Career Development Professional

Select start date and campus

Menu
Close

Applying as a Canadian applicant

Domestic students should apply online or by phone at 1-888-892-2228.

Apply now: Canadian applicant

Applying as an International applicant

International students should apply online.
Apply now: international applicants
Close

Campus tours

Campus tours are one of the best ways to experience Conestoga. During this time, we are offering online guided tours to show you all Conestoga has to offer.

Book your tour

Virtual tours

If you can't make an on-campus tour or attend one of our events, the virtual tour is a great way to visit us.

View our Virtual tour

Courses - January 2026

Level 1

Course details

Career Counselling And Development
CARD8090

Description:

The theory and practice of career counselling and development is presented in this course. Emphasis will be placed on an analysis of: career development theories, career information, approaches to vocational assessment, the practice of career counselling and development, and future trends in the evolution of the field. Students will engage in applied learning projects that will develop their appreciation for and understanding of both the theory and practice of career development.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Technology and Career Development
CARD8145

Description: Integrating technology into the work of career development has become a core professional competency. Students will learn how to use current synchronous and asynchronous communication technologies. Students will investigate the credibility of a variety of online information sources and curate digital information. Understanding the ethical use of technologies with clients and client data is incorporated throughout the course.
  • Hours: 21
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Employability Assessment and Case Management
CARD8155

Description: Employability assessment and case management have become important processes to help individuals move forward in their careers. Using a narrative client centred approach, students learn how to do a thorough employability needs assessment. Students are introduced to client case management as it relates to client employment search.
  • Hours: 21
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Field Placement Seminar
CARD8175

Description:

This course will build on the foundation of the knowledge and skills taught in the Career Development Professional Program. You will utilize extensive practice of a variety of learning strategies, which may include: community contact, self-reflection and Internet research. It has a practical focus, which will be the preparation for a successful Field Placement. It is highly recommended that this course is completed immediately before FPLT8070: Field Placement. The process to secure the placement will include study of the current trends in the career development field.

  • Hours: 28
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Employment Counselling Techniques
CARD8200

Description: The core principles, processes, and outcomes of effective employment marketing are learned in this course. The focus is to connect theory to practice and to develop a resource of strategies for counsellors to use with clients in both individual and group settings. Core topic areas include skills profiling, work search preparation, networking, resume and cover letter preparation, web-based work search, employment interviewing techniques and preparation, and job offer negotiations. This course provides the student with a challenging opportunity to explain and apply a coherent model that can be used with a diversity of client groups.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Professional Ethics, Interviewing and Counselling
CARD8210

Description: The core ethics, values, skills and knowledge base that are inherent in being a successful career counsellor are developed in this course. An ethical decision-making process is learned to increase the student's competence in their role as a professional helper. The micro-skills hierarchy will be presented as a framework for mastering the basic interviewing and counselling skills. Integrated throughout the course will be growth through intentionality, cultural competence and exercises designed to help a student in their development of counselling competence and style. Counselling theories will be introduced. Students will practice client case management.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Conestoga 101
CON0101

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.
  • Hours: 1
  • Credits: 0
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Mental Health First Aid
HEAL8111

Description: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved. This course aims to improve mental health literacy, and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or a colleague. Anyone can benefit from MHFA training. It is open to members of the general public. Families affected by mental health problems, teachers, health service providers, emergency workers, frontline workers who deal with the public, volunteers, human resources professionals, employers and community groups are just a few of the groups who have benefited from MHFA.
  • Hours: 12
  • Credits: 1
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Safety in the Workplace
OHS1320

Description: This course focuses on developing awareness and skills for the student to safely manage and conduct him or herself within a variety of employment settings. Through the units of the course, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding and knowledge of general Health and Safety guidelines, including WHMIS, Fire Safety and Workplace Violence. The unit on Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act will instruct the student on the requirements for Accessible Customer Service and Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulations. General information on Safe Driving, Privacy of Information and Hand Washing will be addressed as well. The course also provides participants with critical information regarding their insurance coverage (WSIB or other) while employed. As well as guidelines to follow in the event of an injury. Participants will receive a printable Record of Completion upon successful conclusion of this course, in order to demonstrate awareness of safe working practices to their employers.
  • Hours: 14
  • Credits: 1
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Level 2

Course details

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
CARD8165

Description: The career professional plays a major role in assisting members of diverse populations to establish career plans and obtain satisfying work. Students will be introduced to how employment fits into the settlement/integration continuum and general characteristics of the process that in the long term, allows newcomers to be full participants in all dimensions of society. A community development approach to providing services is explored involving initial settlement concerns, language instruction, specific employment services and long-term integration issues. Contemporary issues related to race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religion, ability, age, nationality and ethnicity will also be explored in this course.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Group Training And Facilitation
CARD8180

Description:

The core principles and practice of group training and facilitation are delivered in this course. Students will explore the advantages of groups, group process and dynamics, the stages of a group, planning and design, basic group leadership skills, developing and conducting exercises, dealing with challenging behaviours, and working with multicultural groups. Students will develop their own group project design through this course.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Career Counselling Techniques
CARD8190

Description:

The core principles, processes, and outcomes of career counselling are systematically delivered in this course. Focus of this course is to connect theory to practice and to develop a resource of strategies and techniques for counsellors to use with clients in both individual and group settings. A five-step model of career counselling developed in Canada is studied in detail. Students are introduced to client case management as it relates to career exploration. This course provides the student with a challenging opportunity to apply a coherent career counselling model that can be used with a diversity of client groups.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: CARD8210
  • CoRequisites:

Trends And Issues In The New Work Dynamic
CARD8220

Description:

This course will provide an overview of the nature of contemporary work dynamic trends. The influences of global trends, employment trends and issues, cultural diversity and demographic shifts on future work will be explored. Students will examine the impact of permanent economic change, new work patterns and organizational learning demands, and they will discuss the implications for career decision-making and lifelong learning. Students will investigate, discuss and critically evaluate these trends and develop strategies for analysing and communicating the contexts within which career decisions are made.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Field Placement (Career Development Professional)
FPLT8070

Description: The Practicum field placement experience is a crucial part of the CDP program. It provides the concrete application component that enables students to integrate and experiment with the information learning in other courses. The practicum consists of two elements: Organization: The actual experience location where the student has an on site agreed location; and · Virtual Seminar: The virtual classroom where students write and share information about their experiences. As the field of career development is primarily oriented to teaching clients to manage their own careers, the practicum is designed to be learner driven. Whereas faculty will guide students, it is ultimately the responsibility of the learner to identify and negotiate the practicum organization placement. Students will enter field placements with objectives which have been agreed upon by the agency contact person, the Practicum Coordinator, and the student. The learner will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis at the end of the practicum relative to this set of objectives. Additional time will be required for transit, reading, and analyzing the experience. Practicum is designed for learners who are entering the field of career development. Students who are currently working in the field can register to PLAR the Practicum project.
  • Hours: 196
  • Credits: 7
  • Pre-Requisites: CARD8150 OR CARD8200 AND CARD8170 OR CARD8175 AND OHS1320 OR OHS8320
  • CoRequisites:

Program outcomes

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