Standards
Ethical Standards: NCDA's Code of Ethics
Standards of practice (also known as Ethical Guidelines) include general, counseling relationship, measurement and evaluation, research, publication, consulting, private practice, and procedures for processing ethical complaints. NCDA's Code of Ethics was revised in 2015.
Multi-Cultural Career Counseling Minimum Competencies
The purpose of the multicultural career counseling and development competencies is to ensure that all individuals practicing in, or training for practice in, the career counseling and development field are aware of the expectation that we, as professionals, will practice in ways that promote the career development and functioning of individuals of all backgrounds.
Career Development Policy Statement
Includes definition of career development with basic considerations for grades K-6, 7-9, 10-12, and adults. (Updated 2011)
ACES/NCDA Position Paper
Preparing counselors for career development in the new millennium
Career Counseling Competencies
Minimum competencies for those professional career counselors at or above the Master's degree level of education.
NOTE: IN 2009, NCDA updated these Career Counseling Competencies to infuse multicultural competencies. See the Multi-Cultural Career Counseling Minimum Competencies for the most up-to-date information.
Career Counselor Assessment and Evaluation Competencies
The purpose of these competencies is to provide a description of the knowledge and skills that career counselors must demonstrate in the areas of assessment and evaluation. The competencies can be used by counselors as a guide in the development and evaluation of workshops, inservice, and other continuing education opportunities, as well as to evaluate their own professional development, and by counselor educators as a guide in the development and evaluation of career counselor preparation programs.
Career Software Review Guidelines - Introduction
An Introduction to the Guidelines for publishers and consumers of career software. (PDF 53KB).
After reading the Introduction, see this page for the actual Guidelines, including the Description Form and Evaluation Criteria.
Career Software Review Guidelines - Description Form
Form used as a follow up to the Introduction to the Career Software Review Guidelines. (PDF 18KB)
Career Software Review Guidelines - Evaluation Criteria
Checklist used with the Career Software Review Guidelines. (PDF 41KB)
Ethical Use of Social Networking Technologies in Career Services
This paper shares the results of the NCDA Ethics Committee’s comprehensive review of literature about the use of social networking technologies in practice by career professionals and those in related helping professions. The paper served as a foundational resource to inform the guidelines that are now a part of the 2015 NCDA Code of Ethics.
Gallup White Paper
Review full text of the results of the Fourth NCDA/NOICC/Gallup Survey of Working America as a brief "white paper" or as full technical report.
Career Connecting in a Changing Context: A Summary of the Key Findings of the 1999 National Survey of Working America, includes survey background, summary of key findings and policy questions raised by the survey.
Gallup Technical Report
Developed by Gallup Organization; titled National Survey of Working America - 1999, includes a description of methodology, key findings, detailed findings with data for specific groups, technical appendix, survey instrument, and detailed tabulations by total sample and by sub-groups by gender, age, educational level, employment status, race, and occupational cluster.
Guidelines for Choosing A Career Counselor/Coach/Provider
Consumers can view the answers to "Why Seek Career Counseling" and "Services of a Career Counselor/Coach/Provider" and "Client Expectations, Rights, and Responsibilities". Then consumers can use the "Need Career Help" feature on the NCDA website.
Guidelines for the Preparation and Evaluation of Career and Occupational Information Literature
Guidelines for publishers and consumers of career and occupational print literature. (PDF 60KB)
Guidelines for the Preparation and Evaluation of Video Career Media
Guidelines for publishers and consumers of video career media. Includes a reviewer checklist. (PDF 54KB)
Harris Interactive Survey on Working America
The National Career Development Association commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct a survey on Perceptions of Working America. The 2011 National Survey of Working America poll results have shown that Career Practitioners are vital in developing the US workforce. The Press Release, Video Statements, and Executive Summary are linked here.
The Impact of Career Interventions: Preparing our Citizens for 21st Century Jobs
Two major professional organizations, NCDA & SVP (Society for Vocational Psychology), offer this strong statement about the value of career interventions during the historical time when so many seek support in search for “jobs”. It is intended for practical use by practitioners, policy makers, faculty and students in their work to inform the public about the place and evidence-base of career interventions. All are encouraged to share it widely as we advocate for greater support and use of career interventions which have helped youth, adults, and retirees as they plan their transitions and decisions. (2013)
Multicultural Career Resource List
The Committee on Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion developed a comprehensive list of diversity career resources. This is a consolidated a list of over 150 resources, organized by population, including resources for ethnic minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, LGBT, as well as general multicultural career topics and workplace diversity. Click here to get the 2020 Multicultural Resource List as a pdf.
National Career Development Guidelines
This document details the framework for the National Career Development Guidelines (NCDG). Domains, goals and indicators organize the framework. The domains: Personal Social Development (PS), Educational Achievement and Lifelong Learning (ED) and Career Management (CM) describe content. Under each domain are goals (eleven in total). The goals define broad areas of career development competency. Under each goal in the framework are indicators of mastery that highlight the knowledge and skills needed to achieve that goal.
Reviewer Rating Form
This checklist is for reviewing Career and Occupational Information Literature. (PDF 29KB)