School Counseling Information

Professional School Counselors promote the personal/social, career, and academic growth and development of PreK-12 students.The school counseling program curriculum is a deliberate, integrated component of the educational agenda of the school. Comprehensive school counseling programs, designed to meet the holistic needs of all students, are a collaborative effort. Specifically, school counselors engage a multitude of stakeholders (i.e., parents, teachers, administrators, students and community partners) in the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of school counseling programs. By removing barriers to student achievement, school counselors foster the potential for each individual to be a positive, contributing member of society and a lifelong learner. Beyond providing counseling services, school counselors are advocates for systemic change, leaders in building culturally responsive and community engaged schools, and experts at collaboration and teaming for student success.

The question has been posed, "What do school counselors do?" The more important question is, "How are students different as a result of what school counselors do?" To help answer this question, Louisiana is preparing a model for professional school counselor practiced based on the American School Counselor Association (2005) National Model. LCA and LSCA recommend that graduate students become acquainted with both the ASCA and the Louisiana Model.

How to become a Louisiana Professional School Counselor

Step 1:

Earn a master’s degree from a CACREP-accredited school counseling program.

Completion of a standards based graduate degree* program in school counseling from a college or university approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

Step 2:

Complete a practicum in counseling from a CACREP-accredited program to include 100 contact hours; and complete an internship in counseling from a CACREP-accredited program to include 600 contact hours in a school setting.

Step 3:

Passing score (156 or higher) on the Praxis Professional School Counselor examination.

ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THESE STEPS/REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Renewal Requirements:

For purposes of maintaining a valid counseling endorsement, any school counselor receiving certification after July 1, 2013 is required to either provide verification of a current licensed professional counselor (LPC) license or complete 150 hours of continuing learning units (CLUs) over a five-year time period that are consistent with the individual professional growth plan (IPGP). These CLUs must be standards based and follow the models of the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) and CACREP.

Submit information to:
Division of Certification and Preparation
Louisiana Department of Education
P.O. Box 94064
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064

Louisiana universities that offer a school counseling program include:

Louisiana State University
Louisiana Tech University
Loyola
Our Lady of Holy Cross
Northwestern State University
Nicholls State University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southern University-Baton Rouge
University of New Orleans
University of Louisiana-Lafayette
University of Louisiana—Monroe
Xavier