Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/School Counseling
Credential: Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/School Counseling
Credentialing Agency: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Renewal Period: 5 years
The Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/School Counseling certification is appropriate for counselors who work with students in grades preK-12 (ages 3-18+) in educational settings. These school counselors may work with individuals, small groups, a whole class, or the entire school to advance student learning academically, emotionally, and socially, and in the area of career development. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, have a minimum of three years of experience as a school counselor at the early childhood, elementary, middle school, or high school level, and where it is required, hold a state school counseling license. Candidates must pass a computer-based assessment and submit three portfolio entries.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/School Counseling
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite: State School Counseling License
- Experience: 3 years
- Education: Bachelors
- Training
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY
Renewal Period: 5 years
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
1525 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: (703) 465-2700
Fax: (703) 465-2715
Contact Page
Credential Pre-requisite REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must possess a valid state teaching or counseling license. Exception: If the candidate is teaching where a license is not required, he/she must have taught in schools recognized and approved to operate by the state.
Education and/or Experience REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Candidates must have a minimum of three years school counseling experience at the early childhood, elementary, middle school, or high school level.
Written Exam
Content knowledge is assessed through the completion of approximately 45 selected response items and three constructed response exercises.
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School Counseling Program, Leadership, Advocacy, and Professional Identity (40%)
- Foundations of the program
- Accountability of the program
- Ethics
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Human Growth and Development (30%)
- Theories of human growth and development and their application in working with individual students
- Developmental stages
- Developmental assets and strategies for helping students build developmental assets
- Developmental needs of students with exceptionalities
- Consulting with stakeholders regarding developmental considerations in education for all students
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Counseling Theories, Equity, and Fairness (30%)
- History and philosophy of major counseling theories and techniques
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with highly developed communication skills
- Theories and policies related to multicultural counseling and differences among diverse populations
- Relationship between motivation and behavior
- Promoting fairness and equity
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Constructed Response: School Counseling Program
- In this exercise, candidates will demonstrate their knowledge of the development, implementation, and management of a school counseling program.
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Constructed Response: Counseling Theories and Techniques
- In this exercise, candidates will demonstrate their knowledge of counseling theories and techniques as applied to a given scenario.
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Constructed Response: School Climate
- In this exercise, candidates will demonstrate their understanding of factors related to school climate and approaches for establishing and maintaining a positive and productive learning environment.
Performance Exam Requirements
In addition to the computer-based assessment, candidates for National Board Certification are required to complete three portfolio entries, which are submitted online.
The topics for the portfolio entries are as follows:
- Differentiation Instruction
- This classroom-based portfolio entry is primarily comprised of samples of student work and an accompanying written commentary.
- Teaching Practice and Learning Environment
- This is a classroom-based portfolio entry that requires video recordings of interactions between the candidate and his/her students.
- Effective and Reflective Practitioner
- This portfolio entry requires examples of assessments used for formative and summative purposes.
Exam Preparation Resources
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/School Counseling examination:
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Best Sources
- Candidate FAQs
- Candidate Resources
- Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/School Counseling - Component 1
- Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/School Counseling - Component 2
- Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/School Counseling - Component 3
- Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/School Counseling - Component 4
- Guide to National Board Certification
- NBCT Certification Renewal - Profile of Professional Growth
- Renewal at a Glance
- Renewal Guide to Board Certification
- School Counseling Standards
RECERTIFICATION
Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/School Counseling
Renewal Period: 5 years