How to Find a Career Counselor or Coach
Have you thought about getting help from a career professional? These specialists can make your job search or career change more successful. As you read about the organizations that credential these specialists, you'll learn the differences between counselors and coaches.
See which situation is closest to yours:
| Your situation: | Do this: |
| You've lost your job. Few jobs of any kind seem to be open in your area. | Go to your local U.S. Department of Labor Career One-Stop Center. Get ideas and referrals from a job search trainer or a job placement specialist. |
| You dread going to work, but don't want to leave before you're eligible for your full pension. You worry about lay-offs. | Meet with a career coach. Plan how to jump-start your motivation and remain valuable to your employer. |
| You've tried some career self-assessments. They show a match between your interests and some jobs that you don't know much about. You feel overwhelmed. | Talk with a career services expert. Apply your assessments to the work world. |
| You want to make some changes to prepare for retirement, but you can't seem to get started. | Talk with a counselor. Explore what may be blocking you and move forward. |
| You dream of doing new work before it's too late. You don't know where to start. You're afraid you may have missed your chance. | Meet with a counselor. Spend some time figuring out your work preferences, values, and interests. Then make concrete plans. |
Career professionals use many different titles to describe their work. Counselor, coach, and consultant are most common.
Career Counseling and Coaching Tips:
- Use a career professional whose skills match your needs. Do you mostly need information about local businesses? Find a job placement specialist at your local Career One-Stop Center. Do you want help in matching your interests to possible jobs? Choose someone qualified to interpret formal assessment tests.
- Check references and credentials, especially for independent professionals. This can get complicated. But it's essential. State governments regulate counselors, but not coaches or other career professionals. However, many career counselors and coaches have certifications with a credentialing organization. Check with them about the professional you are considering.
- Ask for a free initial session. See if this feels like a good match.
- Ask what activities, exercises, tests, or homework you'll do. Look for a process tailored just for you.
- Understand what you are paying for. Don't pay a large fee up front. Don't commit to many sessions or to a long time.
- Choose the process and payment method that feels most comfortable. Most career counselors charge by the hour. They work with you in person. Many coaches charge a monthly fee that covers several weekly sessions. They may work with you by phone.
- Be prepared to work. Career professionals make your job search or career change more effective, but they don't do the work for you.
Find Qualified Career Professionals
Career counseling and coaching services are booming in the U.S. One result is that you have more choices than ever before. Another result is that people with no special training can represent themselves as career professionals.
There are certainly skilled helpers without formal credentials. But working with someone who has formal qualifications gives you a better chance of meeting your career needs.
Career counselors and coaches are more likely to be skilled if they have specialized college degrees and are certified by a credentialing organization. Ask how the counselor or coach is certified. Look up the organization that has certified them. See if you're satisfied.
Be aware that almost anyone can join a professional association by paying a small fee. Membership alone can certainly indicate someone's commitment to the career services field. But it does not tell you if they're good.
Being certified involves much more. Insist on certification.
Here are five credentialing organizations that certify counselors or other career professionals.
National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
This independent organization credentials National Certified Counselors. To become a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a counselor must have: an advanced degree in counseling, supervised counseling experience, and passed the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification.
Ask about a counselor's experience in career counseling. Prior to 1999, there was a NBCC credential for National Certified Career Counselor. Some counselors still use this title. But the Board no longer gives this certificate.
Many National Certified Counselors also hold another credential specializing in career issues.
Institute of Career Certification International
The Institute of Career Certification International is an independent organization that certifies practicing career management professionals.
The Institute offers several different levels of certification including Career Management Practitioner and Career Management Fellow. Certification is based on years of career management and demonstrated expertise in key competency areas.
Association of Career Professionals International (ACP International)
Members of this organization specialize only in career issues. Work with them on career growth, job change, starting your own business, or planning what work to do after you retire from your main job.
Anyone who delivers, markets, or manages career services can join ACP International for a small fee.
ACP members can, but are not required to, be certified by the Institute of Career Certification International. Many members do obtain certification from the Institute. Members may also have master's degrees in the career management field.
National Career Development Association (NCDA)
This is a division of the American Counseling Association. Its Web site clearly explains what career counselors do and how to select one.
Anyone interested in career development can join the NCDA. There are also special membership categories for counselors and other professionals with certain qualifications.
The Global Career Development Facilitator is a new title that is credentialed through the Center for Credentialing and Education, a subsidiary of the National Board for Certified Counselors. It is for career services workers such as placement or job search specialists. A Global Career Development Facilitator may work in a community agency or a Career One-Stop Center.
Someone who is a Master Career Counselor (MCC) has career counseling experience and a credential as a National Certified Counselor or a state-licensed counselor or psychologist. The MCC is usually active in the National Career Development Association and has a master's degree in counseling or a related field.
International Coach Federation (ICF)
Coaching is a recently recognized profession. It aims to help clients function better at work and in their personal lives.
Coaching differs from counseling because it focuses on the here-and-now, doesn't deal much with the past, and doesn't delve into understanding human behavior. It is usually short-term. Coaches listen, observe, and support clients in solving problems and performing better.
Most coaches work individually rather than in organizations. Many come from human resources (personnel) and other business backgrounds. Some specialize in career coaching.
Members can join ICF and get listed on the Web site's Coach Referral Service for a modest fee. To become a certified coach involves more.
There are several dozen coach training programs in the U.S. There is no standardized program of study for coaches. The ICF qualifies Certified Coaches and Master Certified Coaches in two ways.
A candidate can graduate from one of the several coaching training programs accredited by the ICF. Or a candidate can document other training and experiences that align with the coaching competencies defined by the ICF.
Use the Coach Referral Service on ICF's Web site to find a coach. Be aware that any coach can register with this service - trained, certified, or not. You can search by ICF-certified coaches.
Additional Resources
Career One-Stop
Enter your zip code to find the center nearest you. Many staff
are certified as career development facilitators. They can help
you find job openings and more.
National Board of Certified
Counselors
Find certified counselors who specialize in career help here.
Association of Career
Professionals
Use these write-ups to find a career services expert.
Institute of Career
Certification International
Find ACP International members who are also certified.
National Career Development Association
Find Master Career Counselors here.
International Coach
Federation
Learn if coaching is for you. Find certified coaches with career
service experience.
