Rule 505-2-.202 - School Counseling(1)Initial Certificate Requirements.(a) Clear Renewable Certificate (See Rule 505-2-.03): 1. An applicant is eligible for a Clear Renewable certificate in the field of School Counseling based on completion of one of the following options: (i) Completion of a state-approved certification preparation program in School Counseling at the master's degree level (level 5) or higher;(ii) Completion of a master's degree or higher in a counseling area and submission of a valid National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential issued by the National Board of Certified Counselors; or(iii)Completion of a master's degree or higher in a counseling area and submission of a valid State of Georgia Professional Counselor's license issued by the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Office of the Secretary State, O.C.G.A. Title 43.2. An applicant must meet the Special Georgia Requirements (See Rule 505-2 .20) applicable to the field of School Counseling:(i) Content Knowledge Assessment;(iii)Special Education - coursework in the identification and education of children who have special educational needs; and(iv) Standards of Conduct.(b) Non-Renewable Professional Certificate (See Rule 505-2-.06): 1. Non-Renewable Professional certificates in the field of School Counseling are issued in the following situations at the request of a school system based on employment and following General Procedures for Certification Application:(i) The applicant has met all requirements of a state-approved certification preparation program at the master's degree level or higher in School Counseling and is missing Special Georgia Requirements;(ii) The applicant has satisfied all other requirements EXCEPT that the highest degree held is a bachelor's degree (level 4) state-approved certification preparation program in School Counseling, for completion of the options outlined in (1)(a);(iii)The applicant holds an expired Georgia Clear Renewable certificate or professional out-of-state certificate in School Counseling (valid or expired) at the bachelor's degree level, for completion of the options outlined in (1)(a);(iv) The applicant holds a Clear Renewable certificate in any field at the bachelor's degree level (level 4) or higher, has completed a master's or higher degree in any counseling area, and can submit verification of acceptance into a state-approved certification preparation program in School Counseling; or(v) The applicant holds an expired Georgia Clear Renewable School Counseling certificate or a professional out-of-state certificate in School Counseling (valid or expired) at the master's degree level or higher to meet Special Georgia Requirements outlined in (1)(a) and/or Standard Renewal Requirements.2. Educators holding a Non-Renewable Professional certificate must meet all requirements outlined by the GaPSC and convert to a Clear Renewable certificate prior to the end validity of the Non-Renewable Professional certificate.(c) Non-Renewable Non-Professional Certificate (See Rule 505-2-.30): 1. If the applicant does not hold any educator certificate, a Non-Renewable Non-Professional certificate in this field may be issued at the request of a school system based on employment and submission of the Application for Certification and following: (i) Official transcripts reflecting completion of a master's degree or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution in any counseling area, or Master of Social Work degree, or submission of a valid State of Georgia Clinical Social Work license issued by the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Office of the Secretary State, O.C.G.A. Title 43;(ii) Satisfactory completion of the Georgia state-approved content assessment (See Rule 505-2-.06); and(iii)Verification of acceptance into a state-approved certification preparation program in School Counseling at the master's degree level or higher.2. Educators holding a Non-Renewable Non-Professional certificate must meet all requirements outlined by the GaPSC and convert to a Clear Renewable certificate prior to the end validity of the Non-Renewable Non-Professional certificate.(2)The GaPSC does not issue the following certificates for this field:(a) International Exchange certificate (See Rule 505-2-.08);(b) Permit (See Rule 505-2-.10);(c) ADAC (See Rule 505-2-.04);(d) Core Academic (See Rule 505-2-.27);(e) Clinical Practice (See Rule 505-2-.28);(f) One-Year Supervised Practicum (See Rule 505-2-.29); and(g) Adjunct License (See Rule 505-2-.40).(3)To Add the Field (See Rule505-2-.25).(a) To add School Counseling to an existing Clear Renewable certificate in any field, an applicant must complete the requirements outlined in (1)(a) for an initial School Counseling certificate to include all applicable Special Georgia Requirements.(4)Renewal Requirements (See Rule505-2-.24).(a) To renew a Clear Renewable School Counseling certificate, an applicant must meet one of the following options: 1. Completion of Standard Renewal Requirements;2. Submission of a valid National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential issued by the National Board of Certified Counselors; or3. Submission of a valid State of Georgia Professional Counselors license issued by the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Office of the Secretary State, O.C.G.A. Title 43.(5)In-Field Statement (See Rule505-2-.26).(a) Educators certified in School Counseling are in-field to serve as a School Counselor in grades P-12.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.202
O.C.G.A. Sec. 20-2-200.
Original Rule entitled "School Counseling" adopted. F. Oct. 22, 2004; eff. Nov. 15, 2004, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. June 23, 2005; eff. July 15, 2005, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Feb. 10, 2006; eff. Mar. 15, 2006, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Nov. 9, 2006; eff. Dec. 15, 2006, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Dec. 14, 2007; eff. Jan. 15, 2008, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Apr. 20, 2009; eff. May 15, 2009, as specified by the Agency.Repealed: New rule with same title adopted. F. Sep. 24, 2012; eff. Oct. 14, 2012.