The International Schools Review Forum

CaliPro, if you are in a state that "intends", "encourages", "just really really likes" you to have a teaching certification, even if it doesn't "require" it (and some states do require it), the universities with the good programs very well might require it in order to be admitted into their program. Do your research very carefully. You might have to move to a different state to get your school counselor certification. And you will definitely need the minimum of 2 years of experience, I would think, before a decent IS will pick you up. School counseling these days is very education focused and you really get little opportunity to do real counseling. Being a teacher prior is very helpful. Otherwise you will have a much steeper learning curve of all the education mumbo jumbo. You need to really decide if the reality of the job is what you are dreaming of. I wouldn't use it as a way to get into the IS schools just so you don't have to teach! You can email me at dreamgiver23@yahoo.com and I can talk to you more about this. We won't get anywhere with this discussion on this forum.

@dreamgiver

Read the whole article: I'll highlight the relevant parts:

"Standard Professional 2 (SP2) Professional Educator's Licenses are intended for teachers with 3 or more years of teaching experience, and are valid for five years. Teachers who are fully licensed and “Highly Qualifiedâ€

Thanks for your input Dreamgiver.

My local Uni doesnt require and license or experience to be omitted to the MA in School Counseling. 60 hours is quite long for a MA imo.

For my first International job I wouldnt care if it was decent or not. Would just be doing it for the experience, but even if I couldnt secure a job abroad I would have no problem working state side to gain experience. (as far as moral is concerned).

Counseling is something i'd enjoy and could see myself doing long term whether that is in the states or abroad. Which is def something I COULDNT say about teaching.

PsyGuy,

The SP2 License REQUIREMENTS is different for each field and area.

http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/licensure/administrator/

For a School Counselor one must hold a degree in counseling at or above the Master's level.

You are quoting this GENERAL synopsis of the SP2 here which is

http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/licensure/steps/

Standard Professional 2 (SP2) Professional Educator's Licenses are intended for teachers with 3 or more years of teaching experience, and are valid for five years. Teachers who are fully licensed and “Highly Qualifiedâ€

Psyguy, I don't know squat about what NC requires! I never indicated I did. I am talking from more of a global perspective about school counseling. And that is that some states require being a teacher first and others don't. I happen to have lots of knowledge about Washington and some other states, but none about NC. So I would never debate about a state I don't know anything about. I didn't make the comment about inferring vs. requiring. Calipro did. I was commenting on his comment about that and saying that regardless of how he interprets it, he needs to look at the teaching requirement very closely for that state because it's obvious it could be a potential issue. I don't care enough about coming out on top in this debate to research about the requirements in NC. What you are saying about NC could very well be totally accurate! But I'm cautioning Calipro not to necessarily extrapolate it outside of NC.

Calipro, 60 hours for a masters in school counseling is a little light in comparison to some school counseling programs. Don't complain! :)

I have to go to work. Please read the whole page starting at the top, until you get the the section titled:

Requirement for All Areas
Obtain a valid Standard Professional 2 (SP2) Professional Educator's License.

http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/licensure/administrator/

This is in addition to each license category.

Most school counseling programs are typically between 48 and 60 though more isn't uncommon. I know of one that's at 39 and another at 72. I find the difference doesn't come from a big difference in class coursework but from how practicum/internship hours are counted towards credit hours and degree completion.

Really, don't ask us call the department of instruction in NC and ask them. We can offer you advice and insight on IS matters, but when it comes to certification requirements going to the certification agency is your safest course of action. It doesn't matter what we say but what they say.

I currently am employed at a large SE Asian international school and we have guidance counselors that are not certified teachers.

I am counselor at an int'l school in Central Asia and yes, you are required to be licensed stateside as a counselor/psychologist/therapist/social worker. Moreover, most counseling positions at "first or second tier" international schools require actual school counseling experience prior to making the move. Degree and internship doesn't count. I'd be wary of any school that will offer a position without taking any of those things into consideration.