Career development professional
Level 6 · DegreeBusiness and administration 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Career Development Professional apprenticeship trains you to provide high-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance to individuals in schools, colleges, employment services or community settings. Apprentices develop the skills to help people make informed decisions about learning and work. It leads to qualified careers adviser, career coach or careers leader roles.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Career development theory and guidance models
Labour market intelligence and education pathways
One-to-one guidance interview techniques
Group-based careers education and employability workshops
Ethical practice and professional standards in careers guidance
Needs assessment and action planning with clients
Recording and evaluation of careers guidance activity
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Conduct one-to-one career guidance interviews with clients
Assess individual needs and agree personalised action plans
Deliver group career education sessions in school or college
Research and share relevant labour market and course information
Signpost clients to relevant opportunities, programmes and support
Maintain case records and track client outcomes
Liaise with schools, employers and training providers
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 6 (Degree) - roughly Bachelor’s-degree level. Usually needs A-levels or a Level 3 qualification (employers set UCAS-point targets). You earn a full degree while you work - with no tuition fees to pay.
What’s next: Leads into professional roles, sometimes with a Level 7 (Master’s) apprenticeship after.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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