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School Counseling Certificate

Effect systemic change as a data-driven and culturally-responsive school counselor.

Make a difference in the lives of students, families and your community by earning an online graduate certificate in K-12 school counseling. This online program prepares aspiring school counselors to promote the academic, career, personal and social development of K-12 students.

Program type:
Certificate - Graduate
Format:
On Campus or Online
Est. time to complete:
5-9 semesters
Credit hours:
23-48

Why pursue school counseling certification online?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 1
Spring:
Dec. 1
Summer:
May 1

Designed for working professionals, this certificate program prepares you to work as a school counselor — helping students overcome obstacles and reach their academic and career goals.

Complete your post-graduate certificate online with one of two tracks:

  • The 100% online Re-Specialization Track is designed for students who already have a master's degree in either mental health counseling or community agency counseling. This track is 23 credits and takes five semesters to complete.
  • The 100% online Educators Track is designed for students who already have a master's degree in education. This track is 48 credits and takes nine semesters to complete.

Completion of coursework leads to eligibility for state department of education licensure in North Dakota and may be compatible with licensure requirements in other states.

School Counselor Certification Online

  • Take classes with nationally recognized faculty who have diverse experiences working with children and adolescents in community and school settings.

  • Learn to work effectively with educational and community stakeholders to facilitate positive systemic change.

  • Build data-driven decision-making skills by completing a school-based scholarly project.

What can I do with school counseling certification?

4%

Projected job outlook for school and career counselors and advisors through 2033

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

65k

Median annual salary for school and career counselors and advisors, 2024

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

A post-graduate certificate in K - 12 School Counseling from UND prepares you for a fulfilling career as a professional school counselor in a range of school settings, including:

  • Elementary schools
  • Middle schools
  • High schools

School counselors typically do the following:

  • Evaluate students’ abilities and interests through aptitude assessments, interviews, and individual planning
  • Identify issues that affect school performance, such as poor classroom attendance rates
  • Help students understand and overcome social or behavioral problems through classroom guidance lessons and counseling
  • Counsel individuals and small groups on the basis of student and school needs
  • Work with students to develop skills, such as organizational and time management abilities and effective study habits
  • Help students create a plan to achieve academic and career goals
  • Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to help students succeed
  • Teach students and school staff about specific topics, such as bullying, drug abuse, and planning for college or careers after graduation
  • Maintain records as required
  • Report possible cases of neglect or abuse and refer students and parents to resources outside the school for additional support

School Counseling Certificate Online Courses

COUN 522. School Counseling and Program Management. 3 Credits.

Theory, research, and practice of K-12 school counseling and school counseling program management. F,S,SS.

COUN 526. Educational Collaboration. 3 Credits.

The course focuses on the knowledge and skills essential to the consulting/collaboration process for professional school counselors in order to effectively support student adjustment and achievement. Collaboration for school improvement, program implementation, and work with parents, educators and professionals in the community is emphasized. Prerequisite: Enrollment in School Counseling Distance Program or permission of instructor.

COUN 534. Child and Adolescent Counseling. 3 Credits.

Theory, research, and practice of child and adolescent counseling. F.

COUN 581. School Counseling Practicum. 1-4 Credits.

Introduction to counseling practice in a school setting. Emphasis on improvement and evaluation of individual and group counseling relationships. Development of skills in applying the role of counselor to the school environment. Prerequisite: COUN 501, COUN 510 and, COUN 530, or permission of the instructor; 10 completed COUN credits. Repeatable to 4.00 credits. S/U grading. S,SS.

COUN 532. Multicultural Counseling. 4 Credits.

This course offers an introduction to counseling theories and interventions appropriate for American ethnic and non-ethnic minority clients. The values suppositions of various cultural groups will be examined. In-class group experience is included. F,S,SS.

COUN 519. Career Counseling. 3 Credits.

An introduction to the psychology of careers and to the practice of career counseling. Career development theories, occupational classification systems, assessment instruments, and the use of occupational information for career education and life planning are included. Career counseling strategies for use with a diverse population are introduced. F,S,SS.

Online Educators Track

+160

online graduate programs

#1

best online college in North Dakota

Forbes

This information is specific to the Educators Track. For students looking for more information related to the online Re-Specialization Track, please get track details.

Live Online School Counseling Certificate Courses

Synchronous classes are held in real-time. If you’re the kind of learner who likes active discussion and immediate feedback through live interaction, you’ll enjoy this online course format.

Every class is different, but generally, you’ll log into a virtual classroom at scheduled times to:

  • Listen to a lecture
  • Ask questions
  • Participate in class discussions
  • Conduct group activities
  • Participate in video-sharing
  • Have chat conversations
  • Use interactive whiteboards
  • Take live polls

You should prepare for your classes by finishing any assigned readings, compiling questions for your instructor and thinking about how to contribute to the next live class.

Campus Visit

While the majority of your courses are offered online, you’ll come to campus to complete portions of the program. Here, you’ll extend and apply the knowledge you’ve learned online through hands-on activities. Our students find tremendous value in having the opportunity to personally interact with their instructors and fellow students.

During both summer semesters of your online program, you'll attend two 4-day sessions on the UND campus in Grand Forks (a total of four visits). Typically, the on campus visits are scheduled from Wednesday through Saturday during the third week of June and July.

Local Practicum and Internship

You'll be required to participate in a 1-semester, supervised school counseling practicum (150 hours) and a 2-semester internship (450* to 600 hours) in a K-12 school setting, as available in or near your local community. You must be supervised by a licensed school counselor.

*with a teacher's license

Top-Tier Online School Counseling Certificate

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on-campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey, and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs.

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

  • Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
  • Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)
Explore More Options

Connect with faculty you'll work with at UND or discover similar graduate certificates.

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