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

NEW YORK STATE PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATION

Through the summer of 2020, Counselor Education/School Counseling students and alumni may choose to obtain a provisional certificate as a School Counselor after they have completed 30 credits of their program and received a grade in practicum. After the summer of 2020, students must have 48 credits and have passed both semesters of internship for provisional certification. Counselor Education/School Counseling students complete provisional certification on their own to the New York State Education Department by applying through their TEACH Online Services account using the “Individual Evaluation” pathway.

The following is what NYSED requires using this pathway in order to issue the provisional certificate as a School Counselor:

• Proof of a Bachelor's degree (official transcript)
• Proof of Graduate Coursework in School Counseling- 30 credits prior to Summer 2020- 48 credits after Summer 2020 (official transcript)
• Proof of College Supervised Internship/(Practicum) in School Counseling (official transcript with letter grade for Practicum)
• Proof of Completion of 3 State-Mandated Workshops: Child Abuse Identification; School Violence Prevention; DASA: Anti-Bullying & Discrimination
• Fingerprint Clearance

How to apply for Provisional School Counselor Certificate using the Individual Evaluation pathway:

• Log in to your state TEACH Online Services account
• When you log in and see a menu choose "apply for a certificate." It will take you through 10 steps to complete:

1. Update your education and/or teaching experience. If you already entered this information, you may skip it by pressing "next" twice.
2. On the drop-down menu and follow these prompts:

• Area of Interest: Administration & Pupil Personnel Services
• Subject Area:  School Counseling
• Grade Level: Pre K-12, All Grades
• Title: School Counselor
• Type of Certificate: Provisional Certificate

3. Press ADD and it will ask you for the program code - Select "NO"
4. It will ask if you are coming from another state (Interstate Reciprocity) - Select "NO"
5. It will take you back to see your application on file, scroll down & press NEXT
6. Select to have the “state review your application"
7. Answer background questions & click on “Sign Affidavit”
8. It will show you the cost $100 and click on “Sign Application”
9. It will then provide a checklist to print out of everything you must send to the state for the issuance of the School Counselor provisional certificate.
10. Next pay the $100 fee with a credit card. Done!

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.