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Initial Certification in School Counseling

NOTE: The Department of Counseling and Psychological Services does not do pre-admission transcript evaluations for individuals pursuing certification in the state of Georgia.  You must apply to and be accepted into our initial certification/non-degree in school counseling program for a transcript evaluation to be completed. 

The Department of Counseling and Psychological Services offers the initial certification/non-degree program in school counseling to students who have a graduate degree in counseling but need the courses to pursue state certification in school counseling. Students wishing to pursue the initial certification/non-degree program in school counseling must hold a master's degree in counseling from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).   An applicant can contact CACREP at 1-800-347-6647 ext. 301 to see if his/her program is a CACREP program.  An applicant can also review the CACREP site list at http://www.counseling.org/.  

Students interested in the initial certification/non-degree program must complete the same application procedures as degree-seeking master's students. The program begins in summer semester only.  After being admitted to the program, an evaluation of the student's transcript will be completed by the advisor.  Students will need to complete a minimum of four courses. Depending on the previous master's degree in counseling, other courses may be required to complete the initial certification/non-degree program.

Students are required to complete the following four courses: 

CPS 6020 Introduction to Elementary/Middle School Counseling

            OR

  • CPS 6030 Introduction to Secondary School Counseling
  • CPS 7550 Consultation in School Counseling
  • CPS 7661 Applied Practice I: School Counseling (practicum)
  • CPS 7681 Internship: School Counseling

Students are approved to begin the applied practice based upon the number of hours they have completed in their programs. CPS 7550 must be taken concurrently with the applied practice (CPS 7661).  Students cannot register for and complete CPS 7661 (Applied Practice I) and CPS 7681 (Internship) until the academic year following admission into the program.  The practicum/internship sequence begins only in fall semester of the second year of the program.

All initial certification/non-degree program in school counseling students must complete CPS 6020 (Introduction to Elementary and Middle School Counseling) or CPS 6030 (Introduction to Secondary School Counseling) with a grade of B or higher. A grade lower than B requires repetition of the course. A student may not register for any other CPS course until he or she has completed CPS 6020 or CPS 6030 with a grade of B or higher.

A school counseling student who does not already have initial certification in the State of Georgia must successfully complete EXC 2010 (Exceptional Children and Youth), a technology course, and the appropriate GACE Examination in School Counseling before Georgia State University will recommend him or her for certification in school counseling.

Upon completion of the initial certification program in school counseling and passing the GACE Examination in School Counseling, a recommendation for certification  will be given through the Office of Academic Assistance in the College of Education.

Students pursuing the initial certification/non-degree program are not concurrently admitted to the Specialist in Education (Ed.S.)program in school counseling. Students will need to complete the application procedures for the Ed.S. program.  Any courses taken before admissions into the Ed.S. program will not count toward the degree.