The Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) credential was developed by CCE, in collaboration with the National Career Development Association (NCDA) and the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee in the mid-1990s. The GCDF U.S. credentialing program was launched in the United States in 1997 and is the first and most notable national credential in the field of career development. The program was originally known as the Career Development Facilitator (CDF™). As the credential became more recognized domestically, acceptance abroad became prevalent. In 2001, the CDF was renamed the GCDF to illustrate its global expansion with its first international partner in Japan.
Since its inception, the GCDF has had a significant impact on the field of career development:
- More than 14,000 individuals have been credentialed as a GCDF in the U.S. More than 30,000 have been credentialed as a GCDF globally in 23 different countries.
- States that recognize the GCDF for professional career advancement or employment include
- Maryland Michigan
- North Carolina South Carolina
- Tennessee Wisconsin
To be eligible for a GCDF credential, there are specific thresholds that you must meet:
- You must commit to abide by the GCDF Code of Ethics;
- You must complete a required amount of supervised career development experience commensurate with your level of education.
- You must complete a 120-hour (minimum) comprehensive training of the 12 GCDF core competencies using an approved curriculum.
- There are 13 approved curriculum providers that meet the standards for the GCDF 120-hour (minimum) training requirement that offer a variety of methods of learning for those who wish to become a GCDF.