Preheat the Oven: Set and preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one by one, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract until well combined.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Add the dry ingredients gradually to the wet ones, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Fold in Chocolate Chips: Carefully incorporate the semisweet chocolate chips, ensuring an even distribution in the cookie dough.
Scoop and Bake: Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake to Perfection: For 10-12 minutes bake in the preheated oven or until the edges are golden brown. The centers may still look slightly soft – that's okay; they'll firm up as they cool.
Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.