Frequently Asked Questions & Responses for students seeking a Masters (M.Ed.) or Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) degree in School Counseling

Do I need to have a teaching degree to enter the School Counseling program?

The FAU School Counseling programs are Florida Department of Education initial certification programs. Students who do not hold a FL teacher certification upon entry must complete the certification requirements as a condition of graduation. To meet this requirement, admitted, non-certified students are required to take TSL 5345 Methods of TESOL and Bilingual Education and RED 6361 Teaching Reading in Secondary and Middle Schools, and pass the Florida Professional Educators and School Counseling PK-12 exams. To learn more, visit http://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/postsecondary-assessment.

If I already have a Master's degree (in a related field or not) what coursework will I need to complete? Field experience? How does this get determined?

The FAU School Counseling program offers an Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) option for those students who have already obtained a Master’s degree. The required coursework and field experience will vary depending on your previous master’s degree coursework and professional experience. The total number of credits needed to earn the Ed.S. will range from 12 to 60. All students must meet the accreditation, department, graduate college, and FL DOE certification requirements. Advisors tailor a Plan of Study for students after admission to the degree program.

Can I take courses as a Non-Degree Seeking Student?

Students interested in taking coursework before applying to a program must follow the requirements posted on the department website http://www.fau.edu/education/academicdepartments/ce/nondegree-med

All school counseling specialty courses are limited to degree-seeking graduate students or those completing the School Counseling PK-12 graduate certificate program.

How does the School Counseling PK-12 graduate certificate program differ from a master’s or Ed.S. degree? ?

The School Counseling certificate program is reserved ONLY for professionals who have already earned a CACREP-accredited counseling degree in another specialty area (e.g., clinical mental health, rehabilitation, marriage and family counseling) and are interested in completing the specialty courses in School Counseling. Visit https://www.fau.edu/registrar/university-catalog/catalog/education/to learn more about the program and eligibility requirements.

Am I eligible for the School Counseling PK-12 graduate certificate program if I hold a degree in Social Work or Psychology?

No. Two-thirds of all CACREP-accredited master’s degrees are core classes that build a foundation of knowledge, competencies, and skills shared by all counselors. Therefore, only CACREP-program graduates are eligible, but must meet the other program requirements. Visit https://www.fau.edu/registrar/university-catalog/catalog/education/to learn more about the program and eligibility requirements.

Can I only take the courses I need to meet the requirements for Florida Teacher Certification?

The FAU School Counseling program and specialty coursework, including the Practicum and Internship courses, are reserved ONLY for degree-seeking students and those earning the School Counseling certificate. All students must meet the accreditation, department, graduate college, and FL DOE certification requirements.

What exams do students need to take be eligible for graduation and FL DOE certification?

All school counseling degree-seeking students must pass two Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE): the (1) Professional Educator’s exam, and (2) School Counseling PK-12 subject area exam. Students will not be cleared for graduation until the FTCE exams are passed. Students who graduate from the FAU School Counseling programs are eligible for FL teacher certification upon graduation. Information about the required certification exams is available at: http://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/postsecondary-assessment

How does the program prepare students for certification?

The FAU School Counseling program curriculum is competency-based. The Florida Educators Accomplished Practice (FEAP) indicators and CACREP core and school counseling standards and indicators are embedded in the school counseling specialty coursework. Standards are introduced, reinforced, and assessed throughout the curriculum. All students must meet expectations on their critical assignments to earn a grade in the course. Course instructors evaluate graduate students using standardized rubrics and, when needed, provide remediation and coaching. In addition to the competency-based curriculum, students must study independently for the FTCE exams and participate in any additional preparation to ensure a successful outcome on the required certification exams. All students (100%) who graduate from the FAU School Counseling program are eligible for teacher certification. Additional information about the teacher certification can be found here: http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/pathways-routes/teacher-edu-program-graduates.stml

What is the recommended timeline for exam completion? How can students prepare on their own to successfully pass these exams?

Professional Educators exam = before beginning the Practicum experience or by the end of year two (whichever comes first)
School Counseling PK-12 subject area exam = during their Practicum experience or once they have completed the counseling coursework (whichever comes first)
Students who do not submit passing scores on Professional Educator and Guidance and Counseling exams during their Practicum experience will receive a grade of Incomplete. The Incomplete grade is replaced with a letter grade when the passing scores are submitted to the department, program advisor, and course instructor.

Once accepted to the program, when can students begin coursework?

Upon admission, students will receive an email from the Department of Counselor Education and the FAU Graduate College. The email from the Department will provide (a) details on how to document that you have completed the required program orientation steps, and (b) the name of your assigned faculty advisor. After you have completed the orientation process, you can contact your advisor to set up a meeting to register for your classes. The semester in which you can start taking courses will be specified in an official email from the Graduate College, along with any conditions you must meet for your admission to the program.

What is the recommended course sequence?

Full-time enrollment status in the FAU School Counseling programs means students register for nine credits (3 courses) per semester. Classes are offered on the Boca and Jupiter campuses, and online. Full-time students who follow the recommended sequence are expected to graduate within seven semesters. Students who deviate from the sequence will take longer to graduate.

Are there any grade requirements once I am admitted?

All students enrolled in the FAU School Counseling program must earn a B or higher in and maintain an overall 3.0 GPA to graduate. If a student fails to meet the academic requirements, they will sign a Program Improvement Plan and, at a minimum, must retake courses until the deficiencies are corrected. Students may be dismissed from the program if retaking courses does not resolve the academic deficiencies. Additional information is available in the Department Student Handbook on the following page: Academic Information.

What type of advising can I expect?

All degree-seeking students in the FAU School Counseling program are assigned a faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to seek assistance if they are struggling with a matter that may impact their academic or career goals. Advising appointments may be scheduled by email directly with your advisor. Students can check the faculty and adjunct office hours by visiting: Office Hours

Additionally, students are expected to communicate with their advisor (a) Toward the end of their first semester in the program, to create the Plan of Study; (b) During scheduled School Counseling Program Group Advising sessions; (c) At least 60 days before applying for a field experience, to obtain permission to apply; and (d) To obtain their advisor’s signature on any required university forms.