Practice Analysis Survey for Professional in Career Management

The National Society of Career Management (NSCM) is a national professional association of Professionals in Career Management (PCMs). The Education Advisory Committee (EAC) of the NSCM oversees the development, administration, and scoring of the PCM Examination. The PCM Examination was first made available by the NSCM in June 2008. The administration of the Examination is to enhance the national prestige of the PCM designation and foster the practice of career management services.

The PCA Examination is a certification examination designed to measure minimum competency and helps to establish the PCM certificate as evidence of professional qualification. The purpose of the Examination is to ensure that individuals seeking certification have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary for an entry-level PCM to protect the public interest in a rapidly changing business environment. The PCM Examination is a 4-hour examination and covers seven sections: Strategic Career Management, Client Engagement, Exploration, Career Discovery and Alignment, Program Development and Planning, Branding, and Job Search Implementation. A candidate must pass all seven sections of the Examination to be eligible for certification.

Purpose of the Study

The Professional in Career Management Practice Analysis Study has two major purposes. First, it is designed to describe the important tasks performed by entry-level PCMs and the knowledge and skills required for competent performance. Second, it will provide important data needed to update content and skill specifications for future versions of the PCM Examination as well as aid in the documentation of the validity of the Examination. This practice analysis is designed to reflect the demands of current practice and provide data to ensure that future revisions of the PCM Examination continue to assess the knowledge and skills required for competent entry-level performance.

For the purpose of identifying the domain of tasks, knowledge and skills necessary to protect the public interest, an entry-level PCM is defined as “one who has fulfilled the applicable educational requirements and has the knowledge and skills typically possessed by a person with two years of experience.

We need your help to raise the credibility and standards for the career management profession. The survey is web-based and takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. You can take the survey anonymously or provide your name and e-mail to receive a copy of the final report.

Career Coaching is a Valuable Benefit for Employees
April 30, 2010