An academic program is the equivalent of a master's degree in
professional counseling or rehabilitation counseling from an approved
institution if the completed program meets the following criteria:
(1) The course work was completed at an
institution which was accredited by its regional accrediting association at the
time the applicant graduated from the program, and was part of a program of
studies leading to a master's degree or doctoral degree in a field closely
related to professional counseling or rehabilitation counseling.
(2) All course work reflected on the
applicant's official transcript totals at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter
hours of academic credit. The course work included successful completion of all
of the following:
(a) At least 3 semester
hours or 4 quarter hours academic credit in a supervised practicum counseling
experience that provides documented proof of a minimum of 100 hours of
supervised practicum experience with at least 40 hours of face-to-face client
contact. The practicum experience includes evaluation of the student's
counseling performance throughout the practicum and one hour per week of
individual or triadic supervision throughout the practicum by a program faculty
member, an approved student supervisor, or a site supervisor. The practicum
experience further includes an average of 1 & frac12; hours per week of
group supervision that is provided on a regular schedule throughout the
practicum by a program faculty member or a student supervisor.
(b) At least 6 semester hours or 8 quarter
hours academic credit in a supervised internship counseling experience that
provides documented proof of a minimum of 600 hours of supervised internship
experience with at least 240 hours of face-to-face client contact. The
internship experience includes evaluation of the student's counseling
performance throughout the internship and one hour per week of individual or
triadic supervision throughout the internship performed by the onsite or field
supervisor. The internship experience further includes an average of 1 1/2
hours per week of group supervision that is provided on a regular schedule
throughout the internship by a program faculty member or a student
supervisor.
(c) At least 3 semester
hours or 4 quarter hours academic credit in a counseling theory or counseling
approaches course that provides documented evidence that the student has been
exposed to a variety of theoretical models that are consistent with current
research and practice in the field. Courses covering only a single or specific
counseling theory will not be sufficient for meeting this educational
criterion.
(d) At least 3 semester
hours or 4 quarter hours of academic credit in each of the following topic
areas:
1. `Human growth and development.'
Studies that provide a broad understanding of the nature and needs of
individuals at all developmental levels; normal and abnormal human behavior;
personality theory; theories of individual and family development and
transitions; theories for facilitating optimal development and wellness across
the life span; and learning theory within appropriate cultural contexts.
Courses that focus on only one lifespan developmental level will not count in
fulfilling this criterion.
2.
`Social and cultural foundations.' Studies that provide a broad understanding
of societal changes and trends; human roles; societal subgroups, social mores
and interaction patterns; counselors' roles in developing cultural
self-awareness; promoting cultural social justice, advocacy and conflict
resolution, and other culturally supported behaviors that promote optimal
wellness and growth of the human spirit, mind, or body; counselors' roles in
eliminating biases, prejudices, and processes of intentional and unintentional
oppression and discrimination; and differing lifestyles.
3. `Helping relationship.' Studies that
provide a broad understanding and practical application of helping processes,
basic and advanced helping skills; consultation theories and their
applications; client and helper self-understanding and self-development; and
facilitation of client or consultee changes. An applicant's official transcript
must reflect successful completion of a course addressing counseling process,
skills, and intervention techniques.
4. `Group dynamics processing and
counseling.' Studies that provide a broad understanding of group development,
dynamics, and group counseling theories; group leadership styles; basic and
advanced group counseling methods and skills; and other group
approaches.
5. `Lifestyle and
career development.' Studies that provide a broad understanding of career
development theories; occupational and educational information sources and
systems; career and leisure counseling, guidance and education; lifestyle and
career decision making; career development program planning and resources; and
effectiveness evaluation.
6.
`Assessment and testing.' Studies that provide a broad understanding of group
and individual educational and psychometric theories and approaches to
appraisal; data and information gathering methods, validity and reliability;
psychometric statistics; factors influencing appraisals; social and cultural
factors related to the assessment; and evaluation of individuals, groups and
specific populations and use of appraisals to enhance helping
processes.
