Information Regarding Licensure of Professional Counselors in
Pennsylvania
This
handout was developed for students enrolled in the West Chester University of
PA Department of Psychology MA program in Clinical Psychology and the Post Masters Graduate Certificate in Clinical Mental
Health in Preparation for Counseling Licensure. This handout is a summary
of the licensure requirements obtained from the Pennsylvania licensure website
and it is for information purposes only.
The Department of Psychology, West Chester University, offers courses to
help students meet the credit hour and content requirements but we have no role
in the administration or awarding of the licensure of Professional Counselors.
Students need to be aware that it is the state of Pennsylvania, through its Board
of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors,
who administers the licensure program.
Official information regarding state of Pennsylvania
requirements for licensure is available at: http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/LIB/bpoa/20/10/socwkbd-act.pdf
and http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter49/chap49toc.html
.
Questions regarding
requirements and eligibility should be directed to:
Department of State, Bureau
of Professional & Occupational Affairs
State Board of Social
Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors
PO Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
(717) 783-1389
NOTE: It
is the responsibility of each student to ensure that they have met all of the
state’s licensure eligibility requirements.
Summary of Qualifications and Eligibility
Requirements:
I.
Must be of good moral character;
see Pennsylvania Code, Title 49 § 49.12 (1), and have no felony
convictions under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act; see
Pennsylvania Code, Title 49 § 49.12 (2) for further details and
exceptions.
II.
Master’s degree of 48 credit hours
in counseling or a closely related field; see Pennsylvania Code, Title 49 § 49.13
(a) (3) (i). Note: related fields
include psychology; see Pennsylvania Code, Title 49 § 49.1.
PLUS
I.
Twelve
additional graduate level credit hours in counseling or a closely related field;
see Pennsylvania Code, Title 49 § 49.13 (a) (3) (i).
A.
Human growth and development—(2
semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of the
nature and needs of individuals at all developmental stages.
B.
Social and cultural foundations—(2
semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of issues
and trends in a multicultural and diverse society.
C.
Helping relationships—(2 semester
or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of counseling and
consultation processes.
D.
Group work—(2 semester or 3 quarter
hours) studies that provide an understanding of group development, dynamics,
counseling theories, group counseling methods and skills and other group
approaches.
E.
Career and lifestyle development—(2
semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of career
development and related life factors.
F.
Appraisal—(2 semester or 3 quarter
hours) studies that provide an understanding of individual and group approaches
to assessment and evaluation.
G. Research and program evaluation—(2
semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of types of
research methods, basic statistics, and ethical and legal considerations in
research.
H.
Professional orientation—(2
semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of all aspects
of professional functioning, including history, roles, organizational
structures, ethics, standards and credentialing.
I.
Clinical instruction—(Includes 100
clock hours of supervised practicum experience and 600 clock hours of
supervised internship experience). The supervised internship experience shall
begin after completion of the supervised practicum experience. Until March 2,
2007 this requirement may be satisfied by completion of a total of 6 semester
hours or 9 quarter hours of practicum/internship experience. (Note: These practicum and
internship hours are in addition to the 3600 hours of supervised post master’s professional
counseling practice experience which is also required by the board - see
below).
PLUS
III.
Complete
at least 3 years or 3600 hours of supervised clinical experience as a
professional counselor; see Pennsylvania Code, Title 49 § 49.13 (a)(4). Also see
Pennsylvania Code, Title 49 § 49.3 and §
49.14 and 49.3.
IV. Standards for Supervisors of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (see Pennsylvania Code for detailed information on
who may be considered a supervisor for the purposes of this license).
V.
Pass one of the approved licensure
examinations listed below:
A.
The Practice Examination of Psychological Knowledge
given by the North American Association of Master’s in Psychology (NAMP).
B.
The National Counselor Examination for Licensure and
Certification (NCE) given by NBCC.
C.
The Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)
Examination given by CRCC.
D.
The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) Certification
Examination given by ATCB.
E.
The Board
Certification Examination given by CBMT.
F.
The Advanced
Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Counselor Examination (AAODA) given by the
International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug
Abuse Inc. (IC & RC/AODA).
G.
The Examination for Master Addictions Counselors (EMAC)
given by NBCC.
VI. The applicant shall apply to the
testing organization for admission to the applicable licensure examination and
shall pay the required fee at the direction of the testing organization.
VII. The applicant shall be responsible
for directing that the testing organization send examination results and other
information requested to the Board.
VIII.
The
passing grade for the examination will be determined by the Board.