Pennsylvania's new Professional Counselor Licensure Act requires candidates to complete a 48 credit degree program in counseling or a counseling related area and have a total of 60 graduate credits. The licensure act is often referred to as having graduate credit requirements of 48 plus 12.

Many candidates seeking to be grandfathered under the Professional Counselor Licensure Act may apply to take missing required courses which are offered within West Chester University's Counselor Education program.

Please contact the Dr. Parsons (rparsons@wcupa.edu) for details of the certificate program.

Description:
The post-master's certificate in professional counselor licensure preparation is designed to meet the education and internship requirements of counselors who aspire to attain licensure in the state of Pennsylvania. The program has been designed with a commitment to education and training that will provide the skills and confidence needed for holders of the certificate to provide competent and ethical professional counseling services.

Counseling Applications:

• Individual counseling
• Group counseling
• Crisis intervention
• Career counseling

Need for Licensure:
Pennsylvania Act 136 of 1998 provides for the licensure of professional counselors. The use of the title Licensed Professional Counselor without a license is restricted by law except in exempt public settings such as schools and government affiliated agencies. Act 136 requires the completion of a planned program of study consisting of 60 semester hours of graduate course work in counseling or a closely related field, including a 48-semester hour master's degree in counseling or a closely related area. For more information on Pennsylvania licensure you may access http://www.pacounseling.org

Practice of Professional Counseling:
As defined by Act 136, the practice of professional counseling includes the following: to apply the principles and practices of counseling, mental health, and human development; to evaluate and facilitate human growth and adjustment throughout the life span; and to prevent and treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated stresses that interfere with mental health and normal human growth and development.

Program of Study:
Minimum 12 semester hours:

Required courses:

Electives (minimum 3 semester hours)

Admission Requirements For Post-Master Certification:
The following material should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education:

• Completed graduate application including goals statement
• Recent resume
• Official academic transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended providing evidence of completion of a masters degree in counseling or a closely related area (e.g., clinical psychology)
• A minimum of three professional references
• An admissions interview may be required.

Note: Candidates who completed their graduate study at West Chester University are not required to submit transcripts or letters of reference.