Professional Development
It is our belief that many hands make light work. In that spirit ICAN is proud to offer professional development opportunities to Iowa school counselors and college access professionals across the state.
Professional Development Training Series
The ICAN Professional Development Training Series offers face-to-face and virtual career and college readiness training for school counselors and college access professionals to ensure Iowa youth are prepared for life after high school. ICAN has developed training programs covering the financial aid process, FAFSA completion, and on career and college advising coming soon. Each program offers certification in an essential component of career and college readiness.
FAFSA Completion Professional Certification
The ICAN FAFSA Completion Professional Certification Program is an ICAN initiative that aims to increase the availability of professionals able to assist students through the financial aid process, including the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.) The ICAN program offers comprehensive professional development opportunities for counselors, mentors, and community partners through an annual certification series of training modules. Workshops give professionals a detailed understanding of the financial aid process and its programs through the use of case study scenarios and real-life examples. Learn more.
Basic Financial Aid - Navigating the Process
Take an in-depth look at the financial aid process from a foundational level. Ideal for school counselors and novice admissions and financial aid professionals, this training starts at square one with basic terminology and breaks down the financial aid process into easy-to-understand segments. Learn more.
ICAN Career and College Readiness Curriculum
With nearly 70% of available employment requiring education and training beyond high school, building a college-going culture is a vital part of the success of a high school in preparing students for their next steps. The ICAN Career and College Readiness Curriculum contains lessons designed for grades 9-12 that touch on the key aspects of Career and College Readiness. The curriculum contains academic preparation, career exploration, college planning, and financial literacy including all the budgets and financial components of how to pay for post-secondary education and training.
In partnership with educators, ICAN's team has developed career and college readiness curriculum that meets the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Standards, as well as the Iowa code standards for Iowa Career and Academic Plan (ICAP.) The ICAN curriculum is offered as an Iowa program and a National program, to ensure high school students have access to the tools and resources they need to make informed decisions about life after high school.
Click here to learn more about the curriculum options.
ISCA/ICAN Webinar Series
A partnership between ICAN and the Iowa School Counselor Association (ISCA) brings a series of webinar trainings and information sessions to school counselors throughout the academic year. Click here to view the upcoming webinar schedule.
Advisory Council
ICAN's 14 member advisory council is made up of school counselors and higher education professionals from around the state. The group meets annually to discuss current trends and provide input on ICAN's strategic initiatives and programs. Click here to learn more about the ICAN Advisory Council.
