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
Issued by the WV Board of
Examiners in Counseling.
A state license granting permission to practice counseling or to call yourself a licensed counselor.
Renewable every two years with 40
CEU’s.

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
National Certification- not a
License
Received through the National
Board for Certified Counselors
Renewable every five years with 100 CEU’s.

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
Advanced teaching/school counseling credential meeting
NBPTS standards.
Received through the National
Board for Professional
Teaching Standards
Renewable every ten years.

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 - $2500.00
However,
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 Competencies
3. Human Growth and Development
4. Counseling Theories and Techniques
5. Equity, Fairness, and Diversity

NBPTS Standards
6.
School Climate
7. Collaboration with Family and
Community
8. Informational Resources and
Technology
9. Student Assessment
10.Leadership, Advocacy, and Professional
Identity
11.Reflection

Four Portfolios
Addressing Personal/Social Needs
• Small Group
Exploring Career Development
• Classroom Lesson
Maximizing Academic Learning
• Academic Individual Counseling
Documented Accomplishments
• Contributions to Student Learning

Assessment Center Exercises
Human Growth & Development
School Counseling Program
Diverse Populations
Counseling Theory
Data & Planning
Collaboration

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