The National Career Development Guidelines (NCDG) are an innovating tool to create, implement and measure the effectiveness of career development programs.

Developed through support from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education, the NCDG articulate the career management, personal/ social, and lifelong learning competencies that every individual needs to thrive in today’s ever-changing global environment. 

Explore the Guidelines and identify creative activities that can be integrated into the classroom to support this effort.  Studies clearly indicate that adding career relevance enhances the learning experiences for youth and adults. 

Parents and Youth can use the NCDG

• as an informal checklist to determine areas of competency and gaps
• to develop a plan to address those competencies that need strengthened

Educators can use the NCDG

• to review their curriculum and existing lessons for career development connections
• to write new lessons that enhance academic rigor by infusing career development concepts

School Counselors and Career Development Practitioners can use the NCDG

• to review existing career development programs to see what competencies are covered and where the gaps exist
• to craft a new competency-based career development program for youth or adults
• to develop a program evaluation and accountability plan.
  
  The complete NCDG Guidelines can be found in the National Career Development Guidelines Framework document found in this section of our website.