1. Making Change Happen by
Growing Yourself
Professionally
Paula Brand
MS, GCDF, JCTC, CPRW
Career Consultant
Brand Career Management

2. TODAY’S AGENDA
 Types of credentials
 Career industry certification topics
 Coaching programs (CDF vs. GCDF)
 Assessments & certification
 Common characteristics of programs
 Factors & benefits to consider
 Review - Q & A

3. TYPES OF CREDENTIALS
 Designations
ex. NCDA Master Career Specialist
 Educational/Training Programs
ex. conference, webinar, other edu.
 Formal Certifications
ex. GCDF, CPRW, SPHR, PMP
 Master Trainer Certifications – ex. GCDFi

4. CERTIFICATION TOPICS
 Résumé writing
 Career coaching
 Assessments
 Job search/Workforce development
 Social media/Branding
 Specialty areas (offenders, federal job
search, executive/leadership)

5. COACHING ORGS & CERTS
 ICF – ACC, MCC, PCC
 ICCI – CMA, CMP, CMF
 The Academies – CCMC, CELDC, CBBSC
 CCE – BCC, DCC, GCDF
 Other national organizations offering
certifications (JCTC/JCDC – CPADN, CPCC -
PARW/CC, CWDP – NAWDP)
* no one org. regulates all coaching certs

6. International Coach Fed.
 ACC - 0-3 years, $100-600
 PCC - 0-3 years, $300-875
3 paths – all req. cert./training, test, coaching
exp.(with clients/with mentor), 4 – 14 wk. review
 MCC - 4+ yrs., 2500 hrs./35 clients (2 rec.), test
and 10/hrs. w/ mentor coach
* Membership not required - rates vary
* Fees do not include training program
* Renewal for all 3 – Every 3 yrs., $175-275,
renewal app./docs., cont. ed. req.

7. Inst. of Career Cert. Int’l.
 CMA – 3 yrs./2yrs. 10 comps., renewal/5
yrs. , $150/225 plus annual fee $50/75
 CMP – 8 yrs./4 yrs. , 17 comps., renewal/5
yrs. , $365/275 plus annual fee $115/75
 CMF – 12 yrs./6yrs., 22 comp., $520/410
annual fee $175/125
 ALL three - 4-6 wk. review, Strategic
Alliance membership rates, submit
app./docs/portfolio, no test

8. The Academies
 CCMC – $2897-5895 (dep. on grp. vs.
ind.) and specialty area, 30 hrs. in 15
wks. by phone, 2 hr. calls, disc. available
 CELDC - $2597 (lower), 12 wks. long, 5
mentor call req. unless you hold ICF
certs., teleseminar/webinar formats
 CBBSC - $2997, 22 hrs. total (1.5 each
class), 15 classes, teleseminar/webinar
formats
 All three - count for ICF hours, renewal

9. Center for Credentialing & Edu
*CCE is a certifying organization (under NBCC)
 BCC - $149-249 app. fee, various methods –
all req. proof of edu., approved coach trg
(30-120 hrs.), previous coach exp. (30-
2500hrs.) & exam. Renewal/5 yrs., 100 hrs.
cont. edu, $40
 DCC (DCF gone) – class $349-399, Req. MS +
LPC/NCC. 3 approved providers, 15 hrs. (2
day) course, 6 wk. review, $100 app. fee.
Renewal/5 yrs., 20 hrs. of cont. ed.
 GCDF - $100 app. fee., various formats &
multiple providers. Renewal/5 yrs. -75hrs.

10. CDF vs. GCDF
 Attend Career Development Facilitator
(CDF)training by approved vendor ($900-
$1500)
 Apply to Center for Credentialing &
Education (CCE) to obtain your GCDF
designation (application fee)
 Training is offered in various formats and
locations - see NCDA.org for schedule

11. MORE CERTS & NAT’L ORGS
 JCTC/JCDC – CPAN, $895, 3 full days,
regional and int’l. locations, no renewal
 CPCC - PARW/CC, $1195 inc. materials
and exam, self-paced, 6 modules. 8-12
wks. likely but must be done in 1 yr.
 CWDP – NAWDP, $75/175, edu./exp. req.,
doc. 10 comps., 2 refs., 4 spec. (youth,
mgmt., job seeker, bus/emp.). Renewal/3
yrs. , 60 hrs. cont. edu, docs., fees

12. ASSESSMENT CONSIDERATIONS
Who is approved to certify?
Are you eligible or certified to
administer?
To groups or individuals?
To purchase/to sell?
Always do your homework (ethics
involved, always take yourself,
etc.)

13. ASSESSMENTS
 CPP offers many including:
Strong Interest Inventory (SII)
Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI )
 Strengths Finder – Gallup Certified Strengths
Coach
1) Successful Strengths Coaching
2) Accelerated Strengths Coaching
 DiSC - many authorized providers
 Self Directed Search (SDS),Holland, no cert.

14. COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
Initial application (with fee)
Continuing education
Renewal process (with fee)
Membership in organization
Code of Ethics
More fees to re-take/extend

15. FACTORS TO CONSIDER
Do your research & know your learning style
What is the format?
What is your current level
of experience?
Where is your skills gap?

16. MORE FACTORS TO CONSIDER
 Who is your target audience?
 Who offers the training?
An organization or person
Founder/Current trainers
Reputation/Reach
Resources offered
 What will is the total cost? ROI?

17. BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATIONS
 Gain credibility
 Learn new skills
 Stay cutting edge
 Faster than a degree
 Distinguish yourself/brand yourself
 Align with experts in the industry
 Learn about new organizations/resources
 Learn and network with others

18. POSSIBLE BENEFITS
If applicable for the certification program:
 Display adherence to ethical codes
 Earn continuing education hours
 Get added to directories
 Meet employer criteria

19. REVIEW
CONSIDER and RESEARCH
 Your goals, current knowledge & exp.
 Your audience and training content
 Format, length, cost, ROI
 Requirements –maintaining credential,
membership, etc.
 Training provider – reputation, references, reach

20. 1) www.coachcertifications.com – for coaching
2) www.Allcertifications.com – for all careers
3) The Essential Guide to Career Certifications
by Paula Brand & Shahrzad Arasteh
www.paulabrand.com/the-guide
4)http://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/facilitator_overview
- about CDF & calendar of training offered

21. Thank you for attending!
Contact me:
paula@paulabrand.com
443-254-8173
Find me online:
www.paulabrand.com
LinkedIn.com/in/paulabrandcareers
Twitter.com/brandcareermgmt
Facebook.com/BrandCareerManagement