Pennsylvania Department of Education: School Counselor

Pennsylvania Department of Education: School Counselor Certification

Code 1839: Specialist – Elementary & Secondary School Counselor PK-12

Address: 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126

Web site: https://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx Phone: 717-783-6788

PDE “Contact Us” Form: https://expressforms.pa.gov/apps/pa/education/contact-us

Department of Education Requirements for Education 1 Specialist – Elementary &

Secondary School Counselor PK-12:

The following information was obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (DOE)

The Framework for Elementary and Secondary School Counselor Preparation Program

Guidelines and American School Counselor Association (ASCA). This is a summary of the

current state requirements and may change. Students are expected to visit the Pennsylvania

Department of Education to become familiar with the most up-to-date requirements.

Educational Requirements:

The Rosemont College master’s degree in Counseling (School Counseling Concentration)

satisfies the educational requirements established by the PA Department of Education for

certification eligibility. These requirements include a master’s degree, 60 graduate level credits,

and 700 hours of supervised field experience.

The Candidate Competencies stipulated by the PA Department of Education are listed below.

Field Experience and Student Practice:

In order to ensure exposure, understanding, and candidate competence regarding the practice and

delivery of academic, career, and personal/social interventions, candidates must obtain

experience at the elementary (Pre K-8) and secondary (7-12) levels during their field

experiences, which include pre-practicum, practicum, and internship. Students may satisfy the

I.A History and Philosophy of School

Counseling

I.B Ethical and Legal Issues

I.C Social and Cultural Diversity

I.D Academic Development

I.E Career Development

I.F. Personal-Social Development

II.A Program Planning

II.B Counseling, Prevention and

Intervention

III.A Research and Program Evaluation

III.B Appraisal and Assessment

IV.A Collaboration and Consultation

IV.B. Advocacy

IV.C Leadership

IV.D Systematic Change

requirement of field experience at the elementary and secondary levels through their pre-

practicum, practicum, or internship placements.

a. The Pre-Practicum field experience is built into CNS 6065 School Counseling PK-12. To

fulfill the Pre-Practicum requirement, students will visit a school of their choosing and

interview the counselor at the site. Students should request a tour of the school to better

understand the school counselor’s day to day.

b. Students complete a 100-hour Practicum in a Spring semester (CNS 6600 School

Counseling Practicum) at the level of the student’s secondary interest (elementary or

secondary).

c. After the completion of the School Counseling Practicum, students complete a 600-hour

School Counseling Internship during consecutive Fall and Spring semesters at the level of

the student’s primary interest (elementary or secondary).

d. During either Practicum or Internship, students should have a high school experience.

Qualifications for On-Site Supervisors:

Candidates may satisfy the competencies identified in the school counselor program preparation

guidelines under the supervision of one school counseling supervisor, or several school

counseling supervisors from the same or different schools and school districts. The Pennsylvania

Department of Education requires an on-site supervisor to be a certified school counselor, have a

minimum of three (3) years of experience as a school counselor, and be currently employed as a

school counselor. The on-site supervisor may supervise a candidate’s internship activities that

occur within a school that is not a primary assignment of the on-site supervisor, but the school

must be within the on-site supervisor’s district in order for the supervisor to monitor the

candidate’s internship activities.

Background Checks:

Background Checks are required for prospective school counselors. These individuals must have

integrity and demonstrate ethical behavior and professional conduct as stated in Pennsylvania’s

Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators.

Examination Requirements:

In addition to successfully completing the degree program, a passing score on the Praxis for the

Professional School Counselor (5421) must be achieved in order to request certification. It is

recommended that students take the Praxis during their final semesters of the program.

The following link provides information you need to know in preparation for Praxis Professional

School Counseling Examination (Code 5421): https://www.ets.org/s/praxis/pdf/5421.pdf

Exam Study Guides and Resources:

Praxis II Professional School Counselor (5421) Exam Secrets Study Guide (Mometrix)

https://www.amazon.com/Praxis-Professional-School-Counselor-Secrets/dp/1630940224/

ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Praxis+for+the+Professional+School+Counselor+

%285421%29&qid=1585260360&sr=8-1

Praxis II Professional School Counselor (5421) Exam: Teacher Certification

https://www.amazon.com/Praxis-Professional-School-Counselor-Exam/dp/1982993111/

ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Praxis+for+the+Professional+School+Counselor+

%285421%29&qid=1585260360&sr=8-3

PRAXIS 5421 Professional School Counselor

https://www.amazon.com/PRAXIS-5421-Professional-School-Counselor/dp/154411303X/

ref=sr_1_7?keywords=Praxis+for+the+Professional+School+Counselor+

%285421%29&qid=1585260360&sr=8-7

The Application Process:

Institutional recommendation for initial school counselor certification is required. At the

conclusion of the program when all degree requirements have been completed and examination

passed, students must submit a Certification Request Form, which is available through the iWay,

to Sara Elliott ([email protected]). The Certification Request Form will be processed

only after the degree is conferred. The Certification Request is then processed by Rosemont

College’s Certification Officer for who will contact the student with instructions on how to

Candidates with Certification from Other States:

This information is for candidates certified as School Counselors in other states who are seeking

PDE Certification as an Education 1 Specialist – Elementary & Secondary School Counselor

PK-12.

There are no reciprocity agreements between Pennsylvania and other states to obtain certification

as a school counselor. However, Pennsylvania has signed an Interstate Agreement with 45 other

states/jurisdictions based upon the mutually agreed-upon conditions of that contract.

The following states possess such agreements with Pennsylvania: AL, AK, AZ,AR, CA, CO, DE,

DC, FL,GA,HI,ID, IL, IN, KA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, MN, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM,

NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC ,TN, TX , UT, VE, VA, WA, WV, WY. It should be noted,

however, that in all cases, candidates for Pennsylvania certification must complete the Praxis

tests required by Pennsylvania.

For candidates with PDE Certification as an Education 1 Specialist – Elementary & Secondary

School Counselor PK-12 in Pennsylvania seeking certification in other states, please contact the

appropriate state for more information.

Transitioning from Level I to Level II Certification:

Level I Pennsylvania Instructional and Educational Specialist certifications are valid for six (6)

years of service, not calendar years.

If you have been counseling in Pennsylvania on a Level I certificate for 3-6 years of satisfactory

service and have earned 24 post-baccalaureate credits, you can apply for a Level II

certificate. The following conditions must be met:

•

Six credits must be associated with your area(s) of certification and/or must be designed

to improve professional practice

•

You must have three years of satisfactory service on a Level I certificate, verified by the

chief school administrator of the employing school entity

•

You must have completed a PDE induction program verified by the chief school

administrator of your employing entity

Act 48

Act 48 of 1999 requires all Pennsylvania educators holding Pennsylvania public school

certification (including Instructional I and II, Educational Specialist I and II, Administrative,

Supervisory, Letters of Eligibility, and all vocational certificates) to participate in ongoing

professional education.

Educators must earn six credits of collegiate study; or six credits of PDE-approved continuing

professional education courses; or 180 hours of continuing professional education programs,

activities or learning experiences through a PDE approved provider; or any combination of the

above every five years to maintain active certification status.

Please contact the Graduate Counseling program for information about courses to satisfy Act 48

credits. Rosemont College graduates may qualify for the college’s Alumni 25% Discount.