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School Counseling Certification
Program type:
Teaching Certification
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
varies
Credit Hours:
varies
The College of Education will support you as you become a professional school counselor
who reinforces the personal, social, academic and career development of students.
UNT's school counseling certification program helps graduates meet the educational
requirements for Texas public school counselors. Our acclaimed faculty will help you
master the skills you need to support children at the elementary or secondary level.
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Request More InfoWhy Earn a School Counseling Certificate?
Through this program, students complete all required coursework to meet state educational standards for school counseling. By the time coursework is finished, candidates must pass the TExES Counselor Exam to receive their Texas school counselor certification. Because certification requirements vary by state, individuals planning to practice school counseling outside of Texas should contact the appropriate state agency to verify their specific requirements.
Before enrolling in the first COUN (counseling) course, each student must have a completed Certification Deficiency Worksheet with the counseling office. This ensures that the program is tailored to address any remaining educational requirements needed for certification. Ultimately, this track helps qualified counseling professionals develop the skills, competencies, and knowledge required to support student success in EC–12 educational settings.
School Counseling Certification Highlights
The graduate Counseling program at UNT is frequently ranked among the top counselor
preparation programs in the nation and the best in Texas.
Our program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related
Educational Programs (CACREP). This accreditation means we meet or exceed strict
academic standards for excellence.
Many of our faculty members are recognized experts in their field, earning recognition
from the American Counseling Association, Association for Counselor Education and
Supervision, Texas Counseling Association and Chi Sigma Iota international honor society.
Our program fosters personal growth while helping students to develop a strong identity
as a professional counselor.
Each year, our program offers conferences where nationally known speakers present
current perspectives on counseling issues.
What Can You do With a School Counseling Certificate?
A School Counseling Certificate Endorsement/Deficiency Plan provides a direct pathway from the counseling profession to supporting students in EC–12 schools as a school counselor. Through the UNT Counseling Program, you’ll complete the educational requirements for the Texas school counselor certification, preparing you to work as a school counselor and support students’ academic, career, and social-emotional growth across all grade levels.
School Counseling Certification Courses You Could Take
Counseling Adolescents (3 hrs)
Counseling adolescents requires unique knowledge and skill. Course prepares counselors
to work with young people ages 12–21. Focus on the nature and needs of adolescence
along with effective strategies in counseling are explored.
Program Development, Leadership and Ethics in School Counseling (3 hrs)
Introduction to the school counseling profession. Covers ethical standards, leadership
and advocacy strategies, and development and management of the comprehensive developmental
guidance program.
Introduction to Play Therapy (3 hrs)
Enhancing the counseling relationship with children by utilizing play media to facilitate
expression, self-understanding, and personal growth and development. Observation of
and supervised experience in play therapy with children are an integral part of the
course.
Professional School Counseling (3 hrs)
Principles and practice of individual counseling, group counseling, counseling core
curriculum, and consultation in elementary and secondary schools as part of the overall
comprehensive developmental professional school counseling program.
Play-Based Group and Family Counseling (3 hrs)
Philosophy and rationale for group work with children, preadolescents, and their families.
Focuses on the goals of group and family play/activity therapy, the role of the play
therapist, screening and selection of group members, the use of expressive arts activities
at various developmental stages, and planning and structuring group and family sessions.
Internship in Counseling I (3-5 hrs)
Supervised experience in counseling in schools, colleges or agencies. Requires a minimum
of 300 total hours in counseling-related activities including a minimum of 120 direct
client contact hours. This experience is designed to meet practicum requirements for
Texas LPC and School Counselor Certification.
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