Credentials for Career Development Counselors

Secondary Career Development Credential

To receive a regular Career Development Credential from the Department of Career and Technical Education, a Career Development counselor must have a Master's degree with a major in Guidance and Counseling and meet all of the following requirements.

Hold a North Dakota Educator's Professional License.
Hold, or be eligible to hold, a valid North Dakota Professional School Counselor Credential, CGO1 (Secondary) or CGO3 (K-12).
Have had at least one year of occupational experience at wage earning pursuits other than education.
Have earned three (3) semester hours of credit in History, Philosophy and Practices of Career and Technical Education.
Have completed a minimum of four (4) semester hours of credit in other applicable courses as approved by the state supervisor of Career Development. Such courses could include topics related to:
1. Career Education
2. Community Education
3. Counseling the Disadvantaged
4. Adult Education
5. Public Relations
6. Theories of Career Development
7. Choices/CX Online Workshops
8. National Career Development Guidelines
A provisional credential may be granted for up to four years for a candidate to meet the requirements. This credential must be renewed on an annual basis after showing yearly progress.

Application Process

To apply for a Career Development Credential, complete the Application For Career and Technical Education Teacher Certification (SFN 5415).

Renewal Process

A regular Career Development Credential must be renewed every five years. To renew a Career Development Credential, a counselor must earn four (4) semester hours and complete the Renewal Application For Career and Technical Education Teacher Certification (SFN 51688).

Postsecondary Career Development Credential

A Career Development counselor at the postsecondary level must have a Master's degree in guidance and counseling and must meet the following requirements to receive a regular Career Development Credential.

Have had at least one year's occupational experience at wage earning pursuits other than education.
Have earned three (3) semester hours of credit in History, Philosophy and Practices of Career and Technical Education.
Have completed a minimum of four (4) semester hours of credit in other applicable courses as approved by the state supervisor of Career Development. Such courses could include topics related to:
1. Career Education
2. Community Education
3. Counseling the Disadvantaged
4. Adult Education
5. Public Relations
6. Theories of Career Development
7. Choices/CX Online Workshops
8. National Career Development Guidelines
A provisional credential may be granted for up to four years for a candidate to meet the requirements. This credential must be renewed on an annual basis after showing yearly progress.
Provisional certification may be granted for those candidates with a Master's degree in a closely related counseling area. (Examples: Counseling Psychology, Rehabilitation Counseling, Developmental Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Applied Psychology). Candidates have a four-year period of time to meet the requirements. At the completion of these requirements they are eligible for a regular Career Development Credential.

Application Process

To apply for a Career Development Credential, complete the Application For Career and Technical Education Teacher Certification (SFN 5415).

Renewal Process

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