DWA Executive Director Receives Certified Workforce Development Professional Designation
The DWA Executive Director, Heather McMillan, was recently awarded her Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) certification from the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). The certification uses sound research based on the job requirements of various workforce development roles to create the training program. Professionals in various workforce settings have confirmed the results as representative of the skills and competencies needed for success in the industry.
The Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) certification, developed by NAWDP, is a rigorous process. This thorough process ensures that the certification is a true representation of the skills and competencies required for success in the industry. NAWDP began awarding the CWDP certification in 1999 and continues to review and improve its certification process.
The five Competencies the CWDP is based on are:
- Customer Service Methodology
- Diversity in Workforce Development
- Labour Market Information and Intelligence
- Principles of Communication
- Workforce Development Structure, Policies and Programs
Heather McMillan completed the CWDP requirements that also included a combination of education and work experience, completed the five core competencies training program, and scored a minimum of 80% on the exam to be eligible to apply for the CWDP certification and adherence to a Code of Professional Ethics.
Heather is one of the few Canadians to hold the CWDP certification and recently attended the annual NAWDP conference in Texas where she learned more about innovative approaches to workforce development.