School Counseling, M.A.

Curriculum Requirements

The coursework for the school counseling program corresponds to the academic and experiential standards outlined by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Experienced School Counselor Standards established by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board.

Exit Requirements

1. Application to graduate submitted by posted deadlines by candidate through the myNKU student portal.
2. Students will complete all coursework with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
3. Completion of all required courses used for the degree with a C or better.
4. Signed Counselor Education Handbook Acknowledgment.
5. Signed Codes of Ethics for Counselor Education Programs.
6. Signed copy of Master of Arts in School Counseling curriculum contract.
7. Students will complete all coursework following the academic policies of the university. At the conclusion of their plan of study, all students must take a comprehensive exam (usually within their last two semesters of their courses) prescribed by the counseling education program faculty. A passing score on the prescribed exam, in addition to the academic coursework, is required.
8. For Certification: Completion of all courses (60 credit hours) and Praxis exam(s) if required by KYEPSB.
9. A CA-1 form must be submitted to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (KYEPSB) to apply for the certification. Contact the Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership Graduate Office at counselored@nku.edu for questions on certification.

State of Kentucky Provisional Counseling/Guidance Certificate

Upon completion of the 60 hour master’s degree in school counseling the individual is eligible for the Kentucky Provisional School Counseling Certificate. This certificate is awarded by the Kentucky Educational Professional Standards Board with a recommendation from NKU. The initial Provisional School Counseling Certificate is valid for five years. The Provisional Certificate allows you to seek employment as a school counselor. The individual has five years to complete the requirements for the Standard Guidance Certificate or renew the provisional certificate with additional coursework in counseling. A CA-1 form must be submitted to the Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership Graduate Office (MEP 295) to apply for the certification. Forms and application process subject to change, please contact the Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership Graduate Office for additional information.

No Praxis required at this time for KYEPSB*
* Requirements and passing scores for teacher certification are subject to change. For the most current PRAXIS II testing requirements, go to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board website (http://www.epsb.ky.gov).  If you are certified/licensed or requesting certification/licensure in another state please check with your licensing board for your state testing regulations.

Completion of the 60-hour master’s in school counseling program at NKU satisfies coursework requirements for the initial Ohio Licensure Application in Counseling (http://education.ohio.gov) as well as coursework requirements for many other states across the country (see: http://www.schoolcounselor.org). Each state has unique application requirements in addition to coursework, such as the school counseling Praxis, Pearson, etc. exam, so please review your home states school counseling licensure/certification requirements closely for the state you are planning to seek licensure/certification in.

State of Kentucky Standard Counseling Certificate

The Standard School Counseling Certificate requires 54 hours in counseling and may be earned with the completion of the 60 hour master’s degree in counseling. Certificate also requires one year of successful public school employment as a school counselor if already a certified classroom teacher. For those individuals not holding a classroom teaching certification initially two years of successful experience as a school counselor are required. If a student completed the 48 hour Master’s degree program standard may be earned with completion of an additional six (6) hours of coursework. The additional hours beyond the degree will be a program planned by the student and his/her advisor. The Standard Guidance Certificate also requires one year of successful public school employment as a school counselor if a certified classroom teacher. For those individuals not holding a classroom teaching certification initially two years of successful experience as a school counselor are required. A CA-1 form must be submitted to the Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership Graduate Office (MEP 295) to apply for the certification. Forms and application process subject to change, please contact the Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership Graduate Office for additional information.

Those individuals with counseling degrees of less than 60 hours may meet the curriculum requirement of the standard certification by taking additional course work in a planned counseling program for a total of 54 hours including their master’s degree in counseling. Hours approved in the planned program must be approved by the counseling program director or assigned advisor.

State of Kentucky Rank II and Rank I

The Kentucky Rank II credential will be recommended for the already teacher certified candidate seeking the 60 hour School Counseling degree upon completion of the first 33 hours from the degree program. Rank I is a 60 hour program and will be recommended upon completion of the 60 hour degree. Teachers who hold a Rank II and a previously earned Master’s degree may apply for Rank I at the accumulation of a minimum of sixty graduate semester hours; this includes the program of study below in addition to hours earned in first Master’s degree. Additionally, if a Master’s degree in School Counseling was previously earned, then Rank I can be granted upon completion of a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours of a planned program. Planned program in completed by student with program director or counseling faculty advisor to strengthen skills. A CA-1 form must be submitted to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (KYEPSB) to apply for the certification. Contact the Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership Graduate Office at counselored@nku.edu for questions on certification.

Standard School Guidance Certification and Rank I School Counseling Certification

The planned programs for standard or Rank I in counseling are created by the counseling student along with the school counseling program director or counseling faculty. These programs are tailored to each student based on their previous academic coursework, their experience as a counselor, their goals, improving their skill sets, and helping them gain new insights. Because these are planned programs specific to each situation, there is no “set” list of courses. Generally the counseling faculty select from COU 500 and 600 level courses. We do have curriculum contracts for these programs but they include a full list of classes in addition to blanks for other approved courses to be written in.

Admission

Requirements for admission to non-degree 6th year Rank I program. Requirements for standard certification as a non-degree graduate student are identical to Rank I admission requirements however, before a recommendation for standard can be made to KYEPSB the experience requirements as outlined in 16 KAR 3: 060

1. Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3. 0 GPA
2. Official transcripts from all institutions attended
3. A copy of Rank II Kentucky teaching certificate or out-of state equivalent showing counseling certification
4. Supplemental Counseling Application (essay only needs to address professional goals and type(s) of certification sought)
5. Three recommendations from people qualified to evaluate the candidate’s academic and professional performance in the field of counseling on Counseling Recommendation form
6. Up-to-date Resume
7. Interview with the counseling program faculty; positive recommendation from the counseling faculty for acceptance to program. Interview will be waived if candidate graduated from the MA in School Counseling at NKU.