Certification

Acceptable Coursework for Individuals Who Applied for Provisional or Permanent School Counselor Certification through the “Individual Evaluation” Pathway On or After July 1, 2019

The number of graduate semester hours (S.H.) required for Provisional or Permanent School Counselor Certification through the “Individual Evaluation” pathway is listed in the table below. Acceptable coursework must be completed at an institution of higher education that is accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized for this purpose by the U.S. Department of Education and could be a combination of courses from a state approved school counselor education program and courses related to school counseling.

School Counselor Certificate Sought through the Individual Evaluation Pathway

Total Number of Graduate Semester Hours (S.H.) in School Counseling Required

Number of Graduate S.H. in Courses that Are in a State Approved School Counselor Education Program
(in any state)

Number of Graduate S.H. Related to School Counseling at an Accredited Institution of Higher Education
(courses that are not in a state approved school counselor education program)

Provisional certificate

30 S.H.

Minimum 18 S.H.

Maximum 12 S.H.

Permanent certificate

60 S.H.

Semester hours counted towards the Provisional certificate would count towards the Permanent certificate.

Minimum 36 S.H.

Maximum 24 S.H.


Examples of Acceptable Coursework

Examples of acceptable coursework are provided below. Individuals are encouraged to complete coursework from each of the four categories, giving them a breadth of knowledge in school counseling.

 

Category 1: Becoming a Certified K-12 School Counselor

Courses include, but are not limited to: foundations of professional school counseling, role and responsibilities including student support and advocacy, ethics of counseling, counseling theories and techniques, and counseling or educational research.

  • Examples of Acceptable Courses that Must Be in a State Approved School Counselor Education Program
    • Ethics of / Ethical Foundations of School Counseling
    • Group Counseling and Practice
    • History / Development / Role of the School Counselor
    • Interviewing and Counseling / Interviewing Skills
    • Introduction to / Foundations of / Orientation to Counseling
    • Issues in School Counseling
    • Principles of School Counseling
    • School Counseling / Counseling Theory and Practice
    • School Counseling Research / School Guidance Research
    • Techniques of Counseling the Individual / the Elementary Child / the Adolescent

  • Examples of Acceptable Related Courses that Must Be Completed at an Institution of Higher Education with State Approved Graduate Programs Leading to Teacher Certification
    • Statistical Methods / Research Methods in Education
    • Trends in Education
  • Examples of Acceptable Related Courses that Can Be Completed at any Institution of Higher Education that is Accredited by an Institutional Accrediting Agency Recognized for this Purpose by the U.S. Department of Education
    • AIDS Education and Human Sexuality / Sex Equity
    • Approaches to LGBTQ Issues
    • Assertiveness Training
    • Death and Dying
    • Decision Making
    • Drug /Alcohol / Substance Abuse Dependency Counseling
    • Grief Counseling / Crisis Counseling
    • Interpersonal Communication
    • Problem Solving

 

Category 2: Working as Certified K-12 School Counselor

Courses include, but are not limited to: best professional practices; collaboration and support in schools, the family and the community; equity, advocacy and diversity; programming models and methods; research and program evaluation to advance the school counseling program and the profession; and use of technology in practice.

