School Counselor Certification

NEW YORK STATE PERMANENT CERTIFICATION

PLEASE NOTE: The number of credits for the completion of the MSED program in Counselor Education/School Counseling is 48 credits- prior to summer 2020. After the summer of 2020, it will change to 60 credits for completion of the program. This requirement will be enforced by the New York State Education Department thereby changing the requirements for permanent certification after the summer of 2020.

Students upon official completion of the Counselor Education program, are eligible for a college recommendation for permanent certification as a School Counselor through the New York State Education Department – Office of Teaching Initiatives (NYSED-OTI). A college recommendation is an online submission to the state from Lehman College School of Education Certification Office confirming that the student has met certain requirements and officially completed the program; the state calls this the “Approved Teacher Preparation Program” pathway.
Counselor Education/School Counseling students must have a NYSED- TEACH Online Services account with fingerprint clearance; they also must have completed 3 required state-mandated workshops (Child Abuse Identification, School Violence Prevention; DASA: Anti-Bullying & Discrimination). Contact the Lehman College Certification Office for more information (718) 960-8423 or email: teacher.certification@lehman.cuny.edu

NATIONAL COUNSELOR CERTIFICATION

Counselor Education/School Counseling candidates can pursue National Counselor Certification (NCC) (and after earning the NCC earn the National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential) through the National Board of Certified Counselors. Get more information at: www.nbcc.com

To apply to become a National Certified Counselor, you must document successful completion of a qualifying master’s degree and experience, and obtain a passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination NCMHCE). You can show your commitment and expertise in the area of school counseling with the National Certified School Counselor (NCSC). To apply for the NCSC, you must be certified as an NCC.