Professional Standards for Counselor Preparation

CED 678 A Keith Mobley

Credentialing and the Professionalization of Counseling

Accreditation
A means of accountability Non-governmental, voluntary

Certification
The process of becoming qualified Aspirational, voluntary

Licensure
A credential authorized by a state that regulates the title and practice of an occupation A means to protect the public from incompetence

Accreditation
To

accredit:

grant approval; provide with credentials; vouch that standards are met/maintained.
Voluntary

and non-governmental

self-regulating, peer-reviewed

CACREP
Council

on the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs Began in 1960s from ACES, SACES, and ASCA as

Accrediting Board for Counselor Preparation

Incorporated

in 1981 Member of Assoc. for Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) Recognized by COPA (1987), which is now Council for Higher Ed. Accreditation (CHEA) Over 200 institutions, about 500 programs

Vision and Mission

Encouraging

and promoting continuing development and improvement of prep. programs Preparing counseling and related professionals to provide services consistent with the ideal of optimal human development Collaboration with other groups that focus on accreditation, licensing, certification

Scope through June 2009

Masters

degrees:

Career Counseling College Counseling Community Counseling Gerontological Counseling Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling Mental Health Counseling School Counseling Student Affairs
Doctoral

degrees:

Counselor Education and Supervision

Scope as of July 2009

Masters degrees:
Addiction Counseling Career Counseling Gerontological Counseling extinct Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling Community Counseling and Mental Health Counseling merging into Clinical MH Counseling School Counseling Student Affairs and College Counseling merging into Student Affairs and College Counseling

Doctoral degrees:
Counselor Education and Supervision

Core Curriculum
Professional

Identity (Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice in 2009) Social and Cultural Diversity Human Growth and Development Career Development Helping Relationships Group Work Assessment Research and Program Evaluation

Programs
48

semester hours (60 for MCF or MH)

In 2009 60 hours MCF and 54 for CMH

Track-specific

courses Alignment with ACAs mission, Ethical Codes See CACREP Standards (or listen to Dr. Borders) for more about the program requirements

Clinical Instruction
Faculty

has doctoral degrees and/or appropriate clinical preparation Counseling Laboratory with Clinic Director Faculty student ratio of 1:5 (1:10 for group) Site supervisor must have masters degree and at least 2 years experience 100 hours of practicum, 600 hours of internship (240 direct hours) Formal evaluations of both students and supervisors

Faculty and Staff

At

least 3 faculty appointments Relevant preparation, earned doctorates

By 2013, faculty must have earned doctoral degrees in Counselor Education and Supervision OR been employed as faculty at least 1 academic year
Program

and Clinical Coordinators At least 50% to academic unit, with classroom clinical instruction Adequate clerical assistance

Organization and Administration

Orientation Student

handbook Academic Appeal Policy Student Retention Policy Written Endorsement Policy Assigned advisors

Current Issues
Standards

Revision 2009 (3rd edition at

present)
practicum supervision ratios changed from 5:1 to 6:1 faculty student ratio changed to 12:1 Strengthening of identity of faculty Addition of a concentration in Addiction Counseling Merging of Community and Mental Health ( 54 hours)
Globalization Distance

of Counseling

e.g., CANADA now has CACEP, CACREP-I.

Education

increased consistency of distance education programs.

Certification
National

Board of Certified Counselors

Independent non-profit credentialing body established in 1982 Promotes quality counseling through voluntary certification However, many states require the same exam for licensure: National Counselors Exam (NCE) (41 states)
National

Certified Counselor (NCC)

Co- or prerequisite for other NBCC Certifications

NBCC Specialty Certifications

National

Certified School Counselor Clinical Mental Health Counselor

NCSC
Certified

CCMHC
Master

Addiction Counselor Certified Career Counselor Certified Gerontological Counselor

MAC
National

NCCC
National

NCGS

GSA-NCE
Graduate

Student Administration of the NCE

Only for students in the last year or beyond in a grad school program No transcripts required for CACREP programs 3 years to fulfill 3,000 practice hours/100 hours supervision