  • Examples of Acceptable Courses that Must Be in a State Approved School Counselor Education Program
    • Advocacy and Leadership in School Counseling
    • Community Counseling / Community Psychology
    • Community Resources and Relationships
    • Computer Applications in Guidance
    • Counseling Intervention / Working with Children / Parents / Families
    • Counseling the Abused and Neglected Child
    • Counselor as Team Member (school leadership / interdisciplinary)
    • Developmental School Counseling
    • Dropout Identification and Counseling
    • Family Counseling
    • Managing School Counseling Programs
    • Multicultural / Bilingual / Bicultural / ELL School Counseling / Diversity in Counseling
    • Multi-cultural / Culturally Diverse School Counseling
      Organization / Administration / Supervision of School Counseling / Guidance / PPS programs
    • Role of the School Counselor
    • School Counseling Models / Methods / Skills
    • School-based Collaboration and Consultation / School-based Interventions
    • Technology Integration / Technology Literacy in School Counseling
    • Urban School Counseling
    • Working with Parents in Education
    • World of the Counselor
  • Examples of Acceptable Related Courses that Must Be Completed at an Institution of Higher Education with State Approved Graduate Programs Leading to Teacher Certification
    • Keys to Motivation
    • Multicultural / Bilingual / Bicultural / ELL Education
    • Orientation to Schools
    • School and Community
    • School Law / Policy / Ethics
    • School Leadership / Administration (interdisciplinary)
    • Sex Education
    • Strategies for Preventing Conflict and Violence / Bullying Prevention
    • Teaching Students to Get Along
    • Technology Integration / Technology Literacy in Education
  • Examples of Acceptable Related Courses that Can Be Completed at any Institution of Higher Education that is Accredited by an Institutional Accrediting Agency Recognized for this Purpose by the U.S. Department of Education
    • Multicultural Counseling / Diversity in Education
    • Race and Minority Groups / Cultural Heritage of Immigrant and Minority Groups
    • Stress Management
    • The Disadvantaged Child
    • Urban and Rural Problems
    • Youth Culture and the Urban Setting

 

Category 3: K-12 Student Growth, Development and Learning

Courses include, but are not limited to: assessment and identification of student differences, and contribution to and support of learning in the public-school setting.

  • Examples of Acceptable Courses that Must Be in a State Approved School Counselor Education Program
    • Assessment Methods in Career Development
    • Educational Assessment
    • Individual / Educational Testing / Tests and Measurements in School Counseling
    • Psychoeducational Testing
    • Research Methods / Statistical Methods / Diagnostic Tools for Measurement in School Counseling
    • School Counseling Assessment
  • Examples of Acceptable Related Courses that Must Be Completed at an Institution of Higher Education with State Approved Graduate Programs Leading to Teacher Certification
    • Classroom Management
    • Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
    • Differentiated Instruction Education / Psychology of the Exceptional Learner
    • Educational Psychology
    • Foundations of Education
    • Foundations of Special Education
    • Human Development / Lifespan Development
    • Psychosocial Development
  • Examples of Acceptable Related Courses that Can Be Completed at any Institution of Higher Education that is Accredited by an Institutional Accrediting Agency Recognized for this Purpose by the U.S. Department of Education
    • Abnormal Psychology
    • Adolescent Psychology
    • Child Psychology
    • Developmental Psychology
    • Group Dynamics
    • Human Development / Lifespan Development
    • Nature and Needs of the Disabled
    • Psychology of Disability
    • Psychology of Learning
    • Psychopathology / Theories of Psychopathology / Understanding the DSM-V
    • Theories of Personality in Children / Adolescents
    • Introduction to Mental Health/Hygiene (not other mental health counseling, including the Internship and Practicum)

 

Category 4: Preparing the K-12 Student for Career or College

  • Examples of Acceptable Courses that Must Be in a State Approved School Counselor Education Program
    • Career / Vocational Counseling
    • Career Development / Vocational Guidance
    • College Readiness / Preparation / Placement
    • Counseling the College Bound Student
    • Occupational Information and Vocational Development
    • The College Admissions Process
    • World of Work
  • Examples of Acceptable Related Courses that Must Be Completed at an Institution of Higher Education with State Approved Graduate Programs Leading to Teacher Certification
    • Career / Vocational Counseling
    • Career Development / Vocational Guidance
    • College Readiness / Preparation / Placement
    • Occupational Information and Vocational Development
    • The College Admissions Process
    • World of Work
  • Examples of Acceptable Related Courses that Can Be Completed at any Institution of Higher Education that is Accredited by an Institutional Accrediting Agency Recognized for this Purpose by the U.S. Department of Education
    • None
Last Updated: January 30, 2022