Counselor Education

CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING

Clinical mental health counseling is a proactive mental health profession that treats mental illness, addresses life distress and adjustment issues, and facilitates wellness in individuals, families, and their related contexts (Shallcross, 2013). Clinical mental health counselors are highly-skilled professionals who provide flexible, consumer-oriented therapy. They combine traditional psychotherapy with a practical, problem-solving approach that creates a dynamic and efficient path for change and problem resolution. Clinical mental health counselors may qualify as both a nationally certified counselor (NCC) and a licensed professional counselor (LPC).

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling
specialization prepares individuals to provide evaluations, referrals, and short-term counseling services to help people prevent or remediate personal problems, conflicts, and emotional crises. Includes instruction in human development, psychopathology, individual and group counseling, personality theory, career assessment, patient screening and referral, observation and testing techniques, interviewing skills, professional standards and ethics, and applicable laws and regulations.

• Facts about Clinical Mental Health Counselors
• Checksheet

CLINICAL REHABILITATION COUNSELING

Clinical Rehabilitation Counselors are professional counselors trained specifically to serve individuals with disabilities. The Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling specialization prepares professional counselors to assist individuals with disabilities to achieve their personal, career,

Clinical Rehabilitation Counselors work in a variety of settings, such as in private practice, in rehabilitation hospitals, community rehabilitation centers, and senior citizen centers; state and federal government agencies, insurance companies and other organizations working with people with disabilities. Clinical rehabilitation counselors are employed in organizations that focus on advocacy and community engagement as relating to special populations. Clinical rehabilitation counselors may qualify as both a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) and a licensed professional counselor (LPC). The Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling specialization provides instruction in counseling, assessment, rehabilitation services including planning, securing or returning to productive, meaningful work, consultation, advocacy, applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards and ethics.

• Understanding Rehabilitation Counseling
• CRCC Brochure
• Checksheet 

 SCHOOL COUNSELING

School counselors are certified/licensed educators who, at a minimum, hold of a master’s degree in school counseling.  Their training qualifies school counselors to address all students’ academic, career and social/emotional development needs by designing, implementing, evaluating and enhancing a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes and enhances student success.  Important members of the school’s educational leadership team, school counselors help students in the areas of academic achievement, career, and social/emotional development. School counselors are employed in elementary, middle/junior high and high schools; in district supervisory positions; and counselor education positions.  Overall, school counselors help to provide the foundation from which students become productive, well-adjusted citizens.

The School Counseling specialization prepares professional School Counselors who use the theories and principles of counseling and career development to support students’ personal, social, educational, and vocational development.  School Counseling candidates acquire identified professional competencies, learn legal and ethical requirements, and learn to utilize the National School Counseling Model to develop and implement comprehensive school counseling programs that emphasize accountability and positive student outcomes.  School counselors may qualify as both a nationally certified counselor (NCC) and a nationally certified school counselor (NCSC)

Students accepted in the School Counseling Speciality prior to Spring 2022 were accepted under a 48-semester hour School Counseling major. All students accepted after Fall 2022 will be accepted under a 60-hour online format which requires two 4-day residencies during the plan of study.

• Role of the School Counselor 
• Checksheet

Admission to the Counselor Education Program

The Counselor Education Program admits cohorts for the summer and fall semesters only. Individuals seeking admissions to Counselor Education must apply to Albany State University Graduate School.
Information concerning required materials and processes are available through Graduate Admissions.

The following Counselor Education Program specific supporting documents must also be submitted:

• Counselor Education Program application form
• Instructions for professional statement
• Three current references

Counselor Education applicants are invited to interview with the Counselor Education Admissions Committee. Admission decisions in the Counselor Education Program consider a number of factors, including grade point average (GPA), test scores, references, employment history and other experiences, previous graduate work, professional goals, and interviews.

Successful applicants may be admitted into one of the following statuses:

 Regular Admission:

• An undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 or better

 Provisional Admission:

• An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with an undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 or higher;
• A student remains in the provisional academic status until admission requirements are met and the student is notified in writing of the approval of a change in status by the department chair. Applicants admitted in this status may not enroll in Area C courses until full admission status is attained.

