How to Become a Career Development Practitioner in South Africa
Finding the right career for you, or what to study can be challenging. Career Development Practitioners are there to help individuals decide on their options and find the right career path.
In South Africa career development services are offered by various services like schools, universities, colleges, government departments, recruitment and community programs.
If you enjoy helping people, sharing information and assisting individuals with decision making regarding their careers, becoming a Career Development Practitioner could be an interesting career choice.
Below is a guide outlining a breakdown of what a Career Development Practitioner does, what qualifications you need, what skills are required and potential job opportunities.
What Is a Career Development Practitioner?
A Career Development Practitioner is a professional in helping individuals and groups make informed decisions regarding their education, training and employment.
They may support learners making subject choices at school, helping students with their choices while studying, assisting individuals looking for work and helping those wanting to change careers.
Career development services are very important in helping individuals make informed career decisions and move between education and employment (Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) South Africa).
What Does a Career Development Practitioner Do?
The duties they perform will depend on the organisation and the level of training they have.
Some common duties may include:
Providing information on different occupations and career options.
Providing information on opportunities available at universities, TVET colleges and training.
Helping learners understand what is required for admission.
Providing information on bursaries and funding.
Assisting individuals looking for work to make informed career decisions.
Helping individuals discover their interests and skills.
Providing information on employment trends.
Providing career guidance sessions and information.
Referring clients to the correct qualified professionals.
Career Development Practitioners should ensure they provide accurate, relevant and up-to-date information.
What Qualifications Do You Need?
There are specific qualifications available in South Africa to get into the career development information field.
One key qualification is the Occupational Certificate: Career Development Information Officer (SAQA ID 96372).
This qualification is registered under NQF Level 5 and will equip learners with the skills to provide career related information to individuals and groups.
Minimum Entry Requirements
To qualify for this course you must have one of the following:
National Senior Certificate (NSC)
Senior Certificate
NQF Level 4 Qualification
National Certificate (Vocational)
Always check with an accredited training provider to confirm current entry requirements.
Qualification Information:
https://regqs.saqa.org.za/showQualification.php?id=96372
What Will I Learn?
This qualification will teach you:
An introduction to Career Development.
Communication.
Career Development Theories and Concepts.
Education and Study Opportunities.
Occupation Information.
Support individuals to make informed career decisions.
Facilitate career information sessions for groups.
The qualification will also provide practical information to prepare students to provide career information.
How to Become a Career Development Practitioner in South Africa
If you would like to become a Career Development Practitioner in South Africa, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Complete your Matric or Equivalent Qualification
Ensure you have completed your National Senior Certificate, or an equivalent NQF Level 4 qualification.
Confirm you meet the entry requirements for the training program.
Step 2: Research Career Development Information Officer Qualification
Research the Occupational Certificate: Career Development Information Officer.
Find out which accredited providers offer this qualification, how the training is provided and if they are currently accepting applications.
Not all institutions offering career related short courses will offer the registered occupation qualification.
Step 3: Apply to the Relevant Training Provider
Contact the training provider and find out:
Entry requirements.
How to apply.
When you can register.
Duration of the course.
Cost of the training.
Assessment requirements.
Ensure you only apply to a provider that can confirm they are accredited and authorised to offer the qualification.
Step 4: Complete Your Training and Assessment
During your studies you will gain knowledge of occupations, education and career guidance.
You will also need to show that you can provide career information and assist individuals and groups with their career decisions.
Step 5: Look into Professional Designation
The South African Career Development Association (SACDA) is the professional body that represents Career Development Practitioners in South Africa.
They offer professional designations and set requirements.
Depending on your qualifications and experience you may need to provide supporting documents, and complete competency and ethical assessments.
Find out what the requirements are:
https://www.sacda.org.za/faqs/
These are different to the entry requirements for training qualifications.
Skills Required
In addition to your training, having the right skills will help you to work well with people.
Communication – You should be able to provide clear career information and communicate well with different groups.
Active Listening – Understand what the individual is interested in, concerned about and what their goals are.
Research – You need to be able to research accurate information on qualifications, occupations, institutions and employment.
Problem Solving – Individuals may have different challenges when making career and study decisions.
Organisation – You may need to organise appointments, sessions, workshops and keep client records.
Professionalism – Be respectful with confidential information, treat everyone fairly and know when to refer clients to other qualified professionals.
Where Can You Work?
Career Development Practitioners may work in a variety of sectors depending on their qualifications and experience.
Potential employers include:
Schools.
Universities and TVET Colleges.
Government Departments.
Career Guidance Centres.
Non Profit Organisations.
Youth Development Organisations.
Recruitment and Employment Services.
Private Career Development Organisations.
Some may also work within training, career coaching and employability programs depending on their skills and qualifications.
Where Can I Find More Information?
Use the following official South African sources to find out more information about this profession.
1. Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)
https://www.dhet.gov.za/SitePages/CareerDevelopmentServices.aspx
This will give information on government Career Development services, career guidance and support.
2. Career Help - Khetha
https://www.careerhelp.org.za/content/who-career-development-practitioner-0
This will provide information on the different categories of Career Development Practitioners and what they do.
3. South African Career Development Association (SACDA)
https://www.sacda.org.za/
This will provide professional information, guidance on membership and requirements for professional designations.
4. South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
https://www.saqa.org.za/
This will provide information on registered qualifications and professional designations.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a Career Development Practitioner can be a fulfilling career choice if you enjoy helping individuals make informed decisions on their education, training and employment.
Research the Occupational Certificate: Career Development Information Officer to see if it is right for you. Ensure you check with recognised training providers to confirm entry requirements. You may also want to look into the professional designation process with SACDA.
Always use official sources to research training and professional requirements to make informed decisions.
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