Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1)
Summary: This rule outlines
the requirements and procedures for issuance of the service certificate in
School Counseling P-12, which allows individuals certified in this field to
assist students in the areas of academic achievement, career and
social/emotional development, ensuring that a comprehensive counseling program
is in place to promote student achievement.
(2)
Professional Certificate
Requirements (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.05 PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE;
current Georgia Educators see section (6)(a) below to add the field).
(a) Issuance.
1. Prior to becoming a Georgia educator, an
individual is eligible for a Standard Professional certificate in the field of
School Counseling based on meeting the following requirements:
(i) Meet one of the following options:
(I) Completion of a state-approved
certification preparation program in School Counseling at the master's degree
level - level five (5) - or higher.
(II) Completion of a master's degree or
higher in a counseling area and submission of a valid National Certified School
Counselor (NCSC) credential issued by the National Board of Certified
Counselors.
(III) Completion of a
master's degree or higher in a counseling area and submission of a valid State
of Georgia Professional Counselor's license issued by the Professional
Licensing Boards Division of the Office of the Secretary of State, O.C.G.A.
Title 43.
(ii) Meet the
Special Georgia Requirements (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA
REQUIREMENTS) applicable to the field of School Counseling.
(I) Pass the GACE content knowledge
assessment.
(II) Satisfy the
Special Education requirement with a grade of B or better.
(III) Meet Standards of Conduct.
(iii) Apply for certification
following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(3)
Provisional Certificate
Requirements (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.08 PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE;
current Georgia Educators see section (4)(a) below for Non-Renewable
Certification).
(a) Issuance.
1. Hold a master's degree or higher from a
GaPSC-accepted accredited institution in any counseling area; or a Master of
Social Work degree; or a valid State of Georgia Clinical Social Work license
issued by the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Office of the
Secretary of State, O.C.G.A. Title 43.
2. Pass the GACE content knowledge
assessment.
3. Meet Standards of
Conduct.
4. Have the certificate
requested by the employing Georgia local unit of administration following
procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(b) The Provisional certificate will be
issued for one (1)-year pending verification of enrollment in a GaPSC-accepted
educator preparation program leading to certification in the field held by the
individual. Once enrolled in a GaPSC-accepted program, the certificate will be
extended for two additional years (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.08 PROVISIONAL
CERTIFICATE).
(c) Conversion.
1. Meet one of the following options:
(i) Completion of a state-approved
certification preparation program in School Counseling at the master's degree
level - level five (5) - or higher.
(ii) Completion of a master's degree or
higher in a counseling area and submission of a valid National Certified School
Counselor (NCSC) credential issued by the National Board of Certified
Counselors.
(iii) Completion of a
master's degree or higher in a counseling area and submission of a valid State
of Georgia Professional Counselor's license issued by the Professional
Licensing Boards Division of the Office of the Secretary of State, O.C.G.A.
Title 43.
2. Meet the
following Special Georgia Requirements:
(i)
Satisfy the Special Education requirement with a grade of B or
better.
(ii) Meet Standards of
Conduct.
3. Apply for
certification following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(4)
Non-Renewable Professional
Requirements (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.09 NON-RENEWABLE PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE).
(a) Non-Renewable Professional
certificates in the field of School Counseling may be issued at the request of
an employing Georgia local unit of administration (LUA) in the following
scenarios:
1. Three (3)-year Non-Renewable
Professional certificate in the field of School Counseling may be issued to an
individual who holds a renewable professional certificate in any field at the
bachelor's degree level - level four (4) - or higher, and has completed a
master's or higher degree in any counseling area.
2. A One (1)-year Non-Renewable Professional
certificate in the field of School Counseling may be issued to an individual
who holds an expired Georgia Clear Renewable or Standard Professional School
Counseling Certificate but has not met renewal requirements outlined in section
(8)(a) below.
(5)
Additional Certificate Title Issued
in the Field.
(a) Retired Educator
(See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.44 RETIRED EDUCATOR
CERTIFICATE).
(6)
To Add the Field (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.34 ADD A FIELD).
(a) To add School Counseling to an existing
Professional certificate in any field an individual must complete the
following:
1. GaPSC-approved certification
program or a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational
Programs (CACREP) accredited program in School Counseling. Georgia Educators
who complete out-of-state programs not accredited by the Council for
Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) will not
be eligible for Georgia certification in School Counseling unless enrolled in
the program prior to April 15, 2017.
2. Pass the GACE content knowledge
assessment.
3. Satisfy the Special
Education requirement with a grade of B or better.
4. Apply for certification following
procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(7)
To Upgrade the Level (See
GaPSC Rule
505-2-.33 CERTIFICATE
UPGRADE).
(8)
Renewal
Requirements (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.36 RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS).
(a) To renew a Professional School Counseling
certificate, an individual must meet one of the following options:
1. Complete renewal requirements outlined in
GaPSC Rule
505-2-.36 RENEWAL
REQUIREMENTS).
2. Submission of a
valid National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential issued by the
National Board of Certified Counselors.
3. Submission of a valid State of Georgia
Professional Counselor's license issued by the Professional Licensing Boards
Division of the Office of the Secretary of State, O.C.G.A. Title
43.
(9)
In-Field Statement (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.40 IN-FIELD ASSIGNMENT).
(a) Individuals certified in School
Counseling are in-field to serve as a School Counselor in grades
P-12.
O.C.G.A.
§
20-2-200.