Licensure
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In order to legally monitor counselors with the intent of protecting citizens from poor quality health care services, state legislatures have enacted bills mandating minimum standards of training, ethical standards and practice. In addition to the minimum of a master's degree and successful completion of the National Counselor Exam required for certification, licensure in South Dakota (and most other states) requires additional post-degree experience and supervision.
Licensure protects the public by allowing the public legal recourse to state licensing boards when practitioners have committed malpractice or engaged in unethical behaviors. Licensure is considered by the CHRD faculty an important part of professional development and accountability.
Students in the agency track who are preparing to work in settings such as community mental health centers, residential treatment facilities, hospitals, battered women's shelters, alcohol and drug treatment clinics, or on college campuses are strongly encouraged to pursue licensure as professional counselors. Such licensure is increasingly a prerequisite desirable positions and the CHRD Department's agency track qualifies students to pursue professional licensure.
While students completing the school counseling track are not currently required to pursue state licensure, the CHRD faculty encourages school track students to strongly consider obtaining professional licensure. Students in the school track have completed necessary coursework and are eligible to pursue, at a minimum, the tier of professional counselor licensure in South Dakota. |
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