provide the same value.
Below is a list of the best career counselor certifications. Obtaining a career counselor certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
14 best certifications for career counselors
| Rank | Career counselor certification | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certified Professional Counselor | APA, DAPA |
| 2 | Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) | CCE |
| 3 | National Certified Counselor (NCC) | NBCC |
| 4 | Pastoral Counseling Certification | Mt. Vision In... |
| 5 | Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP) | IPMA-HR |
| 6 | Medical Assistant | ASPT |
| 7 | Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) | NAWDP |
| 8 | Certified Clinical Supervisor of Career Counseling (CCSCC) | NCDA |
| 9 | Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) | SHRM |
| 10 | Certified Career Counselor (CCC) | NCDA |
| 11 | Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) | CRCC |
| 12 | First Aid Certification | American Red ... |
| 13 | Certified Secondary Culinary Educator (CSCE) | ACF |
| 14 | Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor | NAFC |
14 best career counselor certifications
1. Certified Professional Counselor
You entered this field in order to help people. When was the last time that an organization came along to provide any real help to you? The mission of the American Board of Professional Counselors, ABPC program is to be the nation's leading advocate for counselors. ABPC will champion counselors' right to practice. We will work with you to protect your right to practice, increase parity for your profession, and provide you with the recognition that you so richly deserve.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
2. Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF)
Global Career Development Facilitators (GCDFs) help people meet career goals by providing career facilitation and guidance. GCDFs work alongside professionals with more extensive training in government employment agencies, schools, universities, corporate human resources departments, private consultancy firms, and many other settings.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? No
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
3. National Certified Counselor (NCC)
The NCC certification was launched by NBCC in 1983 as a result of the efforts of members of the American Counseling Association (ACA). Since that time, NBCC has become an independent entity and more than 80,000 counselors have become NCCs. The NCC is one of two NBCC certifications that are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
4. Pastoral Counseling Certification
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? No
5. Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP)
IPMA-HR strives to encourage excellence in public sector human resources, promote continuous learning and develop the next generation of leaders. To that end, IPMA-HR offers two internationally recognized certification programs to the public HR community: the IPMA-CP and the IPMA-CS.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
6. Medical Assistant
The medical assistant job description varies depending on the employer's needs. A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional and an asset to a physician.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
7. Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP)
The CWDP credential after a person's name indicates that he or she is part of an elite group of individuals who have been nationally certified as satisfying rigorous standards of skill, education, experience, ethics and commitment to professionalism.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? No
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
8. Certified Clinical Supervisor of Career Counseling (CCSCC)
This credential is intended for individuals who are trained for or experienced in the delivery of clinical supervision to career counselors and other practitioners who provide career services. It is aligned to the competencies addressed in NCDA's Career Practitioner Supervision training as well as state requirements
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? No
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
9. Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
HR professionals who implement policies and strategies, serve as point of contact for staff and stakeholders, deliver HR services, and perform operational HR functions, should take the SHRM-CP exam.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
10. Certified Career Counselor (CCC)
This credential is intended for career counselors with an advanced degree (master's or higher) in counselor education, counseling psychology, rehabilitation counseling or closely related counseling degree, engaged primarily in a career counseling practice or other career counseling-related services. The Certified Career Counselor credential is a recognition of two important factors in training and experience including both counseling and a specialization in career development, theory and practice.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? No
- Renewal required?
11. Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)
The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) sets the standard for quality rehabilitation counseling services in the U.S. and Canada. As an independent, not-for-profit organization, the CRCC has certified more than 30,000 counselors with its widely recognized Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and Canadian Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CCRC) designations.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
12. First Aid Certification
Designed for individuals with a duty to respond to emergencies, this program combines discussions, video and hands-on training. Real-life rescue scenarios reinforce decision-making skills. Free quarterly refreshers. Course covers how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants until more advanced medical personnel take over.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
13. Certified Secondary Culinary Educator (CSCE)
The individual seeking CSCE is an advanced degreed culinary professional who is working as an educator in an accredited secondary or vocational institution responsible for the development, implementation, administration, evaluation, and maintenance of a culinary arts or foodservice management curriculum; possesses a thorough knowledge of culinary arts, educational development, food safety and sanitation, and culinary nutrition.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
14. Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
What is the best certification for a career counselor?
The best career counselor certification is Certified Professional Counselor. The Certified Professional Counselor is awarded by the American Psychotherapy Association. The advanced certification is for more experienced employees as it often requires some work experience to acquire.
Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this career counselor certification:
- To become a certified Certified Professional Counselor, you need to pass the exam.
- This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every 1 year.
What are some of the most in-demand certifications for career counselors?
The most in-demand career counselor certification is National Certified Counselor based on all active job postings. Having this career counselor certification will give you access to more career counselor jobs with higher salaries.
What certifications can impact a career counselor career and salary?
The Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification will help you to secure a substance abuse counselor position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A substance abuse counselor's average salary is $42,499 whereas career counselors make an average salary of $44,870.
The most common combination of career counselor certifications include: Certified Professional Counselor, Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), and National Certified Counselor (NCC).
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