Join as a registered professional member to demonstrate your commitment to high-quality practice
Joining the UK Career Development Register demonstrates that you meet the CDI’s high standards of professionalism and ethical practice
There are two categories of Registered Professional membership.
- Registered Career Development Professional proving qualification at a minimum of 60 credits at QCF Level 6/SCQF level 11 or above in a career development subject, adherence to the CDI Code of Ethics and the undertaking and recording of a minimum of 25 hours CPD per year. This is the level of qualification needed to provide personal careers guidance.
- Registered Careers Leader proving qualification at a minimum of 20 credits at QCF level 6 or above in careers leadership/education, adherence to the CDI Code of Ethics and the undertaking and recording of a minimum of 25 hours CPD per year. This does not qualify you to provide personal careers guidance.
What is the Register?
The Register was established in response to a request by the UK government’s Department for Education as a public record of career development professionals who hold a qualification at a minimum of 60 credits at QCF Level 6/SCQF level 11 or above in a career development subject, commit to maintaining their skills and knowledge and meet the CDI’s standards of professional behaviour, including commitment to the CDI’s Code of Ethics.
The Register provides clients and employers with the reassurance that they are choosing a practitioner who is both qualified and trustworthy.
Who can apply?
To check whether your qualification meets our requirements, please see the Register Brochure.
Once you are on the Register, you can use the post nominals RCDP or RCL and relevant logo, provided that you agree to undertake and record a minimum of 25 hours CPD each year. Your details will also be included in the online directories of Registered Career Development Professionals or Registered Careers Leaders.
If you have any questions or do not hold one of the relevant qualifications, please contact the CDI’s Head of Professional Development and Standards, Claire.johnson@thecdi.net who will be able to advise you about our alternative qualifications and competency routes to the Register.
Benefits of being a registered professional member
- Add a Register Profile to our Find a Career Development Professional section to promote the career development services you offer to prospective clients and employers
- Highlight your professional status with a certificate of membership, use of the CDI Registered Member logo, and use of designatory letters ‘RCDP’ or 'RCL'
- Access 600+ resources in the CPD Resources area: from the history of the profession to the latest research into best practice and the impact of careers (accessed from the members’ only part of the website)
- Attend free CPD webinars to explore topics of interest and record CPD hours in the Members' Area
- Develop your digital skills with free practical training via our Digital Bytes webinars
- Join our Expert training sessions at discounted rates, accessing presentations and workshops by thought leaders and expert practitioners across career development
- Book your discounted place at our conferences including The National Conference
- Join our professional communities via our member-only social media groups, to network and learn from other students and practitioners: Community of Practice: Career Development Professionals, Community of Practice: Careers Leaders and Career Development in Scotland
- Take part in careers community meetings in your region, managed by the CDI’s regional reps, with discussion and support from practitioners from all areas of career development
- Receive your quarterly Career Matters magazine (hard copy) with features on the latest research and practice, spotlight on different careers and reviews of books, resources and websites (back copies are available in the CPD Resources section in the members’ only area)
- Read our monthly email updates: CDI News, Chief Executive Update, Training and Events, and CPD Newsletter
- Find your perfect role with free access to the Careers in Careers job board
- Receive your free NICEC journal - free pdf copy twice a year in April and October (back copies are available in the CPD Resources section in the members’ only area)
Commitments
As a registered professional member, you will be expected to adhere to the CDI Code of Ethics, and agree to undertake and record a minimum of 25 hours CPD per year.
Joining the Register
You need to be a full CDI individual member to join the Register. Individual membership costs £105 per year and the cost of joining the register is an initial £55 with an annual renewal of £25 provided that you remain a CDI individual member.
Existing CDI members can apply to join the Register by clicking the 'Join the Register' button in your Members Area, or by emailing lyn.burgess@thecdi.net.
If you want to apply to become a registered professional member (and you are not already a CDI member), then registered membership costs £160 for the first year and then renews at £130 per year afterwards. Annual membership commences from the day that you register.
You can apply to join as a registered professional member online by completing the online application form or downloading the Membership Application Form (PDF| Word) and send it to membership@thecdi.net.
Find out more about payment options here.