This leading professional vocational qualification is for those who want to make a real difference to improving the quality of people’s lives through the design and delivery of effective career guidance
The Qualification in Career Development(QCD), is a high-quality, nationally recognised professional qualification for career development practitioners.
Awarded by the CDI, the QCD is incorporated into postgraduate career guidance programmes, available at designated universities across the UK. From January 2017 the Qualification in Career Development replaced the QCG/D.
All programmes are at QCF level 7 (equivalent SCQF Level 11 in Scotland), and most can be topped up to a full Master’s degree within a year. Study may be full-time or by a range of part-time and distance/blended learning options.
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For further details contact the programme leader at the QCD centres below or click here for contact details
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The CDI welcomes Student Members. The cost of qualification is:
- QCG/QCD Registration – £310.00
- CDI Student Membership - £55
Student Membership
Ideal for individuals training to enter the profession or anyone considering a career in career development when they leave full time education.
As a Student Member you will automatically receive the CDI's Fortnightly News by Email, full of news stories, reports on CDI and sector activity; research and resources that you can tap into, and the Careers in Careers bulletin, containing the latest jobs from the sector.
You will also receive copies of our quarterly professional magazine Career Matters a free electronic copy of the NICEC journal,monthly CPD Newslette, termly Student Newsletter and be able to attend CDI events at the special Student rate.
You can also access our free webinars and digital bytes.
Student Conference
Each year we organise a National Student Conference, in both England and Scotland. The Scottish Conference was held on 26th January 2022 and for students from England and Wales this will be held on 13th April 2022.
The QCD Handbook
The QCD Handbook has been designed to offer support and guidance throughout the duration of your course. It has specific advice on the structure of the qualification, its assessment and the Professional Practice Report the course requires, and guidance for after the course. The handbook also includes specific information on the benefits of Student Membership and Joining the UK Register of Career Development Professionals
QCD Professional Report
The Professional Development Report - location of evidence document is required to show where the evidence which meets each of the QCD Learning Outcomes can be found in your electronic Professional Report. Completing this document will help the CDI Moderator to sample your work and locate the required evidence.
For students who started the course prior to September 2021 please use QCD Professional Development Report Location of Evidence document (Pre-September 2011).
For further information on how to compile the Professional Report please see the QCD Handbook and follow the advice from your university.
QCD Destination Trends
The majority of students who complete the QCD find employment in the career development sector. Charts, detailing the destinations of the students can be downloaded below;
QCD Placements with Employers
One of the requirements of the QCD is that students undertake a minimum of 20 days' placement with an employer/s and a further 10 days of work-based learning. If you are interested in offering these opportunities or are required by your course to source your own placements please have a look at the QCD Placement brochure.