Sec. 80-3.12. Satisfaction of education requirements for certification as a school counselor through individual evaluation

This section prescribes requirements for meeting the education requirements for school counselor certificates through individual evaluation. A candidate must have achieved a 3.0 cumulative grade point average or its equivalent in the program or programs leading to any degree used to meet the requirements for a certificate under this section. All other requirements for the certificate, including but not limited to, examination and/or experience requirements, as prescribed in this Subpart must also be met.

(a) A candidate seeking to fulfill the education requirement for an initial certificate through individual evaluation of education requirements shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Degree completion. The candidate shall possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher education or from an institution authorized by the Regents to confer degrees and whose programs are registered by the department.

(2) The candidate shall complete study in child abuse identification, school violence and harassment, bullying and discrimination prevention and intervention, as prescribed in sections 80-1.4 and 80-1.13 of this Part.

(3) The candidate shall complete 48 semester hours of graduate coursework that includes study in each of the following eight core content areas:

(i) foundations in professional school counseling;

(ii) career development and college readiness;

(iii) supportive school climate and collaborative work with school, family and community;

(iv) equity, advocacy and diversity in programming and in support for students;

(v) child growth, development and student learning;

(vi) group and individual counseling theories and techniques for prevention, intervention and responsive services;

(vii) best practices for the profession and in-school counseling programming; and

(viii) research and program development to advance the school counseling program, its components and the profession.

(4) Practicum and internship. The candidate shall satisfactorily complete:

(i) a minimum of 100 clock hours of practicum in a K-12 school counseling program setting that shall consist of:

(a) a minimum of 40 clock hours in group counseling, individual counseling and school counseling core curriculum lesson delivery; and

(b) a minimum of 60 clock hours on developing, implementing and evaluating key school counseling program elements such as:

(1) student outcomes and standards;

(2) curriculum;

(3) individual student needs and plans;

(4) responsive services;

(5) consultation with others on behalf of student;

(6) time management;

(7) school counseling program goals;

(8) data analysis;

(9) action plans;

(10) calendars/schedules; and

(11) advisory panels, councils and committees;

(ii) a minimum of 600 clock hours in a supervised internship in a K-12 school counseling program which shall consist of:

(a) a minimum of 240 clock hours of supervised direct student service hours in group counseling, individual counseling and school counseling core curriculum lesson delivery;

(b) a minimum of 360 supervised clock hours focused on developing, implementing and evaluating key school counseling program elements such as:

(1) student outcomes and standards;

(2) curriculum;

(3) individual student needs and plans;

(4) responsive services;

(5) consultation with others on behalf of student;

(6) time management;

(7) school counseling program goals;

(8) data analysis;

(9) action plans;

(10) calendars/schedules; and

(11) advisory panels, councils, and committees;

(c) a minimum of 300 clock hours of the internship must be in the elementary grades (K-8) and a minimum of 300 clock hours of the internship must in the secondary grades (9-12).

(d) Prior to the candidate’s internship, a written agreement shall be executed with the employing school or school district by which the school or school district agrees to consult with the candidate before determining the candidate’s load and provide daily mentoring and supervision of the candidate during the internship experience by a certified school counselor. Mentoring and supervision may be provided by other qualified school personnel only if the employing school district cannot provide a certified school counselor in the school building in which the internship occurs.

(b) A candidate seeking to fulfill the education requirement for a professional certificate through individual evaluation of education requirements shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Degree completion. The candidate shall possess a master’s degree or higher from a regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher education or from an institution authorized by the Regents to confer degrees and whose programs are registered by the department.

(2) In addition to that required for the initial certificate as described in subdivision (a) of this section, the candidate shall complete at least 12 semester hours of graduate coursework that includes study in any of the eight core content areas described in paragraph (a)(3) of this section.

(3) Experience. The candidate shall have successfully completed three years of school counseling experience in New York State public or non-public schools K-12, or its equivalent. The candidate who completes this requirement in total or part through experience in New York public schools shall be required to participate in a mentored program in the first 180 school days of employment.