Certification and Licensure
Students who graduate from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and College Counseling programs will be eligible to pursue licensure as a Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Graduates in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling will have fully met the licensure educational requirement for 60 graduate semester hours (PA Codes 49.1 and 49.2). College Counseling graduates will need to complete an additional 12 graduate semester hours before applying for licensure (these can be completed post-master’s). Additional post-master’s licensure requirements for graduates of all programs include, but are not limited to: satisfactory passing score on one of the approved licensure exams (e.g., the National Counselor Exam), successful completion of 3600 hours of supervised practice, and attestation of good moral and legal standing. Pennsylvania state licensure requirements are detailed and may have been amended since the publication of this information. For current and detailed licensure information, please visit the webpage of the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/
state_board_of_social_workers,_marriage_and_family_therapists_
and_professional_counselors/12524
As a CACREP-accredited program, students are eligible to sit for the National Counselor Exam (NCE) in the last semester of their program of study. This exam is accepted by the Pennsylvania licensure board and also by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). Graduating students with passing scores may apply directly to the NBCC for the designation of National Certified Counselor (NCC).
National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) - The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) developed the first general practice counseling credential that was national in scope. NBCC began credentialing National Certified Counselors (NCCs) in 1983. Currently, approximately 40,000 mental health professionals throughout the United States and in over 40 other countries hold this voluntary professional credential. Although the NCC credential isn't required for independent practice and is not a substitute for the legislated state credentials, those who hold the credential appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate that they have met national standards developed by counselors, not legislators.
Licensed Professional Counselor General Information - List of frequently used websites!
The National Counseling Exam (NCE)
This FAQs page for the Department of Counseling & CSP at Shippensburg University.
School Counseling Certification - Application Instructions
How to apply for a school counselor's certificate:
Students MUST complete a certification application (PDE form 338 C & G) to apply for a school counselor's certificate. As students enter their last class, they can submit their certification applications to the Dean's administrative assistant in Shippen Hall room 352. The application will not be submitted to Pennyslvania Department of Education (PDE) until graduate degrees are confirmed. The administrative assistant will hold applications until that time.
Blank applications are available from the Department of Counseling & CSP Lobby or they can be downloaded from the PDE web site, http://www.teaching.state.pa.us (Teaching/ Applications and Forms/ Application Forms /PDE-338G /PDE-338C). The completed forms, along with a check payable to Shippensburg University and a copy of their PRAXIS scores should be submitted to the Dean's administrative assistant for processing.
After the graduate degree is confirmed, the Dean's administrative assistant will send the application to PDE. Processing time for PDE varies, but it could take 4 - 6 weeks. The certificate is sent directly to the student.
Mail Applications to:
Vickie Shaak
Administrative Assistant
College of Education & Human Services
Shippensburg University
717-477-1373
Shippen Hall Rm. 352