Obtaining Advanced Certifications in School Counseling

Standard 5

The professional school counselor is responsible for improving skills and knowledge and advancing his/her practice and the school counseling profession.

The counselor sets annual professional development goals in identified areas of weakness and works towards continuous professional improvement.

The counselor participates in professional development opportunities beyond those that are required and applies new knowledge and skills to the school counseling practice striving to continually improve the school counseling program to maximize success for all students he/she serves.

Why Advanced Certification?

Holds us accountable to and identifies us with a governing body or group that outline what knowledge and skills are necessary to be recognized as a professional counselor.

Advanced Certifications

• LPC Licensed Professional Counselor

• NCC National Certified Counselors

• NBPTS National Board Certification in School Counseling

Licensed Professional Counselor

Requirements for LPC

• Master’s degree in Counseling with a minimum 60 hours graduate course requirements.

• Minimum of 3000 hours of supervised counseling experience after earning the master’s degree.

• A passing score on the National Counselor Exam.

• Complete all forms and documentation with $200.00 fee.

Benefits of Having LPC

• Accountability – Adhering to the licensing rules and ethical standards for counselors under the authority of a licensing board.

• Professional Development- Being required to complete an average of 20 Continuing Education Hours per year.

• Eligible for WV state salary supplement - $2500.00 following successful request.

• Ability to work for a private agency.

National Certified Counselor

NCC Requirements

Requirements and process very similar to LPC:• Master’s degree in counseling.• Passing score on the NCE.• 3000 hours of counseling experience over a

24 month period.• Completion of 100 hours of direct counseling

supervision over the 24 month period.• Complete all forms and documentation with

$365.00 fee.

NCC Requirements

IF you graduate from a CACREP institution with a Master’s degree in a counseling program, then the requirements are:

• One hour of direct counseling supervision beyond degree.

If you hold a state license,• No requirements.

Benefits of NCC

• Promotes professional accountability.• Professional Development- Being

required to complete an average of 20 Continuing Education Hours per year.

• Offers liability insurance to NCC’s with reduced rates.

• Generates counselor referrals through CounselorFind, NBCC’s referral service.

• Eligible for state salary supplement - $2500.00 following successful request.

National Board for School Counselors

Benefits of NBCT

• Accountability – adhering to high standards of performance.

• The rigorous process leading to completing and passing the National Board is intense professional development.

• The focus is on school counseling appropriate for grades preK – 12 in educational settings.

• Strengthens the practice of school counseling.

• Process places focus on student learning academically, emotionally, socially, and in the area of career development.

Benefits of NBCT

• The National Board standards, portfolio entries, and assessments promote WV State Standards and Indicators for School Counselors.

• Recognized and appreciated by educational leaders and systems.

• State salary supplement of $3500.00 – immediate upon request.

• Additional salary supplement in many counties.

Eligibility for Application

Requirements to begin the process:• Possess a valid school counseling

license/certification.• Have completed three years of

serving as a school counselor in an elementary, middle, or secondary school.

NBCT Process Costs

• Application Processing Fee: $65.00• Assessment Fee - $2500.00However,WV will reimburse one half of the

assessment fee when one enrolls in the program, and one half of the cost upon completion of the ten scorable entries.

WV will also reimburse $600.00 for costs incurred during the process.

NBPTS Standards for School Counseling

• Represent the unique aspects of practice that distinguish counselors in the school counseling profession.

• Derived/adopted from the ASCA Standards for School Counselors

• Basis for the assessment criteria that frame portfolio entries and assessment center exercises.

• Entries/responses are evaluated based on rubrics derived from the Standards.

NBPTS Standards

Standards for certification in Early Childhood through Young Adult in School Counseling:

1. Comprehensive School Counseling Program

2. Student Competencies3. Human Growth and Development4. Counseling Theories and

Techniques5. Equity, Fairness, and Diversity

NBPTS Standards

6. School Climate7. Collaboration with Family and

Community8. Informational Resources and

Technology9. Student Assessment10.Leadership, Advocacy, and

Professional Identity11.Reflection

Four Portfolios

Assessment Center Exercises

Advanced Certifications

“National Board Certification was a professional goal I had for myself. I ask my students to do their best, and I also want to be the best I can.”

Amy Dopp, 2007 NBCT

Advanced Certifications Websites

• www.wvbec.org for WV Licensed Professional Counselor

• www.nbcc.org for National Certified Counselor

• www.nbpts.org for National Board Certification in School Counseling