Licensure
State

credential of minimum competence Designed to protect the public through title and practice protection Required primarily in private practice Many exemptions to licensure:
A different license School or university setting Student intern under supervision State, federal agencies Hospitals, health care facilities Ministers/clergy

How to Become a Licensed Professional Counselor in NC

www.lpcanc.org

History
LPC

Act 1993, Implemented in 1994

Regulates the activities of persons who render counseling services to the public Empowers governor-appointed board to determine:
Examination Issuing/renewing

licenses Adopting ethical standards Establishing standards for entry and continuing education Conducting investigations and hearings

Resources

Know the code! Article 24, Chapter 90, General Statutes of the State of North Carolina and Administrative Code, Title 21, Chapter 53 Application, Forms, Instructions www.ncblpc.org
North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors PO Box 1369 Garner, NC 27529 Phone: 919.661.0820 Fax: 919.779.5642

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Overview of Requirements

Masters degree in Counseling which includes 48 hours (grad. degree in a related field) At least 2 years post-masters experience, including: 2,000 hours of supervised professional practice 100 hours supervision Passing score on the National Counselors Exam Submit a Professional Disclosure Statement

Masters Degree
Required

coursework:

Suggestions:

Counseling Theories and Techniques Practicum and Internship Professional Orientation and Identity Human Growth and Development Social and Cultural Foundations Group dynamics, process, and counseling Career and Vocational Development Appraisal of individuals Diagnosis and treatment planning Complete application as you go through school Send transcripts to NCBLPC upon graduation

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Examination
National

Counselors Examination (NBCC) National Clinical Mental Health Counselors Examination (NBCC) Certified Rehabilitation Counselors Exam

Masters Experience
2,000 Hours of supervised practice At least 2 years masters and post-masters counseling and counseling-related experience No more than 750 from masters program Supervision Supervisor is a LPC with at least a masters degree and a minimum of 5 years post licensure counseling experience (except supervision by a Counselor Educator, which may be a paid doctoral student under supervision) 100 Hours At least 75 hours individual No more than 25 hours group, 1:10 Based on live obs., video or audio tapes, or verbatim transcripts 1 hour of supervision per 40 service hours

Suggestion:
Have Internship supervisors complete form(s) at final evaluation of each internship Keep a copy for yourself If University supervisor was a doctoral student, ask them to attach a letter to the supervision verification form. The letter should state that the supervisor was a counselor education student paid by the university and under supervision,

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Doctoral Experience

Internships and supervised supervision at the doctoral level is considered post-masters experience Supporting documentation must be included to verify that:
you were enrolled in a doctoral program; Supervision of either counseling or supervision you provide to master students was provided by an appropriately credentialed faculty member (PhD, LPC, etc.)

Any supervision hours provided to masters students that are not supervised or paid for by the university will not apply for your license (or masters students license)

Professional Disclosure Statement Name of licensee

The licensees highest relevant degree, discipline, year, and institution. Names and numbers of all relevant credentials (licenses, certificates, registrations). A statement indicating that the licensee is pursuing licensure as a Professional Counselor in North Carolina. Number of years of Counseling experience. Description of clientele. Description of services offered (theoretical orientation, techniques). Length of sessions and specific fee charged for that session. Methods of payment accepted the use of diagnosis becomes part of the clients records. explanation of confidentiality, including responsibilities and exceptions procedure for registering complaints, including the full name and address of the North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors. Signature and date spaces for both the client and the licensee.

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Board Procedures
Quarterly 12

meetings

(March, June, Aug, Dec)

weeks Provide you remaining requirements Board eligible LPC 2 year minimum from date of application

Application Checklist
Application Request scores be sent to NBCLPC Distribute and collect Prof. Reference and Verification of Supervision forms (at least 3) Signed application with photo and notarized Official Transcripts (online from UNCGenie) Include PDS Verification of Arrangements for Clinical Supervision

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