Only qualifications count: exploring perceptions of continuing professional development within the career guidance sector

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the views of a group of career development practitioners undertaking a postgraduate qualification as a form of continuing professional development (CPD). It offers insights into how these practitioners perceive and view different forms of CPD. A case study methodology was adopted to gather examples of the CPD activities practitioners engaged in and the value placed on these in supporting the development of professional practice. Their views were synthesised to create a typology representing a differentiated model of CPD. The model proposes three types of CPD: operational, experiential and formal. Formal CPD is perceived as having the highest value in developing professional practice. The study supports a deeper understanding of how careers practitioners engage with and understand CPD.

KEYWORDS:

• CPD
• careers practitioners
• career development work
• professional associations
• professional practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Siobhan Neary is Deputy Head of the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS). She leads the Centre’s CPD portfolio. Her research interests focus on professional identity of career development practitioners and the researcher practitioner.

Notes

1. All the respondents have been given pseudonyms.