How to become a certified career counselor

Empower others to reach their full potential.

The Certified Career Advisor™ (CA) designation marks your commitment to continued excellence in career advising. IACA-certified courses help you grow your understanding of career theories and develop real-world skills to make a difference in the lives of others.

Why gain IACA Certification?

The CA designation marks your commitment to career advising and upholding the highest standards in your field.

As a CA, you are part of the International Association of Career Advisors — dedicated to advancing the quality of career services worldwide.

Ultimately, we aim to empower individuals of all nations to obtain productive and satisfying careers.

Benefits of being a Certified Career Advisor.

Courses are current– Relevant to the needs of career advisors worldwide with continuing education opportunities that fit your needs and areas of interest.

Shows employers and the public that you have met international standards for career advising education and training based on research completed by professional counselors working in the counseling profession.

Enhances your professional reputation and credibilityand provides a sense of personal accomplishment.

Offers both you and your clients the protection of an enforceable Code of Ethics.

Demonstrates your commitment to continued professional developmentand skills expansion.

Cost effective – busy professionals, need online options that get right to the heart of how you can make a difference without having to take valuable time off of work.

Increases your opportunities for career advancementand increased earnings, among other benefits of certification.

Provides opportunities for you to advocate on behalf of the career advising profession.

International certification from IACA shows your colleagues and the public that you have met high international standards and have an in-depth knowledge in the field of career advising.

Easily manage your certification renewal through the IACA website.

IACA offers the ability to market yourself using your certification; Use of IACA certification marks on business cards, advertisements, Web sites and other promotional materials.

A free IACA membership for the first year, giving you access to the latest insights and resources from career guidance professionals around the world.

The opportunity to participate in powerful webinars, that help you gain a fresh perspective on career advising.

No prerequisites needed.

You don’t need any prerequisites to apply for an IACA – Certified Career Advisor (CA)™ designation. However, most CA applicants have a background in career advising and are currently serving as counselors, career coaches, workforce development staff, or in another primary career advising role.

How to become a Certified Career Advisor (CA).

Step 1:

Register and successfully complete one IACA-certified course.

IACA-certified courses undergo a rigorous review process on an annual basis and are aligned to 10 core competencies vital to excellence in career guidance.  Learn more about the IACA course certification process.

Register for an IACA-certified course.

Step 2:

Pass the final exam.

Questions on the online-proctored IACA exam align to the 10 core competencies covered during your completion of an IACA-certified course. Detailed information about the proctoring process will be shared once you've registered for a course.

Step 3:

Sign Ethics Pledge.

Based around nine key themes, the Code of Ethics helps clarify the responsibilites of anyone undertaking a career advising role and serves as an ethical guide to career advisors and their advisees world-wide.

Sign the ethics pledge.

Step 4:

Submit three letters of recommendation.

Letters of recommendation can be emailed directly to IACA at . Letters should be sent from colleagues, administrators or community partners within 30 days of completing the course. References should include their name, job title, company of employment, relationship with you, and the reason for recommending you to become a Certified Career Advisor.

How to maintain your CA status.

Step 1:

To maintain your Certified Career Advisor™ (CA) designation, you need to renew your IACA membership annually. 

You'll need to complete at least one three-hour continuing education course approved by the IACA Advisory Board.

Review course options.

Step 3:

Every five years you will be required to submit:

Three new recommendation letters from colleagues, administrators, or community partners.

Documentation of passing the IACA Certified Career Advising Course™ renewal exam with a score of at least 85%.

Need a translation?

All course materials are available online in English. Translated and localized versions of the courses are available upon request. The courses may be offered completely face-to-face in rare instances — in these instances, course materials may not be available online. In these instances, course materials may be shared during the face-to-face sessions and may not be available online.

To request a translation, please email .