The national voice for Canada’s career development standards
The Standards Council for Canadian Career Development is the national body stewarding Canada’s career development standards. These standards support Career Development Professionals (CDPs) across the country.
To support this work, the Council brings together leaders from across Canada to champion excellence, strengthen professional identity, and help the career development sector respond to evolving labour market and societal needs.
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We want to connect with you. In fall 2026, we will start sending quarterly updates on what we are doing, what we are hearing, and how to better understand the National Standards.
Why National Standards Matter
National standards help to:
Support quality, consistency, and credibility across professions
Strengthen professional identity and recognition for CDPs
Ensure standards evolve alongside labour market and societal change
Promote equity, accessibility, and ethical practice nationwide
How We Strengthen the Career Development Sector
Sector Consultation & Representation
We consult with associations, educators, employers, CDPs, and other interest holders to ensure that national standards reflect diverse perspectives, lived and living experiences, and emerging sectoral needs.
Promotion of Professionalism & Sector Capacity
We champion certification, professional development, and professional identity across Canada—supporting employers, educators, governments, and CDPs in strengthening the profession.
Collaboration for Sector Strengthening
The Council fosters creative partnerships and collaboration to support coherence, innovation, and shared ownership of national professional standards across Canada.
Help Shape Career Development Standards in Canada
We work collaboratively across the sector to ensure Canada’s career development standards remain credible, relevant, and responsive. Connect with us to share perspectives, explore collaboration opportunities, or express interest in future Council involvement.