A student who completes the approved program in school counseling may qualify for the Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Counseling.
The student must declare school counseling as his or her area of specialization during the first year of study. To qualify for this area of specialization, the student must have successfully completed the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or the ACT Plus Writing with a state approved equivalent score. A student must be admitted into the School Counseling area of specialization prior to entering practicum.
Further, students entering the counseling program who want to specialize in school counseling will have to pass the School Counseling Content Test #181 from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) prior to entering internship. Students who do not have a previous teaching endorsement must complete additional course work in education. This course work must be approved by a faculty adviser in counseling. This course work includes the following:
the structure, organization, and operation of the educational system, with emphasis on P-12 schools;
the growth and development of children and youth, and their implications for counseling in schools;
the diversity of Illinois students and the laws and programs that have been designed to meet their needs; and
the effective management of the classroom and the learning process.
Students work with their advisers to determine appropriate courses. Candidates who successfully fulfill the program requirements are eligible to receive faculty recommendation to the ISBE for a Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Counseling.
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