N.J. Admin. Code § 13:34-11.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 13:34-11.2 - Professional counselor: application and educational requirements

(a) An applicant for licensure as a professional counselor shall submit the following to the Committee:

1. A completed application form, which contains information concerning the applicant's educational and experiential background;

2. The application fee set forth in 13:34-17.1;

3. An official transcript(s) clearly indicating that the applicant has completed a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours and has obtained a master's degree or a doctorate in counseling in a planned educational program designed to prepare students for the professional practice of counseling from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The degree and official transcript(s) shall clearly indicate that:

i. The degree awarded is a master's degree or doctorate in counseling. The institution offering the degree shall state in the catalog or in another format acceptable to the Committee that the purpose of the graduate degree is to prepare students for the professional practice of counseling; and

ii. The applicant has completed a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours of which 45 graduate semester hours shall be distributed in at least eight of the following areas:

(1) Counseling theory and practice, which includes the study of basic theories, principles and techniques of counseling and their application to professional counseling settings;

(2) The helping relationship, which includes studies that provide a broad understanding of philosophic bases of helping processes, basic and advanced helping skills, consultation theories and their applications, client and helper self-understanding and self-development and facilitation or client change;

(3) Human growth and development and maladaptive behavior, which includes studies that provide a broad understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels, normal and abnormal behavior, personality theory, life-span theory, and learning theory within cultural contexts;

(4) Lifestyle and career development, which include studies that provide a broad understanding of career development theories, occupational and educational information sources and systems, career and leisure counseling, guidance and education, lifestyle and career decision-making, career development program planning, resources, and career option identification;

(5) Group dynamics, processes, counseling and consulting, which include studies that provide a broad understanding of group development dynamics, group counseling theories, group leadership styles, basic and advanced group counseling methods and skills, and other group approaches;

(6) Appraisal of individuals, which includes studies that provide a broad understanding of group and individual educational and psychometric theories and approaches to appraisal, data and information gathering methods, validity and reliability, psychometric statistics, factors that influence appraisals, use of appraisal results in helping process and the specific ability to administer and interpret tests and inventories to assess abilities and interests and identify career options;

(7) Social and cultural foundations, which include studies that provide a broad understanding of societal changes and trends, human roles, societal subgroups, social mores and interaction patterns, multicultural and pluralistic trends, differing lifestyles, and major societal concerns including stress, person abuse, substance abuse, discrimination and methods of alleviating these concerns;

(8) Research and evaluation, which include studies that provide a broad understanding of types of research, basic statistics, research-report development, research implementation, program evaluation, needs assessment, publication of research information and ethical and legal considerations; and

(9) The counseling profession, which includes studies that provide a broad understanding of professional roles and functions, professional goals and objectives, professional organizations and associations, professional history and trends, ethical and legal standards, professional preparation standards, and professional credentialing; and

4. A Certification and Authorization Form for a Criminal History Background Check.

(b) An applicant shall be required to submit documentation that the coursework he or she has completed meets the education requirements set forth in (a) above, if the official transcript has not been issued by an educational institution, which at the time of the applicant's graduation:

1. Was accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or its successor; or

2. Had obtained approval from the Committee, after its review of documentation, including course descriptions and syllabi, demonstrating that the curriculum meets the requirements set forth in (a) above.

(c) The master's or doctoral degrees required by (a)3 above shall be from programs that:

1. Require students to hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education prior to entry; or

2. Award a bachelor's degree in conjunction with the master's or doctoral degree. 13:34-11.5 Associate counselor: application and educational requirements

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:34-11.2

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 1371(b), effective 7/5/2016

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 655(a), effective 4/3/2017