School Counseling (Certificate)

At a Glance

• 2-year (part-time) program
• Completion of a minimum of 29 academic units in combination with one of the master's degrees named below
• 800 hours of field experience in a minimum of two grade levels
• Students enrolled in the Counseling MS and Marital and Family Therapy MS programs may embed the certificate into their programs
• Faculty mentoring and support available
• Christian environment emphasizing integrated learning, respect for all persons, and compassionate whole person care

Our Program

The School Counseling certificate program is designed to meet standards for the California Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling and is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Course requirements for the PPS may be easily added into the Counseling MS program. Students also have the option of obtaining the certificate in conjunction with the Marital and Family Therapy MS. This requires the completion of an additional 27 academic units and 8 additional units of field experience. Professional school counseling has broadened in California recently to include more licensed mental health counselors such as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) providing therapy to children and adolescents in school environments.

Pathway to Credentialing

Curriculum

Requirements for the certificate are delineated in the University Catalog and include successful completion of the following:

• Academic coursework and field seminars related to professional school counseling.
• Field experience in public education at two different school grade levels.

Course Descriptions

Please Note: The curriculum of this program includes attendance during the summer terms.

Admission

The School Counseling Certificate is open only to currently enrolled CFS students in good standing or recent CFS graduates whose degree requirements were congruent with current state standards for school counseling. As with all certificates, applicants must first apply to the university and meet the School of Behavioral Health admissions requirements. Additional admission requirements for candidates currently enrolled in the department are listed below.

• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• All official college transcripts received by Loma Linda University
• Health clearance, including TB testing
• Background check
• Three letters of recommendation as specified
• Written personal statement with application
• Interview with department faculty
• Applicants for whom English is not their first language must present a score for TOEFL as published in the University Catalog
• Applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents must provide a valid student visa
• Passing scores on the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) - applicants may be permitted to enter the certificate program without passing scores, provided they meet one of the equivalencies established by the CTC

Admissions FAQ