Active membership in a professional association or organization can be very helpful to professionals and students working or interested in a career related to career counseling, coaching and related fields.
A few reasons to get involved in a professional association:
- Networking and the chance to build relationships with career development professionals from a variety of settings.
- Opportunities to build your skills in leadership, project management, event planning, and other areas.
- Free and discounted admission to professional development and social events.
- Best practices and inside information on trends affecting the field of career development.
- Job leads, training and professional development opportunities.
- Chance for you to contribute and influence your profession and the field of career development.
Minnesota, Regional Associations
Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers (MWACE): www.mwace.org
MWACE brings together professionals in collegiate career services and recruitment/staffing to collaborate, communicate, and connect. Through our efforts, college-educated men and women achieve their career goals and employers add value to their workplace. Individual members of Midwest ACE represent the states of (but are not limited to) Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Minnesota Associate of Colleges and Employers (MN ACE): www.mnace.org
Membership is available to employer representatives interested in recruiting current or new graduates of Minnesota (four-year colleges and universities), and to college personnel who work in the areas of career services, internships or cooperative education.
Minnesota Career Development Association (MCDA): www.mcda.net
The mission of MCDA is to promote the well-being of our members by providing professional growth, community, and voice to influence, and advocate for, the field of career development. MCDA is a state affiliate of the National Career Development Association (NCDA).
ICF Minnesota Charter Chapter: http://icfminnesota.org/
An affiliate of the International Coach Federation, their mission is to serve coaches in their personal and professional growth by providing a learning community, resources and skill development opportunities that will enhance members’ success.
Minnesota College and University Career Services Association (MCUCSA): www.mcucsa.org
MCUCSA offers leadership and forums to exchange of ideas and networking opportunities, information about critical issues facing state and national higher education, research, and events.
Minnesota School Counselors Association (MSCA) www.mnschoolcounselors.org
The vision of the is to actively promote excellence in the profession of school counseling by providing the leadership, advocacy, support, and resources needed to instill student success in school, home, and the global community.
Twin Cities Association for Psychological Type (TC-APT): www.tc-apt.org
TC-APT offers a unique opportunity for the exchange of ideas among practitioners, enthusiasts, and MBTI trainers and authors.
National Associations
Association of Career Professionals International: www.acpinternational.org
API — Formerly known as the International Association of Career Management Professionals (IACMP) — is the “world’s voice on career issues.†It has more than 2,000 members representing more than 30 countries.API works with organizations and individuals in all aspects of career services including career management and transition (outplacement), assessments, coaching, talent retention and organizational consulting.
Alumni Career Services Network (ACSN): http://myacsn.org/
The Alumni Career Services Network (ACSN) supports alumni career services professionals at colleges and universities throughout the nation in enhancing their professional and personal development through shared knowledge and peer networking. Collectively, the ACSN seeks to increase awareness of alumni career services as a profession and to facilitate interaction amongst alumni career services professionals.
American College Counseling Association: www.collegecounseling.org
The American College Counseling Association is a national organization for persons in higher education settings whose professional identity is counseling and whose purpose is fostering student development.
American Counseling Association (ACA): www.counseling.org
The American Counseling Association is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. Founded in 1952, ACA is the world’s largest association exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings.
American Psychological Association (APA): www.apa.org
Based in Washington, DC, the American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. With 150,000 members, APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide. The mission of the APA is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives.
American School Counselor Association (ASCA): www.schoolcounselor.org
ASCA supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on academic, personal/social and career development so they achieve success in school and are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. ASCA provides professional development, publications and other resources, research and advocacy to more than 27,000 professional school counselors around the globe.
Association for Talent Development (ATD): www.td.org
ATD is the world’s largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals. ATD’s members come from more than 100 countries and connect locally in more than 130 U.S. chapters and with more than 30 international partners.
Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) www.acteonline.org
ACTE is the largest national education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for careers.
Career Planning and Adult Development Network (CPAD): www.careernetwork.org
The Career Planning & Adult Development Network keeps you in touch with other career counselors, career coaches, job search trainers and human resource professionals through its publications, workshops and conferences.
International Coach Federation (ICF): www.coachfederation.org
ICF is the largest worldwide resource for professional coaches. This nonprofit organization was formed by professionals who practice coaching, including Executive Coaches, Leadership Coaches, Life Coaches and others.
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE): www.naceweb.org
NACE is the leading source of information on the employment of the college educated. The professional association connects more than 5,200 college career services professionals at nearly 2,000 colleges and universities nationwide, and more than 3,000 HR/staffing professionals focused on college relations and recruiting.
National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP): www.nawdp.org
NAWDP is for people working in employment and training and related workforce development programs. It provides monthly newsletter, professional publications, annual awards program, non-profit education funding entity, professional development workshops/trainings, annual conference, and professional credentialing.
National Career Development Association (NCDA): www.ncda.org
The mission of NCDA is to promote the career development of all people over the life span. To achieve this mission, NCDA provides service to the public and professionals involved with or interested in career development, including professional development activities, publications, research, public information, professional standards, advocacy, and recognition for achievement and service.
National Employment Counseling Association: http://www.employmentcounseling.org/
This division of the American Counseling Association (ACA) was founded to offer professional leadership to people who counsel in an employment service or career development setting or to those employed in related areas of counselor education, research, administration or supervision. Our members come from a diversity work settings including private practice, business and industry, community agencies, colleges, universities, federal, state and local government.
Professional Associations for Student Affairs: http://www.studentaffairs.com/
This is a long list of links for associations involved in every aspect of academic counseling.