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Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences

Certificate in Professional Counseling Studies

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I was lucky to find a program that supports people who already have their master’s degrees but don’t have enough credits to sit for the National Counselor Examination. It’s not easy to work and go to school at the same time, but UB’s classes were offered in the evenings, so we could attend them after work. Interacting with other students, who were trying to achieve the same goals, to encourage and support each other contributed to this enriching experience.

—Akiko Kobayashi, CERT ’06

Earn the necessary credits to sit for the National Counselor Examination—and become a licensed clinical professional counselor to diagnose and treat clients with any psychological issues.

If you've earned or are earning your master's degree in counseling or psychology, this 18-credit post-master's Certificate in Professional Counseling Studies program provides you with the 60 graduate credits and 125 hours of field experience required to sit for the National Counselor Examination.

Why?

  • Passing the National Counselor Examination allows you to practice for two years as a licensed graduate professional counselor while you complete the 3,000 total hours of professional experience required to become a fully licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in Maryland and throughout the country.
  • As an LCPC, you can operate independently in your own practice and bill insurance companies as a private practitioner.
  • In this program, you'll work closely with an adviser to tailor your studies to best prepare you to sit for the exam and to meet other criteria established by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists, all required to become an LCPC.
  • This program is an ideal progression for you if you have earned or are in the process of earning your master's degree in counseling or a related field; it can easily be paired with UB's M.S. in Applied Psychology.

How?

  • This program will allow you to complete the 60 graduate credits and the 125 hours of field experience—through practicum opportunities offered in both the fall the spring semesters—that are required to sit for the National Counselor Exam.
  • You will benefit from the program's personal approach to study, the small class size and your exposure to our highly qualified faculty, who have extensive experience practicing professionally, working with graduate students, teaching and researching. They have trained and worked in a variety of settings, including university and college counseling centers, inpatient and outpatient mental-health facilities, substance-abuse treatment institutes and private practices.

UB annually offers all courses necessary for licensure; courses are offered evenings and occasionally during the day.

  • Gainful Employment Information

    This information is provided to help you make an informed decision about this certificate program related to time and resources required to complete the program and possible employment outcomes.

    Occupations
    This certificate will prepare you for careers including, but not limited to, the ones listed below. The code referenced is the Standard Occupational Classification code published by the Department of Labor.