Certificate of Advanced Study in Counseling

About the Certificate

The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Counseling is designed for mental health counseling, clinical or school counselors who have completed a master’s degree and want to pursue further systematic study in counseling to qualify to sit for the National Counselor’s Examination (NCE) and/or licensure in Pennsylvania (or other states with equivalent requirements). The NCE requires 48 semester hours of graduate credit with a course in each of nine specified areas.

The act that provides licensure of professional counselors in Pennsylvania requires completion of a “planned program” of 60 graduate semester credits in counseling from an accredited educational institution. The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Counseling prepares the post-master’s student to meet these requirements. 

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to the general admission procedures, a student also must hold a master’s or doctoral degree in a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling from an accredited college or university. Test scores are not required.

Program Requirements

The number of credits required will be determined after a transcript analysis has been completed. Courses will be selected with an adviser. A minimum of 12 additional credits are required for individuals with a 48-credit master’s degree in counseling.

Elective Courses

Approved electives include the following:

• Education Courses offered under the Foundations in BCBA^® and Autism programs with approval of program adviser. 
• Selected courses offered by the International Peace and Conflict Resolution or Public Health programs with approval of program adviser.
• Other master’s-level courses offered by other Arcadia University graduate programs may be taken as electives with the approval of the Program Director.  The petition process should include a statement on course relevance to the student’s academic program and career goals.

• PY 575 Special Topics in Evidence-Based Practice
• PY 589 Independent Research
• PY 605 Addictive Behaviors: Substance Abuse and Eating Disorder Counseling
• PY 613 Family Counseling
• PY 614 Couples Counseling
• PY 615 Child and Adolescent Counseling: Clinical and School Applications
• PY 618 Evidenced-Based Treatments of Trauma
• PY 620 Advanced Counseling Techniques
• PY 621 Advanced Child and Adolescent Counseling
• PY 622 Trauma, Advocacy, and Social Justice
• PY 623 Strategies for Treating Grief and Bereavement
• PY 697 Master’s Thesis in Counseling (3-credit option)

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• PY 698 Master’s Thesis in Counseling (3-credit option) OR
• PY 699 Master’s Thesis in Counseling (6 credits)