Achieving the ASCA National Standards

In this module, you will learn how to use our website to fulfill many of the competencies from the ASCA National Standards for School Counseling Programs. 

The focus is on career development, but the website can also be used to fulfill competencies in the academic and personal/social areas.  For more on this and other valuable tips, read Recommendations for Developing an Outstanding Program. 

Each cluster of student competencies is linked to strategies for using The Career Key® website. Click on the links to see our suggestions.
Tip:  Be sure to download our one-page Guide to Using The Career Key® to Meet the ASCA National Model Competencies and the handouts for our OSCA/WSCA Conference presentation.

Standard A: Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions.

A1:  Develop Career Awareness

1. Develop skills to locate, evaluate and interpret career information.
2. Learn about the variety of traditional and nontraditional occupations
3. Develop an awareness of personal abilities, skills, interests and motivations.
4. Learn how to interact and work cooperatively in teams.
5. Learn to make decisions.
6. Learn how to set goals.
7. Understand the importance of planning.
8. Pursue and develop competency in areas of interest.
9. Develop hobbies and vocational interests.
10. Balance between work and leisure

A2:  Develop Employment Readiness

1. Acquire employability skills such as working on a team, problem-solving and organizational skills.
2. Apply job readiness skills to seek employment opportunities.
3. Demonstrate knowledge about the changing workplace.
4. Learn more about the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees.
5. Learn to respect individual uniqueness in the workplace.
6. Learn how to write a resume.
7. Develop a positive attitude toward work and learning.
8. Understand the importance of responsibility, dependability, punctuality, integrity and effort in the workplace.
9. Utilize time- and task-management skills.

Standard B:  Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction.

B1:  Acquire Career Information

1. Apply decision-making skills to career planning, course selection, and career transition.
2. Identify personal skills, interests and abilities and relate them to current career choice.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the career-planning process.
4. Know the various ways in which occupations can be classified.
5. Use research and information resources to obtain career information.
6. Learn to use the Internet to access career-planning information.
7. Describe traditional and nontraditional career choices and how they relate to career choice.
8. Understand how changing economic and societal needs influence employment trends and future training.

B2:  Identify Career Goals

1. Demonstrate awareness of the education and training needed to achieve career goals.
2. Assess and modify their educational plan to support career.
3. Use employability and job readiness skills in internship.
4. Select course work that is related to career interests.
5. Maintain a career-planning portfolio.

Standard C:  Students will understand the relationship between personal qualities, education, training and the world of work.

C1:  Acquire Knowledge to Achieve Career Goals

1. Understand the relationship between educational achievement and career success.
2. Explain how work can help to achieve personal success and satisfaction.
3. Identify personal preferences and interests influencing career choice and success.
4. Understand that the changing workplace requires lifelong learning and acquiring new skills.
5. Describe the effect of work on lifestyle.
6. Understand the importance of equity and access in career choice.
7. Understand that work is an important and satisfying means of personal expression.

C2:  Apply Skills to Achieve Career Goals

1. Demonstrate how interests, abilities and achievement relate to achieving personal, social, educational and career goals.
2. Learn how to use conflict management skills with peers and adults.
3. Learn to work cooperatively with others as a team member.
4. Apply academic and employment readiness skills in work-based learning situations such as internships, shadowing and/or mentoring experiences.