CDI
Career Development Institute
The Career Development Institute (CDI) is the professional body for careers practitioners in the UK. It sets professional standards for careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG), maintains a register of qualified careers practitioners, and provides training, qualifications, and a code of ethics for Careers Leaders and careers advisers.
Key facts
- The CDI maintains the UK Register of Career Development Professionals
- CDI membership signals professional competence and commitment to ethical practice
- The CDI's Career Development Framework defines the knowledge and skills needed at each level
- The CDI accredits training programmes for careers advisers and Careers Leaders
- CDI qualification is one of the accepted routes to delivering Gatsby Benchmark 8 personal guidance
Frequently asked questions
What is the CDI in careers education?
The CDI (Career Development Institute) is the professional membership body for careers practitioners across the UK. It sets the professional standards, code of ethics, and qualifications framework for careers advisers, Careers Leaders, and other careers development professionals. CDI membership is a recognised mark of professional quality in the sector.
Does a school's careers adviser need to be CDI-registered?
For Gatsby Benchmark 8, guidance must be delivered by someone with a recognised careers qualification — CDI registration is one of the accepted routes. While CDI membership is not strictly mandated by law, it provides the clearest evidence that a practitioner meets the professional standards required for personal guidance under the Gatsby Benchmarks.
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