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Home Page > Academics > College Of Education And Counseling > Counseling and Human Resource Development > Professional Credentialing > Certification
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Certification
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In 1985, The American Counseling Association (ACA) sponsored the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) to grant national certification to counselors who meet at least the minimal standards of preparation for work in all counseling settings. Since that time, NBCC has expanded its certification procedures to address five specialized areas: the national certified career counselor; the national certified gerontological counselor; the national certified school counselor; the mental-health counselor; and the community counselor.
NBCC's requirements are based on the professional standards of ACA and its divisions. Certification by NBCC does not give counselors legal status, but it does convey to the public that those holding the certification have met the minimal standards of practice established by the professional community.
All students graduating from the CHRD Department are qualified to become Nationally Certified Counselors (NCC). To obtain the NCC, students must successfully complete the program and take the National Counselor Exam (NCE) which NBCC administers. Because the CHRD Department is a nationally accredited program, students who are in their last two semesters of coursework are permitted to register through the department to take the exam prior to completing their degree. Once students have completed their coursework and have passed the NCE, they can become nationally certified counselors (NCC). Passing the NCE also prepares students to pursue licensure in South Dakota, the requirements of which are described on the Licensure page.
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| Important Information for School Track Students
| There are at least three different certifications that are immediately applicable to school counselors. They each have different requirements and confer distinct benefits.
1. State school counseling certification. The South Dakota Board of Education certifies school counselors for the state and graduates from CHRD's school track are immediately eligible for this certification. Further, school counselors MUST have this endorsement by the second year of their employment in order to maintain their positions.
2. Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) is the certification described earlier and all graduates from the CHRD program are eligible for this certification upon successful completion of the National Counselor Examination. The NCC is not particular to school counselors, nor is it required for practice as a school counselor, but it does reflect to the public and other professionals that the holder has met national standards for counseling professionals.
3. Nationally Certified School Counselor (NCSC). Students completing the school counseling program may, at the time they take the NCE, apply for the National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) designation. This certification is not required for practice as a school counselor in the state of South Dakota but does reflect to the public and other professionals that the holder has met national standards specific to school counselors. The NSCC does not require an additional test, but it does require an additional fee and additional post-degree supervision. For more details about the NCSC contact this department.
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