Professionalism and Professional Development

Professional Organizations

All students are required to join professional organizations. These organizations provide important information and opportunities for  professional development, advocacy, scholarships, and networking opportunities for students. Students must join and maintain membership in at least one national organization (American Counseling Association [ACA] or American School Counselor Association [ASCA]) and one state organization (Indiana Counseling Association [ICA] or Indiana School Counselor Association [ISCA]) starting in the fall semester of their first year. Membership applications are available from advisors and in the C & D office (5173 BRNG).

Official Social Gatherings: Program Area

The fall and holiday-season gatherings are intended to bring faculty and students together, including reminding faculty that graduate students have lives beyond academics, perhaps with significant others in their lives, and with talents, humor, and interests that are not as apt to be demonstrated during faculty-student interaction otherwise. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to meet faculty and their families and to interact with both School Counseling cohorts and Counseling Psychology students. 

Professionalism And Professional Development

The School Counseling program offers several opportunities to “practice professionalism.” The official social gatherings are somewhat like those which happen in schools, where all employees are expected to attend.  In addition, student behavior in class meetings provides opportunities to demonstrate punctuality, good attendance, respectful behavior, tolerance for diversity of background and opinions, openness to feedback, and conscientious attention to appropriate behavior and course content. These behaviors and dispositions are expected during field experiences as well. Practicum and internship in schools are opportunities to dress, speak, and behave as professionals. 

During the program, School Counseling students are required to attend one state counseling conference (membership and registration approximately $60-$70). These conferences offer pertinent session content as well as opportunities to network with other counselors, hear keynote speakers, and learn about state professional organizations.  Students typically carpool to Indianapolis, where these conferences are held.

Students are also required to be a member of one national counseling organization (ACA or ASCA. Liability insurance is free through ASCA.  However, ON TRACK group facilitators need to have HPSO (through ACA, but with membership not required) in order to have coverage that extends beyond course-related work. National membership automatically includes receipt of two counseling journals or other publications.

Beginning in EDPS 50100 (Introduction to School Counseling), program students are encouraged to join the Indiana listserve for school counselors: counselortalk. The listserve is an opportunity to stay abreast of current concerns in the field and in the state, legislative activity, ever-changing graduation requirements, testing issues, and strategies for addressing specific presenting issues. The contact address is rsls@indiana.edu for requesting membership on the listserve, which is a free service.

National Certified Counselor (NCC)

Each year, in mid-April, the National Board of Certified Counselors offers an opportunity to take an exam, a minimum score on which gives counselors the National Certified Counselor credential. (A fall test administration is also available, although the Purdue program is involved in only the spring administration.) Routinely, second-year students  take this exam, even though it is not required. Also typically, 100% of students in the Purdue program receive a passing score. One School Counseling faculty member is responsible for organizing this activity, which typically requires payment of approximately $230. Maintaining the credential in the future requires professional-development activities, which help certified counselors to stay current in the field. The “NCC” can be added after a professional’s name and makes clear to others in the field  and during job searches (including when crossing state lines), that the individual is well prepared.