CHAPTER TCS 3.10

CERTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL: REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES

TCS 3.10 Counseling Certification. Each person employed by a district who counsels students regarding vocational, career and personal concerns through the use of interviews, tests or other techniques utilizing modern counseling principles, shall obtain a counseling certificate from the board. A counseling certificate shall be granted as follows:

(1) FIVE-YEAR CERTIFICATE. A 5-year certificate shall be issued to a person employed by a district as a counselor if the person has met all of the following requirements:

(a) Education. A person shall complete a master's degree in guidance and counseling, or, in lieu of a master's degree, a baccalaureate degree plus 30 semester credits in guidance and counseling including the practicum experience. A person shall also complete 2 semester credits approved by the director or designee which contain the competencies identified by the state certification committee under s. TCS 3.14(4)(a) in each of the following subjects or shall complete equivalent district in-service activities containing the competencies identified by the state certification committee under s. TCS 3.14(4)(a) and approved by the state certification committee under s. TCS 3.14(4)(b) for each of the following subjects:

1. Philosophy of vocational, technical and adult education.

2. Teaching methods.

3. Curriculum or course construction.

4. Educational psychology.

5. Educational evaluation.

6. Educational diversity.

(b) Occupational experience. A person shall have 24 months of occupational experience outside the field of education.

(c) Professional experience. A person shall have 2 years of experience as a certified counselor in any recognized educational system.

(d) Renewal. The 5-year counseling certificate shall be renewed if during the period preceding the expiration date, the person seeking renewal completes 6 semester credits, 2 months of appropriate occupational experience, or other professional activities provided for by a district professional growth plan approved under s. TCS 3.14(4)(g). A counselor holding a certificate on May 1, 1993 shall be exempt from requirements under par. (a) 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

(2) PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE. A provisional certificate shall be issued to a person employed by a district as a counselor where the person has not met the requirements for a 5-year certificate under sub. (1) but does meet all of the following minimum requirements:

(a) Education and academic preparation. A person shall have a master's degree in guidance and counseling, or a baccalaureate degree and 20 semester graduate credits in guidance and counseling courses, or a baccalaureate degree and 10 semester graduate credits in guidance and counseling courses and 2 years of experience counseling persons regarding vocational, career and personal concerns through the use of interviews, tests, and other techniques utilizing modern counseling principles.

(b) Occupational experience. A person shall have 24 months of occupational experience outside the field of education.

(c) Renewal. The initial provisional counseling certificate, except for an initial provisional counseling certificate issued to a person previously holding approval status as a counselor, shall be valid for 3 years. An initial provisional certificate issued to a person previously holding approval status shall be valid for 2 years. Thereafter, provisional certificates may be renewed for additional 2 year periods if during the provisional certification period preceding the expiration date, the person makes progress toward earning a 5-year certificate by completing 6 semester credits or district in-service activities fulfilling the requirements of sub. (1)(a). A counselor holding a provisional certificate on May 1, 1993 shall be exempt from requirements of sub. (1)(a) 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. A person meeting the requirements for sub. (1)(a) [but not] sub. (1)(c) shall complete 2 semester credits approved by the district director or designee for renewal.

(3) APPROVAL CERTIFICATE. An approval certificate may be granted to a person employed by a district on a limited term basis in a special educational project or other unique program for the disadvantaged or handicapped and not meeting the requirements for a provisional certificate. The director or designee shall consider the unique nature of the special program and the background of the person to be granted an approval certificate. The initial approval certificate shall be valid for a 3 year period and may be renewed for additional 2 year periods if during the approval certificate period preceding the expiration date the person makes progress towards earning a provisional certificate by completing 6 semester credits or equivalent district in-service activities as identified under sub. (1)(a) or by obtaining 2 months of occupational experience as identified under sub. (1)(b).

History: Cr. Register, April, 1993, No. 448, eff. 5-1-93; corrections in (1) (a) (intro).) and (d) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7, Stats., Register, June 1994, No. 462