Certificate in School Counselor to Clinical Mental Health Counselor
The certificate in school counselor to clinical mental health counselor (CMHC) provides students in the school counseling track and school counseling practitioners the opportunity to obtain the courses needed to meet the academic requirements of the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license in Kansas. The certificate provides the coursework for students who are attending the school counseling degree track, WSU alumni who have graduated from the degree track and wish to return to WSU for the LPC educational requirements, or other school counselors who wish to pursue LPC coursework. LPC licensure will have the potential to provide additional career opportunities and promotion to the students who hold the certificate. Students with degrees less than 48 credit hours may be required to take additional courses beyond this certificate to meet the 60-credit-hours required for LPC licensure by the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB). Students with a bachelor's degree who may have an interest in the counseling profession or practicing mental health professionals who may want professional development and/or an additional credential are also eligible for admission into this program.
Admission
Students seeking the certificate in school counselor to clinical mental health counselor (CMHC) will be either currently enrolled students in the counseling program's school counseling degree track, or nondegree, Category A status students who wish to complete the LPC licensure requirements. All Graduate School policies related to admission will apply to students admitted under nondegree, Category A status to pursue the certificate in school counselor to clinical mental health counselor (CMHC).
Prior to admission, all students are strongly encouraged to confer with the BSRB regarding specific licensure requirements.
Program Requirements
The following courses are required for completion of this 12-credit-hour certificate:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CESP 847 | Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| CESP 848 | Crisis Counseling | 3 |
| CESP 838 | Families and Family Systems | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select one 3-credit-hour elective chosen from the following preapproved list. Chosen elective depends on student interest. | 3 | |
| Psychopharmacology | ||
| Mindfulness and Acceptance in Therapy | ||
| Fundamentals of Play Therapy | ||
| Advanced Techniques in Child and Play Therapy | ||
| Student Athlete Identity Development | ||
| Counseling Student Athletes | ||
| College Student Development and the Campus Environment | ||
| Social Psychological Foundations of Sport | ||
| Theories of Suicidology for Counselors | ||
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Completion Requirements
A cumulative graduate GPA of 3.000 for all courses comprising the certificate program is required. No grades below a C (2.000) are allowed in certificate program courses. In addition to these requirements, students must meet the Graduate School’s requirements in order to earn this certificate.
Completion Process
- Students must notify the program area, in writing, of intent to complete the certificate.
- In the semester the certificate requirements are met, students must:
- With graduate advisor, prepare and submit to the Graduate School a plan of study for the certificate, and
- Submit to the Graduate School an application for the certificate along with a $25 filing fee.
Deadlines are no later than the 20th day of fall or spring semester, or the 10th day of a summer term.