A student who is admitted in provisional academic status remains in this status until the Counselor Education admission requirements are met and the student is notified in writing of the approval of a change in status by the Graduate School. Applicants admitted in this status may not enroll in Area C courses until full admission status is attained.

Readmission

• Candidates who have not been in attendance in the Counselor Education Program for two semesters must apply through the graduate admissions office for readmission.
• Candidates who have been out of the Counselor Education Program for three or more semesters must apply for readmission and complete a successful interview with the Counselor Education admissions committee.

Transfer Students

Transfer students' transcripts may be evaluated to determine if the graduate courses previously taken may be transferred. Transfer students may transfer up to 9 semester hours. Up to 12 semester hours from a CACREP accredited graduate program in the USG system may be transferred to the Counselor Education Program. 

Transient Students

Transient applicants who are enrolled in another college or university and receive permission from the Registrar of that institution to seek temporary admission for up to 9 semester  hours at Albany State University may be accepted. Transient students must be in good standing at their home institution. Additionally, students enrolled in Counselor Education at Albany State University may receive permission from the department and Registrar to take up to 9 semester hours at another university with a CACREP accredited program and have those courses transferred to ASU Counselor Education Program. The student must be in good standing at Albany State University. 

Links:

• Counselor Education Application
• ASU Graduate Admissions
• Professional Statement Instructions and Tips
• Reference form

Counselor Continuing Education

Counselor Continuing Education provides non-degree options for individuals who seek personal enrichment and renewal as well as additional educational experiences needed to obtain certification or licensure. Applicants who wish to take courses but who are not seeking a degree, counseling licensure or counselor certification must submit their application for graduate admission, Masters's level transcript(s) and three current letters of recommendation to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

The Advanced Counseling Certificate Program provides three non-degree, continuing education options to meet the needs of professionals seeking Georgia counseling credentials. Applicants for the Advanced Counseling Certificate Program must: 

• Have a master's degree in counseling or closely related clinical fields from an accredited college or university;
• Complete and submit the application for graduate admission (does not apply to the Advanced Counseling Certificate in Clinical Practice);
• Complete and submit the Counselor Education Program application form;
• Provide official transcripts;
• Submit three current letters of recommendation; and, 
• Complete an interview with the Counselor Education admissions committee.

The Advanced Counseling Certificate allows individuals with master's degrees in counseling or closely related clinical fields who need 1-3 additional courses in order to meet the requirements Georgia professional counselor licensure (LPC) or Certified Rehabilitation Counseling (CRC) to fill those deficits. Candidates who have no clinical training or who would need more than 9 semester hours of additional coursework would not be eligible for the certificate program. 

The Advanced Counseling Certificate in School Counseling allows individuals with master's degrees in counseling or closely related clinical fields from GaPSC-approved colleges and universities or CACREP accredited programs to complete up to 18 semester hours of coursework in order to meet the requirements for Georgia certification in School Counseling. Applicants submit an Application for Evaluation for Counselor Certification to the Certification Office in the School of Education to determine their eligibility and develop a personalized program of study. Applicants must also provide passing scores on the Georgia Assessment of Content for Educators (GACE) Program Admission assessment (formerly named the GACE i or GACE Test of Basic Skills) or documented exemption before being considered for admission; passing scores on GACE 103 and 104 may also be required.

The Advanced Counseling Certificate in Clinical Practice provides supervised post-master's degree clinical practice that can be applied to the 3000 hours required for Georgia professional counselor licensure (LPC). Advanced Counseling Certificate in Clinical Practice offers a needed service in the region due to the scarcity of licensed counselors available to provide supervision.

Certification and non-degree seeking candidates must submit their Master's level transcript(s) and an Application for the Evaluation for Certification to the Certification Office in the School of Education to receive a personalized transcript evaluation. Candidates for the Advanced Counseling Certificate in Clinical Practice apply through the School of Education's Continuing Education coordinator.

• Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC)
• Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (CRCP)
• School Counseling (SC)
• Site Supervisors