[Counselor_Educ] FW: End of Provisional School Counselor License in Ohio

[Leinbaugh, Tracy]

Tracy Leinbaugh, PhD, NCC, PCC-S
Associate Professor, Department of Counseling and Higher Education
Ohio University  
The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education 
370 McCracken Hall
Athens, OH 45701
 
Phone: 740-593-0846
E-mail: leinbaug at ohio.edu
 
Show, by your actions, that you choose peace over war, freedom over oppression, voice over silence, service over self-interest, respect over advantage, cooperation over competition, action over passivity, diversity over uniformity, and justice over all.  


-----Original Message-----
From: OCA Listserve [mailto:OCA-L at LISTSERV.KENT.EDU] On Behalf Of Bhat, Christine
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2013 4:29 PM
To: OCA-L at LISTSERV.KENT.EDU
Subject: End of Provisional School Counselor License in Ohio

Dear Members of OCA,

I want to thank the Ohio School Counselor Association for providing this update on their website (copied below for your reference).

http://www.ohioschoolcounselor.org/Default.aspx?pageId=1137439

I am sending it out on the OCA listserv as it is likely to be of interest to many of our members as well.

Best regards,

Christine

 ------

Licensure in Ohio

ODE Licensure Webpage (click for more information)

NEW LICENSURE UPDATE!
The Ohio Department of Education has announced that they have completed the process of amending the Ohio Administrative Code (rule 3301-24-05) to take out the references to the provisional school counselor license and school counselor induction program for those school counselor applicants who have not previously been teachers.

This means that all new school counselor license applicants will now be issued a professional license regardless of previous teaching experience or not. This also means that districts will no longer have to provide a first-year induction program for newly employed school counselors who have not had prior teaching experience. These new changes went into effect on December 28, 2012.

ODE will start issuing the professional school counselor license as the first school counselor license for everyone. Anyone who holds a provisional school counselor license, current or expired, may apply to advance it to a professional license at any time, and there are no associated requirements (other than paying the fee). Any applications ODE receives for a provisional license will be changed and explained to the applicant that they qualify for a professional license. The documentation and language listed on the ODE website may not be updated for some time and applicants are asked to continue to use the school counselor license application on the website.

Where do I apply to get my license?
School counselors are licensed through the Ohio Department of Education. Click the link above to visit the ODE licensure website and download the related application. 

What are the requirements for obtaining a school counselor license in Ohio?
Ohio Revised Code outlines the legal guidelines for meeting school counselor licensurer.  A 5-year Professional Pupil Services License can be issued to an individual who meets the following:

    Completion of an approved school counselor program of preparation;
    Passing score on the Praxis Examination;
    Completion of a background check;
    Must meet one of the qualifications below

·          

        Masters degree and successful completion of a 600 contact hour internship in a school setting
        Masters degree and three years experience as a licensed school counselor in another state

How can I obtain a temporary school counselor license?
OAC 3301-24-05(c) and 3301-23-44(A6) ODE has provisions for individuals to obtain a one-year temporary pupil service license for those who are hired to work as a school counselors and have not completed their degree programs or awaiting decisions on professional licensure. Click here to visit the ODE website and go to the 'Temporary License' section (#18) and download the necessary application.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christine Suniti Bhat, Ph.D., P.C
President, Ohio Counseling Association (OCA), 2012-2013 Associate Professor, Counselor Education Department of Counseling and Higher Education The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 

Office: McCracken Hall, 374
Phone: 740-593-4425
Fax: 740-593-0477
Email: bhatc at ohio.edu
Website: http://www.cehs.ohio.edu/facultystaff/bhatc/
Media: http://www.ohio.edu/ucm/media/experts/ohioexpert.cfm?formid=1822088&pageid=1844292
OCA Website: http://www.ohiocounseling.org/ You can leave the OCA listserv at any time by placing only the text (not the quote marks)  "SIGNOFF OCA-L" in the body of an e-mail sent to LISTSERV at LISTSERV.KENT.EDU.