Top Resources for Future Counselors

Understanding Accreditation

Accreditation is one of the chief factors to consider while you research counseling degree programs. It will tell you that the school has earned credentials from an independent agency that has visited the school and scrutinized the curriculum and faculty, both past and present. There are two primary agencies that accredit undergraduate programs and one that exclusively accredits graduate counseling degree programs.

CACREP is one of the most well-known accrediting agencies for counseling. They accredit counseling programs at all levels, including PhD programs. CACREP isn't alone when it comes to graduate schools, however. When you move on to graduate school, you'll have another accreditation to look out for. MPCAC is a rigorous accrediting agency that only offers credentials to post-baccalaureate programs of counseling and psychology.

Accreditation matters quite a lot, so strive to attend schools who've been accredited by a program-specific accrediting agency. A regional accreditation is still good and will suffice if you don’t have access to a school with programmatic accreditation, but your career will thank you if you graduate from a school with noteworthy accreditation. Furthermore, your state may require a degree from a school that has specific accreditation prior to issuing a license. When you have a CACREP or MPCAC accreditation, you will be sure to garner the board's approval.

Questions About Financial Aid

Financial aid is a necessity for most students these days. Tuition costs have risen quite a bit and it's no longer possible to pay tuition with a summer, or part-time, job. Thus, students need to seek out grants, scholarships, and student loans.

Grants and scholarships are the absolute best way to fund your education because these funds do not need to be repaid. As a student of psychology, you can find a range of specialized scholarship funds that will provide assistance with your education. For instance, in these days of the Opioid Crisis, you’re increasingly likely to find scholarships or grants that are focused on students who seek to work with substance abuse patients.

Like most students, however, you are likely to need assistance in the form of student loans. There are both federal and private loans available but you should try to avoid private loans if at all possible. Federal loans have better rates and repayment programs. However, if your parents are considering taking out a loan to help you, they may have better luck with personal loans, as they have the credit to receive better rates.

For some degrees, there are grant programs that work in a similar way to the federal loan forgiveness program. That is, some states and even some corporations offer grants that cover tuition in return for work. You'll have to work in that state or for that corporation until the loan is forgiven, but you'll also receive a full paycheck. Your counseling degree program may have information on these alternate funding sources.

Counseling Associations for Students

During your student years you can begin to get a taste of the professional counseling world by joining an association. Your campus might have a psychology club or even a group exclusively for counseling students, but you can also seek out national associations and gain a toehold in the professional world. Many national associations allow students to become members at a lower membership rate, while still providing access to loads of resources, including webinars and journals. One of the best benefits may be the job and internship opportunities that often come with membership in a professional counseling association.

Student or Open Access Journals

Counseling journals are a great resource to grab when you research a term paper. They frequently publish the latest studies and feature other articles from the tops of the field. When you regularly read a journal in your field, you will find that your knowledge is up to date, which will give you an edge in your academic work. Further, when you begin your career, you'll find that you are up-to-speed with the current thinking in the field.

Popular Apps

Indeed, there is an app for nearly every single thing. That includes being a student. As a busy, active student of counseling psychology, you will want to load your phone or tablet with helpful apps to keep you on track and able to enjoy the fun times that college offers. You may also need functional electronic tools for file transfers or news feeds that cater to your needs.

Counseling Licensure Options

If you want to practice as a counselor, you will have to attain a license. There are many different types of license and each state has its own rules regarding how you attain and maintain that credential. It is also possible to earn multiple licenses so that you can expand your practice. For instance, you might be a Licensed Professional Counselor but then add a license to work with substance abuse victims.

To attain a license, most states will want to see an academic degree that corresponds with the license. For instance, some drug counseling licenses only require an associate degree, while other counseling degrees require a master's degree. Each licensed person will also likely need to complete a long period of supervised work which must be documented and submitted to the state board for approval.

Some of the licenses you might pursue include, but are not limited to:

Certification Study Resources

When you are working towards licensure, you will absolutely need to pass an exam that corresponds with your desired credential. Since there is so much hanging on your exam, and because these tests are so comprehensive, it will be vital that you spend a good deal of time preparing for the test. Many students form study groups where they can work together on preparation materials or even create their own flash cards or other tools.

To help the process, there are many commercial products available that have been approved by the requisite agencies as providing valuable test-prep materials. Use these on your own or in collaboration with your school friends and your score is sure to rise as a result.

Job Boards

Professional Associations

When you are out working as a professional counselor, you will want to have access to the best resources available. One of the easiest and best ways to achieve this is by joining a professional association. Membership will help you to stay current with your profession, find educational opportunities for your Continuing Education Units, and find fellowship with other counselors.

Associations frequently offer online courses or webinars that will count towards your license renewal. They also might sponsor lectures or other educational events in your town that will count towards your CEU requirements. They frequently hold conferences where you can immerse yourself in learning and fellowship over the course of a weekend. Finally, associations often publish journals that you can use to stay current with cutting-edge studies or even legislative news.

Membership in a professional association will help you develop your career. You can achieve leadership positions in the local or national association which will certainly raise your profile. Even if you don't pursue leadership in the group, they usually have job boards exclusively for members.

Popular Journals

Professional journals are the means by which practicing counselors stay current with the cutting edge in psychological studies and trends in counseling. These journals often offer peer-reviewed articles that provide the best information. Some of these journals offer some information online, but for the most current and comprehensive content, you will need to subscribe to the print edition.

While subscribing to multiple journals can get expensive, you might see if your company can subscribe to one or more. When you and your colleagues have access to outside learning tools, your overall practice will improve. Furthermore, when you and your fellow counselors happen to read the same journals, you can engage in conversations that stem from the studies and articles. Here is a brief list of journals you might want to keep in your library.

Industry Conferences for Counselors

Conferences are a great opportunity to get out of the office, away from clients, and hit the road to an immersive learning experience. Counseling conferences are sure to be packed with all sorts of stimulating lectures, seminars, panel discussions, and more. You may encounter new counseling methodologies or have fresh insights into a specific subject. Often, conferences will provide an opportunity to accrue CEUs for your licensure.

After all the learning is over for the day, conferences give you a chance to have a meal with your colleagues and enjoy company and fellowship. After all, even counselors need to let their hair down every once in a while.