Analyzing Counselling Certificate in Florida

Counseling Certification

Counselling Certificate in Florida

In the following article, the certification rules or a school counsellor in Florida have been discussed in detail.

A Look at the Certification Process

According to the School Counselling Program, there are certain courses and experiences that a student requires to be eligible for Florida State Certification, and if these requirements are not already met, the courses are included in the student's planned program. Students must at least do one internship in a public or private school in the field of School Counselling to complete six credit hours. Moreover, they should sit in the Florida State Certification Examination for School Counsellors and get passing scores. Uncertified teachers must also pass the CLAST Basic Proficiency Exam, the Florida Teacher Certification Professional Skills Exam and the General Knowledge Test (only if CLAST exam was given after July 1, 2002). Florida is one among few states that allows certification in school counselling for uncertified teachers.

Certification from the State of Florida Department of Education (DOE) Division of Certification, which is not the same as licensure by state, is a requisite for becoming a practicing school counsellor; further requirements are also set by the DOE. The candidate must be in the specific program plan, keep all the information up-to-date and must report to the faculty counsellor when discussing the program plan. All these points must be kept in view and the students must plan the counselling program carefully so as to be deemed fit for the DOE certification. Ensuring that all requirements by the DOE are fulfilled is the duty of each student otherwise they cannot be illegible for DOE certification.

The following are the ground rules and requirements established by the DOE:

Plan A is to get a master's degree in the field of counsellor education for guidance and counselling. For this you require an internship of three semester hours in a secondary or elementary school's supervised counselling practicum. (Specialization Requirements for Certification in Guidance and Counselling (Grades PK-12)). Plan B suggests that a master's degree in the field of counselling and guidance should be achieved with thirty semester credit hours. (Specialization Requirements for Certification in Guidance and Counselling (Grades PK-12)). According to this plan, you must specialize in the following areas of guiding and counselling as specified:

Three semester hours in principles, philosophy, organization and administration of counselling

Three semester hours in student appraisal which includes standardized tests being administrated, interpreted and analysed

Three semester hours in education and career development information practices and systems

Three semester hours in learning the theory of personality and character and the development of human brain and skills

Three semester hours in counselling theories and giving individual counselling sessions to individuals

Three semester hours in counselling collectively and guidance techniques

Three semester hours in consultation skills and techniques in order to communicate with third parties such as agencies, teachers and parents

Three semester hours to learn about the current political, legal and ethical issues which the schools' counsellors have to confront