Hi everyone.
I am currently a school COUNSELOR with a degree in Psychology and Counseling (MSc) from UK and I am BACP accredited. I don't have any teaching qualification.
I have been applying to a lot of different schools around Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines) unfortunately no offer has been made. In a lot of interviews they have asked me if I have any teaching certificate, qualification. Which I do NOT have, and I thought this is not a requirement for my position either.
Until I have had an interview with one school in Taiwan and they told me the teaching cert is not required, however the process for obtaining visa is much easier when I have it. Hence, my question is, if I apply for counseling positions in Asia (especially the countries mentioned above), would I be more attractive candidate if I had a teaching certificate? Maybe someone from recruitment from Asia could give me any insight into this? Thank you
TEACHING CERTIFICATE / QUALIFICATION FOR COUNSELOR
Response
First, its not a requirement, unless someone says its a requirement. A lot of things in IE arent required, but either facilitate the issuance of a visa or permit by the MOE for pro.edu. appointments. So an IS isnt required to provide evidence of a credential but if it significantly increases the likelihood of a visa or permit being issued than many ISs wont bother to try if they have other available options (other candidates who would be easier).
Second, in IE we have certificates, qualifications, credentials, and licenses. Your degrees are qualifications and your BACP membership licenses you to provide edu support services in the UK (even though its more a credential than a license). What you are asking about and what these ISs have indicated to you would provide value to your application is a credential (or if you appeal to the inverse position, you have a credential but need a license). Regardless, this is a three piece puzzle and your missing one of the pieces.
In US DOEs (the regulating authority) pro.edu credentials are issued for the role of Sch. Coun., this is what these ISs are referring to. It would be very difficult for you to obtain one of these, but if all youre concerned about is obtaining a credential in anything to facilitate the obtainment of a visa that is a lot easier to do. You first need to determine what it is you are looking for. On one end of the continuum you have certificates from ACSI and ABCTE for example that are basically pretty pieces of paper. ABCTE will run about USD$2K and ACSI about USD$100. These arent credentials, they are certificates, but some ISs will accept them and applicants have been successful in the past.
In the middle of the spectrum you have state DOE credentials and while a Sch. Coun. credential would take a lot of work, there are instructional (teacher) credentials. A popular option for non US residents is MA (Massachusetts). They offer a Provisional (Entry grade) credential that can be obtained through an assessment pathway (you take some pro.edu exams and submit an application). This credential would effectively be a lifetime credential and require no PD. It would cost you a few hundred USD and take a couple of months.
On the other end of the spectrum you have EPP/ITT programs that will provide you a credential. The best option (there are many) would be for you to find an online program offering you iQTS, and then transitioning that into QTS and using that for your applications (even as an ECT you wont have to do anything in the way of PD or renewal). Within this sphere, a niche option would be to pursue the Sunderland PGCEi which can be used to obtain HK Registered edu (Standard grade) status, and then use that to apply for QTS, it would cost about £10K (you could also seek certification through the Hong Kong Professional Counseling Association, HKPCA). Another option would be to obtain QTS through the AO route (TES would cost about £3K). This takes about 2-3 months. Yes another option would be to gain QTLS through SET possibly.
Second, in IE we have certificates, qualifications, credentials, and licenses. Your degrees are qualifications and your BACP membership licenses you to provide edu support services in the UK (even though its more a credential than a license). What you are asking about and what these ISs have indicated to you would provide value to your application is a credential (or if you appeal to the inverse position, you have a credential but need a license). Regardless, this is a three piece puzzle and your missing one of the pieces.
In US DOEs (the regulating authority) pro.edu credentials are issued for the role of Sch. Coun., this is what these ISs are referring to. It would be very difficult for you to obtain one of these, but if all youre concerned about is obtaining a credential in anything to facilitate the obtainment of a visa that is a lot easier to do. You first need to determine what it is you are looking for. On one end of the continuum you have certificates from ACSI and ABCTE for example that are basically pretty pieces of paper. ABCTE will run about USD$2K and ACSI about USD$100. These arent credentials, they are certificates, but some ISs will accept them and applicants have been successful in the past.
In the middle of the spectrum you have state DOE credentials and while a Sch. Coun. credential would take a lot of work, there are instructional (teacher) credentials. A popular option for non US residents is MA (Massachusetts). They offer a Provisional (Entry grade) credential that can be obtained through an assessment pathway (you take some pro.edu exams and submit an application). This credential would effectively be a lifetime credential and require no PD. It would cost you a few hundred USD and take a couple of months.
On the other end of the spectrum you have EPP/ITT programs that will provide you a credential. The best option (there are many) would be for you to find an online program offering you iQTS, and then transitioning that into QTS and using that for your applications (even as an ECT you wont have to do anything in the way of PD or renewal). Within this sphere, a niche option would be to pursue the Sunderland PGCEi which can be used to obtain HK Registered edu (Standard grade) status, and then use that to apply for QTS, it would cost about £10K (you could also seek certification through the Hong Kong Professional Counseling Association, HKPCA). Another option would be to obtain QTS through the AO route (TES would cost about £3K). This takes about 2-3 months. Yes another option would be to gain QTLS through SET possibly.