Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 505 - PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMISSION
Chapter 505-2 - CERTIFICATION
Rule 505-2-.202 - School Counseling
Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 505-2-.202
Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1) Initial Certificate Requirements.
(a) Clear Renewable
Certificate (See Rule
505-2-.03):
1. An applicant is eligible for a Clear
Renewable certificate in the field of School Counseling based on completion of
one of the following options:
(i) Completion
of a state-approved certification preparation program in School Counseling at
the master's degree level (level 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; or
(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 State, O.C.G.A. Title
43.
2. An applicant must
meet the Special Georgia Requirements (See Rule 505-2 .20) applicable to the
field of School Counseling:
(i) Content
Knowledge Assessment;
(ii) Recency
of Study;
(iii)Special Education -
coursework in the identification and education of children who have special
educational needs; and
(iv)
Standards of Conduct.
(b) Non-Renewable Professional Certificate
(See Rule
505-2-.06):
1. Non-Renewable Professional certificates in
the field of School Counseling are issued in the following situations at the
request of a school system based on employment and following General Procedures
for Certification Application:
(i) The
applicant has met all requirements of a state-approved certification
preparation program at the master's degree level or higher in School Counseling
and is missing Special Georgia Requirements;
(ii) The applicant has satisfied all other
requirements EXCEPT that the highest degree held is a bachelor's degree (level
4) state-approved certification preparation program in School Counseling, for
completion of the options outlined in (1)(a);
(iii)The applicant holds an expired Georgia
Clear Renewable certificate or professional out-of-state certificate in School
Counseling (valid or expired) at the bachelor's degree level, for completion of
the options outlined in (1)(a);
(iv) The applicant holds a Clear Renewable
certificate in any field at the bachelor's degree level (level 4) or higher,
has completed a master's or higher degree in any counseling area, and can
submit verification of acceptance into a state-approved certification
preparation program in School Counseling; or
(v) The applicant holds an expired Georgia
Clear Renewable School Counseling certificate or a professional out-of-state
certificate in School Counseling (valid or expired) at the master's degree
level or higher to meet Special Georgia Requirements outlined in (1)(a) and/or
Standard Renewal Requirements.
2. Educators holding a Non-Renewable
Professional certificate must meet all requirements outlined by the GaPSC and
convert to a Clear Renewable certificate prior to the end validity of the
Non-Renewable Professional certificate.
(c) Non-Renewable Non-Professional
Certificate (See Rule
505-2-.30):
1. If the applicant does not hold any
educator certificate, a Non-Renewable Non-Professional certificate in this
field may be issued at the request of a school system based on employment and
submission of the Application for Certification and following:
(i) Official transcripts reflecting
completion of a master's degree or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited
institution in any counseling area, or Master of Social Work degree, or
submission of a valid State of Georgia Clinical Social Work license issued by
the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Office of the Secretary
State, O.C.G.A. Title 43;
(ii)
Satisfactory completion of the Georgia state-approved content assessment (See
Rule
505-2-.06); and
(iii)Verification of acceptance into a
state-approved certification preparation program in School Counseling at the
master's degree level or higher.
2. Educators holding a Non-Renewable
Non-Professional certificate must meet all requirements outlined by the GaPSC
and convert to a Clear Renewable certificate prior to the end validity of the
Non-Renewable Non-Professional certificate.
(2) The GaPSC does not issue the following certificates for this field:
(a) International Exchange certificate (See
Rule
505-2-.08);
(b) Permit (See Rule
505-2-.10);
(c) ADAC (See Rule
505-2-.04);
(d) Core Academic (See Rule
505-2-.27);
(e) Clinical Practice (See Rule
505-2-.28);
(f) One-Year Supervised Practicum (See Rule
505-2-.29); and
(g) Adjunct License (See Rule
505-2-.40).
(3) To Add the Field (See Rule 505-2-.25) .
(a) To add School Counseling
to an existing Clear Renewable certificate in any field, an applicant must
complete the requirements outlined in (1)(a) for an initial School Counseling
certificate to include all applicable Special Georgia Requirements.
(4) Renewal Requirements (See Rule 505-2-.24) .
(a) To renew a Clear Renewable
School Counseling certificate, an applicant must meet one of the following
options:
1. Completion of Standard Renewal
Requirements;
2. Submission of a
valid National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential issued by the
National Board of Certified Counselors; or
3. Submission of a valid State of Georgia
Professional Counselors license issued by the Professional Licensing Boards
Division of the Office of the Secretary State, O.C.G.A. Title 43.
(5) In-Field Statement (See Rule 505-2-.26) .
(a) Educators certified in
School Counseling are in-field to serve as a School Counselor in grades
P-12.
O.C.G.A. Sec. 20-2-200.
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