Certificate in Career Planning

Important Information:

Due to changes in the standards for Career Education, Information, Advice and Guidance, ASDAN has reviewed the Certificate in Career Planning and has developed a series of new units and qualifications within our Employability qualification suite.

Centres may still offer ASDAN's Certificate in Career Planning at Levels 1, 2 and 3 as long as candidate names are registered before 31 August 2010. There will then be a two-year period for centres to continue to develop their learners, provided successful final moderation and certification is completed before 31 August 2012.

ASDAN is organising a series of Information Seminars in the spring and summer terms 2010 to assist centres in becoming familiar with the new units and qualification pathways available from 1 September 2010. Information Seminars will introduce and provide information about the new Employability units (working titles):

Unit 12  Using advice and guidance
Unit 13  Learning through work experience
Unit 14  Career exploration
Unit 15  Opportunities for learning and work
Unit 16  Barriers to work
Unit 17  Exploring enterprise
Unit 18  Exploring entrepreneurship
Unit 19  Participate in an enterprise activity

These units have been created to provide centres with qualification outcomes for the new principles and standards in Information, Advice and Guidance and Career Education (download ‘Quality, Choice and Aspiration'), as well as Work Experience. We have also included new Enterprise Education units which accredit learners' achievements across their work-related experiences and activities.

If you would like to find out more - please visit the Employability training page to book your place on an Information Seminar or one of the Employability Training Workshops in your region.

Links between ASDAN's Career Planning and Employability Qualifications

What is it?

The Certificate in Career Planning at Levels 1, 2, and 3 is a qualification that provides a framework for the development and assessment of student learning in careers education and preparation for working life. It prepares students for the challenge of flexible careers paths and provides clear evidence of the delivery of careers education/guidance.

Who is it for?

The qualification is appropriate for pre- and post-16 students, and adults. It can be delivered as a stand-alone qualification within a work-related learning context; through PSHE or tutorial programmes; alongside other academic and vocational qualifications in a wide range of educational contexts.

Structure

The qualification consists of three units:

• Self Development (increasing self-development through self-awareness, action planning and work-related activities)
• Career Exploration (stimulating career exploration and critical use of information)
• Career Management (enhancing career management, negotiation and presentation skills)

The units are written in a distinctive style, similar to that as seen in Key Skills: Part A (what you need to know), Part B (what you must do) and Part C (guidance).

Certification is available for individual units, but students must complete all three units at the same level to achieve the full qualification.

Specifications and Guidance

Please click here to download the Certificate in Career Planning Specifications and Guidance.

Assessment

Each candidate must demonstrate their competence in each unit by presenting a portfolio of evidence, which clearly shows their ability to meet the standards.

Part A questions: These questions are optional. They are externally set questions which are used to assess underpinning knowledge and understanding in discussions between the tutor/supervisor/assessor and the candidate. Responses are recorded on the paperwork provided and included in the portfolio of evidence.

The portfolio is internally assessed and externally moderated.

Status and progression

The Certificate in Career Planning at Levels 1, 2 and 3 is approved by the regulatory authorities (Ofqual, DCELLS and CCEA), and listed in Section 96 and 97 of the Learning and Skills Act for pre- and post-16 provision. The approval period has been renewed and extended to August 2010, with certificates awarded until August 2012.

The qualification is included in School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables. At Level 1, Career Planning is worth 25 points (Grade E/F GCSE equivalent), and at Level 2 it is worth 46 points (Grade B GCSE equivalent). Click here for a full list of ASDAN qualification codes and performance points.

Career Planning contributes to the requirements of Main and Wider Key Skills, and provides opportunities for developing individual Key Skills units.

Career Planning has been developed in line with national guidance on Careers Education such as QCDA's Learning Outcomes for Careers Education and Guidance, Skills for Choice and Preparation for Working Life. It builds on the requirements of the 1987 Education Act and is compatible with standards developed by careers organisations for the assessment of careers programmes.

FAQ

Q: How much does this ASDAN qualification cost?

Q: How can my centre start running the Certificate in Career Planning?