Understanding the issues and opportunities for professional qualifications

In 2024 the CDI commissioned the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS) and the University of Derby to conduct a study of the current system for getting qualified to practice in career development and the recognition of professional status in the UK. This followed a growing sense that the landscape could be confusing for new entrants, had inconsistencies and could be improved to enhance professional recognition in career development.

The research involved 22 stakeholder interviews, a survey across the profession which elicited 644 valid responses and four roundtable discussions focused on different stakehodler groups - training providers, employers, practitioners and students.

iCeGS carried out their research over the second half of 2024 and published their report for the CDI Board in January 2025. The report outlines the approach taken, the key findings, key discussion points and a set of conclusions and recommendations for future development.

CDI members can read Hannah Blake and Tristram Hooley's article about the research in the October 2025 edition of Career Matters.

Executive report

The Executive report includes the foreword by David Morgan, Chief Executive of the CDI, the executive summary from the full report and the recommended routes to strengthening the sector. 

It is useful as a quick overview of the key findings from the research by Hannah Blake, Tristram Hooley and Ka Tung Lai at iCeGS.

Download the Qualifications and Professionalism in Career Development Executive report. 

Executive report
Full report

Final report

The final report includes the full report from iCeGS, including the foreword, notes on qualification levels, the executive summary, the recommended routes to strengthening the sector, a comprehensive introduction giving background to the research, the research approach, findings, discussion areas and conclusions. 

The final report is recommended for anyone wishing to understand the detail of the research and the findings of the work.

Download the Qualifications and Professionalism in Career Development Final report. 

Recommendations

The report made twelve recommendations on the basis of the findings. These are:

  1. Renew the sector’s commitment to professionalism.
  2. Campaign to improve the image of the sector.
  3. Improve pay and conditions for career development professionals.
  4. Develop new mechanisms for funding qualifications.
  5. Clarify and simplify the range of qualifications available for career development professionals.
  6. Strengthen both work-based and classroom-based routes into the profession.
  7. Clarify the differences between the different levels of qualification.
  8. Codify the post qualification period to support the development of professional confidence and proficiency.
  9. Strengthen the range of opportunities and support for CPD.
  10. Expand the progression opportunities within the career development profession.
  11. Reassert the CDI as the strategic body with responsibility for training, qualifications and professionalism.
  12. Continue to develop, promote and clarify the register.

CDI activity from the research

The CDI commissioned the research to inform its programme of work aimed at encouraging more people to enter and remain in the career development profession, as well as strengthen the professional recognition and identity of career development professionals.

With the presentation of the research to the CDI Board by the team at iCeGS in January 2025, it was agreed to initiate a series of projects to address some of the key issues raised.

Qualification in Career Development

The most urgent project was agreed to be the need to review the Qualification in Career Development, awarded by the CDI through universities offering level 7 career development qualifications. From the research, a project paper was written and shared with the universities and other stakeholders as part of a consultation exercise. That identified changes needed to the awarding of the QCD and, having gained agreement from the CDI Board, the approach to this is currently in discussion between the CDI and the universities. This will change the nature of recognition but still retain the QCD's main feature, which is ensuring competence to practice career guidance.

The UK Register of Career Development Professionals

While the Register is working in the way it was originally intended, the research highlighted a number of issues and areas of confusion. It also flagged opportunities to make the Register more relevant across the profession. Again, a paper was written on the back of the research, outlining in greater detail the background to the Register, its current nature and the issues and options for future development. From this, the CDI will undertake a wider consultation on proposed changes to formulate a final plan for change that aims to reinforce the Register's role as a cornerstone of professional recognition for career development.

Other projects

Once the projects above have progressed sufficiently, the CDI will initiate further projects addressing key areas from the research. In addition, there are issues raised in the report - such as poor pay in some areas of the profession - that continue to be addressed by ongoing work undertaken by the CDI and other careers organisations such as the Career Development Policy Group. 

2030 Strategy

The iCeGS research has played a key role in informing the CDI's 2030 Strategy, due for publication in November 2025.