| Answers |
| 1. How many classes do graduate students in the professional counseling program typically take? |
| Course load varies depending on individual circumstances, but in looking at spring 2007 stats, enrolled student overwhelming took 3 classes (42%), as compared to 2 classes (29%), 4 classes (16%), and 1 class (12%) respectively. |
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| 2. Can I work full-time and still attend graduate school? |
| Yes, the majority of our graduate students work full-time. Most of our students who work full-time take two or three courses per term. All of our classes are offered in the late afternoon and evenings. Classes start at 4:30pm. Classes starting at 4:30 typically meet twice per week for 1.25 hours per class. Classes starting at 6:00pm typically meet for about 2.5 hours and meet once per week. |
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| 3. Am I too old to attend graduate school? |
| Graduate students range in age from the early 20s to the 50s. |
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| 4. Are courses offered on weekends? |
| While students do not need to attend classes on weekends to complete the program, we do offer a few classes on Saturday mornings. |
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| 5. How long does it take to complete the program? |
The vast majority of our students choose the 60 credit option. It can be completed within the following time frames:
- Four courses per term plus summer session work: Two years to complete the degree
- Three courses per term plus summer session work: A little less than three years
- Two courses per term plus summer session work: Almost four years
Students who are not interested in pursuing licensure or school certification might consider the 48-credit option. The 48-credit option typically takes one or two fewer semesters to complete as compared to the 60 credit option. |
| 6. What are Tier 1 courses and how do they differ from Tiers 2 and 3? |
| In a nutshell, Tier 1 courses may be taken without prerequisites and represent the “backbone” of the course curriculum sequence. Tier 2 courses are taken after Tier 1 courses are completed and offer additional specialization to students in such areas as addiction, crisis management, and couples and family treatments. Tier 3 courses are divided into independent research and a student’s clinical fieldwork within practicum and internship and are the final requirements of the program. |
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| 7. Does a criminal history impact on my ability to seek a career in the helping professions? |
| Almost all agencies and schools require criminal and/or child abuse clearance checks. A criminal history may impede one’s ability to obtain licensure as a professional counselor. |
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| 8. Should I take the National Counselor Exam? |
The National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) offers the National Counselor Exam (NCE). The NCE is the exam that most students will take for their licensing exam (LPC) in Pennsylvania. Note that the NBCC is not the licensing body. The licensing board (State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors) has chosen the NCE as a test that applicants can take in order to qualify for licensure.
Carlow has arranged to host the NCE two times per year (October and April). Students are eligible to take the exam just prior to their graduation or within six months of graduation. If you do not take the exam during that “window of opportunity” you must wait to take the exam until you have completed a minimum of 3000 hours of supervised experience (see NBCC.org for details).
If you are taking the NCE at Carlow you must apply for the exam through the school (do not apply through the NBCC). Carlow notifies students about the application process for the NCE via e-mail. These applications must be submitted well before the testing dates. If you have questions about the application process contact your advisor or the Chair of the Department.
Some students may not want to take the NCE. Here are some scenarios:
- You are taking the school counseling cluster and you have no interest in pursuing licensure. In order to become a certified school counselor you must pass the Praxis exam in school counseling (see: http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/PRAXIS/pdf/0420.pdf)
- You are pursuing a career in addictions and plan to earn the master’s level certification as an addiction’s counselor (Certified Addictions Counselor – Diplomat). If so, the licensing board for the LPC (i.e., State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors) recognizes for licensure The Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor Examination (AAODA). For more information check out: http://www.nattc.org/getCertified/certification.asp?ID=spapcb, or contact the Pennsylvania Certification Board at: certification@pcacb.org
- If you are not interested in pursuing licensure, you are not required to take any exam.
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| 9. What is the difference between licensure and certification? |
| Licensure at the master’s level refers to the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Counselors can apply for the LPC once they have completed a minimum of 60 credits in counseling or a closely related field. In addition to the course work, students must pass an exam (typically it’s the National Board of Certified Counselor’s National Counselor Exam), and complete a minimum of 3600 hours of supervised experience (see your advisor or the licensing board website for more details on specific supervision requirements).
Certification can refer to certification as a school counselor, or it can refer to the National Certified Counselor (NCC). To earn school counseling certification in elementary and/or secondary school counseling a student must complete a program of studies approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Carlow offers such a program and it requires that students take specific courses designed to meet the PDE standards in school counseling. See you advisor for details. Once certified as an elementary or secondary school counselor, the counselor is qualified to work in the public schools in Pennsylvania.
The NCC designation is earned by counselors who pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE) and who also have a minimum of 3000 hours of supervised counseling experience. The NCC is a voluntary credential, but since passing the NCE is a step in qualifying for the LPC, many LPC’s also earn the NCC designation. |
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| 10. What professional organizations do counselors join? |
There are a number of professional organizations, with some of the most popular including:
The American Counseling Association:
www.counseling.org
The Pennsylvania Counseling Association:
www.pacounseling.org
The Greater Pittsburgh Counseling Association:
http://www.pacounseling.org/gpca.htm
The American School Counselor Association:
http://www.schoolcounselor.org/
The Pennsylvania School Counselors Association:
http://www.schoolcounselor.org/
The Allegheny County Counselors Association:
http://www.twuclan.net/acca/
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| 11. How do I learn more about the licensing board? |
| Go directly to the source. Their Web site is: http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/cwp/view.asp?a=1104&q=433177 |
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