The debate to define career education began and the nature of the concept slowly began to emerge after career education was brought to center stage by Dr. Sidney P. Marland in 1971. Career education is moving toward a focus on the working role that individuals play and is concerned with helping each individual identify, enter, and progress in a field of work that will provide maximum benefits to him, to his family, and to society. Of the several early efforts to produce a comprehensive set of goals and objectives for career education, common elements were: developing self-understanding, developing career or occupational understanding, developing general skills, establishing career plans, and pursuing career plans. The elements must be related to various growth stages of individuals in education programs. Several systems for grouping occupations have been developed to make individuals aware of the many occupations available; the occupational clustering system used by the U. S. Office of Education is the most common. To be successful in achieving its place in education, career education must have focus and direction. (Author/AG)