Professional School Counselors promote the personal/social, career, and academic growth and development of PreK-12 students.The school counseling program curriculum is a deliberate, integrated component of the educational agenda of the school. Comprehensive school counseling programs, designed to meet the holistic needs of all students, are a collaborative effort. Specifically, school counselors engage a multitude of stakeholders (i.e., parents, teachers, administrators, students and community partners) in the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of school counseling programs. By removing barriers to student achievement, school counselors foster the potential for each individual to be a positive, contributing member of society and a lifelong learner. Beyond providing counseling services, school counselors are advocates for systemic change, leaders in building culturally responsive and community engaged schools, and experts at collaboration and teaming for student success.

The question has been posed, "What do school counselors do?" The more important question is, "How are students different as a result of what school counselors do?" To help answer this question, Louisiana is preparing a model for professional school counselor practiced based on the American School Counselor Association (2005) National Model. LCA and LSCA recommend that graduate students become acquainted with both the ASCA and the Louisiana Model.

How to become a Louisiana Professional School Counselor

Step 1:
Earn a master’s degree in School Counseling.
Earn a masters degree in a related mental health field.
Earn a master’s degree in another field and then separately take the additional hours for a school counseling program.
A school counseling program should include

• Principles and Administration of School Counseling
• Career and Lifestyle Development
• Individual Appraisal
• Counseling Theory and Practice
• Group Processes
• Human Growth and Development
• Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling

Step 2: Complete a school counseling practicum

Step 3:
Complete an Ancillary Certification Certificate Application (This can be requested from the Louisiana State Department of Education.) Send your application and supporting documentation to
Division of Certification and Preparation
Louisiana Department of Education
P.O. Box 94064
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064

Louisiana universities that offer a school counseling program include:
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Loyola
Our Lady of Holy Cross
Northwestern State University
Nicholls State University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southern University-Baton Rouge
University of New Orleans
University of Louisiana-Lafayette
University of Louisiana—Monroe
Xavier

Click here to learn more about these universities.