7. `Research and
evaluation.' Studies that provide a broad understanding of types of research;
basic statistics; research report development; research implementation; program
evaluation; needs assessment; publication of research information; and ethical
and legal considerations.
8.
`Professional counseling orientation.' Studies that provide a broad
understanding of professional counselor roles and functions; professional goals
and objectives; professional organizations and associations; professional
history and trends; ethical and legal standards; professional preparation
standards; and professional credentialing. The American Counseling Association
(ACA) or the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) must
have been the primary professional identity organization discussed and the ACA
Code of Ethics or CRCC Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation
counselors must have been used as the primary professional conduct guide and
prominently identified as such in the orientation course syllabus.
(e) At least 3 semester hours or 4
quarter hours in one of the following:
1.
`Foundations of clinical mental health counseling.' If the academic program has
an emphasis in mental health counseling, coursework addressing the history and
development of clinical mental health counseling, theories and models related
to clinical mental health counseling, principles of clinical mental health
counseling, including prevention, intervention, consultation, education, and
advocacy, and networks that promote mental health and wellness.
2. `Foundations of clinical rehabilitation
counseling.' If the academic program has an emphasis in rehabilitation
counseling, coursework addressing the history and development of rehabilitation
counseling, theories and models related to rehabilitation counseling, social
science theory that addresses psychosocial aspects of disability, principles of
rehabilitation including prevention, intervention, wellness, consultation,
education, and advocacy.
(f) At least 3 semester hours or 4 quarter
hours in one of the follow:
1. `Clinical
mental health counseling diagnosis and treatment planning.' If the academic
program has an emphasis in clinical mental health counseling, coursework
addressing the diagnostic process, including differential diagnosis and the use
of diagnostic classification systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and/or the International Classification of
Diseases (ICD); training on administration of intake interview, mental status
evaluation, biopsychosocial history, mental health history, and psychological
assessment for treatment planning and caseload management; and techniques and
interventions related to a broad range of mental health issues.
2. `Rehabilitation counseling diagnosis and
treatment planning.' If the academic program has an emphasis in rehabilitation
counseling, coursework addressing diagnostic interviews, mental status
examinations, symptom inventories, psychoeducational and personality
assessments, biopsychosocial histories, assessments for treatment planning;
career and work-related assessments including job-analysis, work site
modification, transferrable skills analysis, and job readiness; strategies to
advocate for clients with disabilities and rehabilitation counseling.
(g) At least 3 semester hours or 4
quarter hours in each of the following:
1.
`Crisis and trauma counseling.' Studies that include counseling approaches that
effectively address crises and trauma, the impact of trauma and crisis and
potential neurobiological responses; skills and techniques for assessing and
intervening in specific crisis or trauma situations including suicide
assessment and intervention.
2.
`Abnormal behavior and psychopathology.' Studies that include concepts of
psychopathology and introduces methods of assessment and diagnosis for
children, adolescents and adults with major mental disorders; and personality
disorders, multiple perspectives of emotional and psychological distress,
disturbance and behavior; skills to use the DSM diagnostic system while
including acknowledgement of client strengths and resilience and the social and
cultural context.
3. `Addictions
counseling.' Studies that provide an overview of addiction, the process of
addiction, treatment and recovery approaches, relapse prevention, developmental
issues related to addiction; treatment and prevention planning in regard to
addiction.
4. `Family, partnership,
and couples counseling.' Studies that provide information and skills relevant
to conducting partner or marital and family counseling services within a
multicultural society with emphasis given to systemic theory and philosophy;
dynamics of family interaction and the initial skills in assessment and
treatment of dysfunctional partner, marital, family and systems or ecosystems
relationships.
(3) Notwithstanding sub. (1) , an applicant
may, at an institution which was accredited by its regional accrediting
association at the time the course was completed, complete up to 18 credit
hours outside the program of studies leading to a master's degree in order to
meet the requirements in sub. (2).