Counselor Education

 

Counselor Education Office 
1160 McDermott Dr., Suite 102
West Chester, PA 19383
Call: (610) 436–2559 x2550
Fax: (610) 425–7432
smarvil@wcupa.edu


Post - Masters Program in Professional Counselor Licensure Preparation

Pennsylvania's Professional Counselor Licensure Act requires candidates to complete a 48 credit degree program in counseling or a counseling related area and have a total of 60 graduate credits.

Please contact Dr. Parsons (rparsons@wcupa.edu) for details of the licensure preparation program.

Description
The post-master program in professional counselor licensure preparation is designed to meet the education and internship requirements of counselors who aspire to attain licensure in the state of Pennsylvania. The program has been designed with a commitment to education and training that will provide the skills and confidence needed for students to become competent and ethical professional counseling services.

Counseling Applications
  • Individual counseling
  • Group counseling
  • Crisis intervention
  • Career counseling

Need for Licensure
Pennsylvania Act 136 of 1998 provides for the licensure of professional counselors. The use of the title Licensed Professional Counselor without a license is restricted by law except in exempt public settings such as schools and government affiliated agencies. Act 136 requires the completion of a planned program of study consisting of 60 semester hours of graduate course work in counseling or a closely related field, including a 48-semester hour master's degree in counseling or a closely related area. For more information on Pennsylvania licensure you may access http://www.pacounseling.org.

Practice of Professional Counseling
As defined by Act 136, the practice of professional counseling includes the following: to apply the principles and practices of counseling, mental health, and human development; to evaluate and facilitate human growth and adjustment throughout the life span; and to prevent and treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated stresses that interfere with mental health and normal human growth and development.

Program of Study (12 semester hours are provided for students who need the 12 additional credits along with their 48 credit masters)

Courses
EDC610
Diagnostic-Intervention Connection for Professional Counselors
EDC620
Advanced Counseling Interventions
EDC650
Advanced Counselor Internship

Electives (minimum 3 semester hours)
Other counselor education courses as appropriate.

EDC630
Systems Concepts and Skills
PSY 517/519
Psychopathology
EDC 594-598
Special Topics

Admission Requirements For Post-Master Program
The following material should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education

  • Completed graduate application including goals statement
  • Recent resume
  • Official academic transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended providing evidence of completion of a masters degree in counseling or a closely related area (e.g., clinical psychology)
  • A minimum of three professional references
  • An admissions interview may be required.

Note Candidates who completed their graduate study at West Chester University are not required to submit transcripts or letters of reference.