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Enhance your qualifications in the fields of career education, guidance and counselling. Learn high-level communication and counselling skills to provide effective career support and management strategies to a variety of people.

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Hands-on experience

Work with industry experts on your portfolio

Flexible delivery

Make study work for you

Industry approved

With CICA* endorsement, you'll be highly valued by employers *Career Industry Council of Australia

Online

Online: January, March, May, July, August, October

$8,700.00^{^}

^{^}total estimated tuition fee

Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible

Fees currently displayed are indicative only. 2023 fees will be uploaded by October, 2022.

8 months full-time

AQF level 7 bachelor degree; or equivalent

106011

What to expect

Study four comprehensive subjects and build a strong theoretical foundation in career guidance and counselling by studying career development theories and tools and career development professional practices. Apply your knowledge and skills to develop a two-part career development portfolio, working with industry experts, Career Ahead.

Make study work for you through the flexible carousel delivery mode of the Graduate Certificate of Career Development. Study one subject at a time online during an eight-week block. This flexible delivery makes it easier to balance further study with employment, family, and other demands. If subjects are completed consecutively, the qualification can be completed in about eight months.

The Graduate Certificate of Career Development consists of four subjects: Career Development Theories and Tools, Career Development Professional Practice, Labour Market and the Future of Work, and Career Counselling. Two of these subjects – Career Development Theories and Tools and Career Development Professional Practice – are delivered online. The remaining two – Labour Market and the Future of Work and Career Counselling – require participation in intensive workshops to facilitate the development of applied skills. Workshops take place across 3 days and will be offered online with a potential face-to-face option available, dependent upon enrolment and demand.

Add value to your current qualifications and make a difference to those in schools and the workforce. JCU Career Development graduates are knowledgeable, supportive professionals who can advise on a variety of pathways.

Consult the handbook for further information.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment,and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Graduate Certificate of Career Development.

Career Opportunities

JCU Career Development graduates are widely-skilled and are sought after in a range of education and health settings.

Graduates pursue careers in various areas including education, human resources, private practice, hospitals, and community centres.

You could find employment as a career advisor, career development practitioner, school guidance counsellor, or teacher.

You could also go on to study the Master of Guidance and Counselling.

Graduates will be eligible for professional membership with Careers Industry Council of Australia (CICA) Member Associations.

Handbook

Handbook year	Information valid for students commencing in 2023
Course code	106011
Course type	Graduate Certificate (AQF Level 8)
Professional accreditation status	This course is endorsed by the Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA) as meeting the Professional Standards for Australian Career Development Practitioners. Graduates of this program will be eligible for professional membership with CICA Member Associations.
Owner	Academy
College	Arts, Society and Education

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites

Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree or

Other qualifications recognised by the appropriate Academic Group Head, Education, as equivalent to the above.

Minimum English language proficiency requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points

12 credit points

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Career Development, graduates will be able to:

Apply and integrate specialised knowledge of career development theories, counselling theories, and relevant industry standards in professional practice.
Critically evaluate and identify the impact of changes in the world of work, including automation, globalisation, demographics, and trends in the labour market and industry, on the workforce, the career life cycle, and the future of work.
Demonstrate technical skills to collect, analyse, and interpret information in order to comprehensively conceptualise complex concerns within career development practice.
Identify, conceptualise, and generate innovative solutions to complex practice challenges with a high level of autonomy, initiative, collaboration, and accountability in the decision-making process.
Critically review, analyse and synthesise theoretical propositions in consideration of ethical and cultural frameworks, and research principles and methodologies in career development practice.
Professionally communicate complex information, ideas, and conclusions to specialist and non-specialist stakeholders, using advanced speaking, reading, writing, listening, numeracy and advocacy skills.
Reflect on current skills, knowledge, and attitudes with a commitment to lifelong learning and development of professional practice.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements	Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Graduate Certificate of Career Development.
Reasonable adjustments	All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

ED5907:03 Career Development Theories and Tools

ED5908:03 Career Development Professional Practice

ED5909:03 Labour Market and The Future of Work

ED5910:03 Career Counselling

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
JCU Singapore	Exit Only
JCU Online	Offered in an 8-week calendar

Candidature

Expected time to complete	8 months of continuous study (20 hours per week)
Maximum time to complete	2 years
Maximum leave of absence	6 months

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	No
Special assessment requirements	Nil
Professional accreditation requirements	Nil

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for credit transfer for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure.
Maximum allowed	6 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 2 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 4 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed the course of study prescribed for the certificate.
Other restrictions	Credit will be granted only in fields relevant to the discipline area and at an equivalent level.

Award Details

Award title	GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Approved abbreviation	GCertCareerDev
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable - this course does not have majors
Exit with lesser award	Not applicable
Course articulation	Students who complete this course are eligible for entry to the Master of Guidance of Counselling, and credit will be granted for up to 6 credit points.
Special awards	Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD8,700.00

A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Pathways to JCU

Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.

How to apply

Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.

If you have not completed AQF 7 Bachelor Degree, you may be able to satisfy the entry requirements by providing evidence of relevant work experience.

Student

Angela Young

Graduate Certificate of Career Development

This course provides the flexibility of online learning, collaboration and assessments across a range of formats with genuinely supportive and accessible teaching professionals. I feel it will make me a more complete and ethical professional to support clients’ needs, and keep pace with the future world of work.
Student

Michael Turner

Graduate Certificate of Career Development

I was a little apprehensive about returning to university; it’s been 20 years since I've done formal study. The course structure, supportive lecturers and weekly check-ins with other students has eased all my concerns, and the online format has allowed me to complete my graduate certificate while working full time.
Lecturer

Jon Woodend, PhD

JCU Lecturer, Subject Coordinator

JCU is dedicated to providing quality academic experiences, based on industry-needed practical skills. The Graduate Certificate of Career Development at JCU is in partnership with Career Ahead, an industry-leading organisation, so that students can benefit from leading academic and practitioner expertise.
Lecturer

Katea Gidley

Managing Director (Career Ahead), Subject Facilitator

The Graduate Certificate of Career Development has a brand new curriculum, tightly aligned to the Career Industry Council of Australia competencies and applicable to all applications or career development services from education to business.