Career Leadership Certificate of CPD

Develop your expertise as a confident, qualified Careers Leader

The CPD Certificate in Career Leadership is a level 7 postgraduate qualification designed to support professionals responsible for careers education, advice and guidance in schools and colleges. Delivered fully online by the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS) within the Institute of Education and Skills at the University of Derby, this course provides recognised professional training that meets the Department for Education’s statutory requirement for a trained Careers Leader.

Career Leaders play a vital role in shaping young people’s futures in schools. They design, coordinate and evaluate high-quality careers programmes that prepare learners for life beyond education. This course helps you develop the knowledge, confidence and leadership skills needed to embed impactful, whole-school careers provision and deliver meaningful outcomes for all students.

By completing this course, you will:

• Understand national policy, theory and best practice in careers education
• Lead and evaluate a whole-school or college careers strategy
• Develop sustainable, high-impact programmes embedded in institutional practice
• Meet DfE statutory guidance for trained Careers Leaders
• Earn 40 credits at level 7, which can contribute towards a master’s qualification such as the MA in Education

Course overview

This professional development course consists of two 20-credit modules, completed over two trimesters (typically within one academic year).

Each module is carefully structured to help you critically evaluate careers provision, lead whole-school strategies, and embed impactful, evidence-based careers education across your organisation.

Both modules are mapped to the Careers and Enterprise Company’s (CEC) framework for Careers Leadership, ensuring your learning aligns with current national standards and best practice.

Who is this course for?

This course is ideal for:

• Career Leaders working in schools, colleges, and academies in England, or in institutions following a British curriculum internationally
• Professionals with responsibility for careers education, advice and guidance, including heads of department, senior leaders, and pastoral or employability leads
• Practitioners seeking a DfE-recognised qualification to meet statutory training requirements

Whether you are newly appointed or an experienced leader looking to refresh your knowledge, this course provides the tools and frameworks to strengthen your strategic approach to careers leadership.

Why study Career Leadership with the University of Derby?

• Delivered by the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS) – a globally respected research and training centre with over two decades of experience in career development and education
• Gain a level 7 postgraduate qualification aligned with Careers and Enterprise Company standards and Gatsby Benchmarks for Good Career Guidance
• Study 100% online, balancing your professional and personal commitments whilst learning from expert tutors and fellow professionals in an interactive, supportive online environment
• Join a vibrant professional community of Career Leaders and educators from across the UK and around the world
• Apply your learning directly to your school or college setting, delivering real-world impact

You will study two core 20 credit modules, one per trimester starting with Developing Career Education and Guidance Programmes in your first trimester and followed by Leading Mature Careers Programmes in your second trimester. The modules explore the key principles, policies and practices underpinning effective careers leadership.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Your learning will be guided by expert academics and experienced careers professionals from the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS).

All teaching staff are qualified professionals and researchers in the field of career development, bringing a wealth of real-world expertise, case studies and contemporary insights directly into your online classroom. This ensures that every aspect of the course reflects the latest thinking, policy developments, and best practice in careers education and leadership.

The course is delivered entirely online through our interactive digital learning environment, designed to offer a flexible and engaging study experience. Through your personal student dashboard, you’ll have access to a wide range of learning materials, including videos, readings, and practical resources tailored to your professional context.

You’ll learn through a blend of:

• Virtual live classrooms and online tutorials led by your tutors
• Guest lectures from leading figures in careers education and policy
• Collaborative forums and community discussion spaces where you can debate ideas, share practice, and build your professional network

This approach combines academic depth with practical relevance, helping you to apply learning directly to your role and engage with a vibrant community of peers from schools, colleges and organisations across the UK and beyond.

Study skills

Many of our students are mature learners and have not studied academically for many years. To help you to become an effective student, able to study at postgraduate level, there are a number of advanced study skill resources available to you covering areas such as research skills, critical evaluation in academic context, literature search, referencing, plagiarism and so on.

Pace of study

We recommend around 20 hours of study per week to complete one 20-credit module over a 10-week trimester for the standard study plan.

Assessment method

Our assessment strategy is based around giving you space to reflect on and develop your role as a Careers Leader. Assessment will be contextual, giving you space to think about your local context and how to develop strategies appropriate for your organisation.

This course is assessed entirely through coursework. You will undertake formative and summative assessments to demonstrate that you have met the module and programme learning outcomes.

Formative assessment opportunities will be available throughout your modules to provide structured learning, feedback, and guidance. Formative assessment strategies include, but are not limited to, tutorials, discussions, and feedback on proposals for summative assignments.

Student support and guidance

Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:

• Library
• Health and Wellbeing Centre
• Careers and Employability Service
• IT Support
• Union of Students
• Develop@Derby for study, personal and employability skills

All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.

This qualification will help you to grow in your role and advance as a careers leader.

On successful completion, you will be awarded the CPD Certificate in Career Leadership (40 credits at level 7).

The course will enable you to:

• Demonstrate strategic leadership of a whole-school careers programme
• Apply critical thinking and evidence-based approaches to careers guidance
• Support your institution in meeting Ofsted and DfE expectations
• Contribute to raising aspirations and improving outcomes for all learners

You may choose to progress to further postgraduate study, such as an MA in Education, or continue to develop your leadership role within your organisation.

Join a community shaping the future of careers education

Becoming a trained Careers Leader is more than a statutory requirement — it’s a professional commitment to transforming young people’s futures. Study online with the University of Derby and iCeGS to gain the insight, evidence and leadership expertise to make a lasting difference.

Utilise our Careers and Employment Service​

Whilst you are a student at the University of Derby, and for 3 years after you graduate, our Careers and Employment Service can assist you with job search advice, CV creation, workshops and events, as well as one-to-one appointments with employment advisers to help with career planning and interview preparation.

There will be two different entry routes onto the programme.

1. You may join the course with funding secured from the CEC for a Career Leaders training programme
2. Alternatively, we can also consider applications from those who have a significant role in the design and development of a school or colleague’s careers programme in the UK or overseas. Please detail this in your Personal Statement.

English language qualifications

If English is not your first language, or you have not successfully completed your highest level of qualification in English, you will need an English language qualification equivalent to a minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) average score of 6.5 or equivalent.

If you enrol with this minimum score, you will be encouraged to engage with additional study to develop your knowledge and application of academic English.

Note: International qualifications will be assessed for equivalency according to UK ENIC (formerly NARIC) guidelines and the university's international admissions policy.

Find out more about our English language requirements

^‡2025/26 for new entrants

Starting between September 2025 and August 2026.

About your fees

This figure would be the total cost of this course based on the fee in the current academic year. However, please note that fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase if your course lasts longer than one year.

If you are required to undertake any associate study or additional study as a condition of your offer for the programme, please be aware that the cost for this may be in addition to the programme cost stated above.

Flexible payment plans available

Choose from two payment plan options:

• Pay monthly and only for the modules you are studying

• Pay your full course fees upfront and avoid annual increases

Contact us

Contact the University of Derby Online Learning: