CAS Member Spotlight: The National Career Development Association (NCDA)

The National Career Development Association (NCDA) is a leading professional association serving career development practitioners across a wide range of settings, with its largest membership constituency working in higher education. NCDA supports these professionals by building community, sharing best practices, and advancing the field of career development through research, collaboration, and professional learning. Its members work to help individuals identify career pathways, develop professional skills, and achieve meaningful career and life goals.

NCDA’s mission is to provide professional development, publications, standards, and advocacy to practitioners and educators who inspire and empower individuals in their career journeys. This mission aligns closely with CAS’s focus on professional standards, continuous improvement, and student success. Both organizations are committed to strengthening practice, promoting quality programs, and supporting professionals who guide students through critical developmental experiences.

Participation in CAS has created valuable opportunities for NCDA to exchange knowledge and collaborate. Through this partnership, NCDA representatives have shared CAS resources with career services professionals and learned from discussions with leaders across functional areas in higher education. This exchange has strengthened the connection between career development practice and broader student affairs standards and initiatives.

CAS standards play an important role in supporting NCDA members’ work. They provide guidance for those new to higher education career services, those building or expanding career centers, and those conducting program evaluation and assessment. Many career development professionals also oversee internship programs and other experiential learning initiatives, making access to multiple CAS functional area standards especially valuable.
NCDA encourages professionals to explore CAS resources developed in partnership with the association, including:
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• Career Services Standards
  
• Career Services Functional Area Resource Paper (FARP)
• Career Services Self-Assessment Guide (SAG)
  

NCDA serves career development professionals from a wide variety of institutional types and settings. Through its annual conference, year-round professional development, and extensive networking opportunities, NCDA fosters connection and growth across the profession. The association also offers professional credentials that support practitioner development and recognition within the field.

CAS is pleased to spotlight the National Career Development Association and its ongoing commitment to advancing career development practice, professional standards, and student success in higher education.