Formal Credentialing Process Analysis

As the standards of the counseling profession are continuously being shaped, I desire to play a role in the educating

Counseling is a tool that is widely used by many people. Merriam Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary defines counseling as advice and support that is given to people to help them deal with problems, and make important decisions. This paper examines the career of a Licensed Professional Counselor, the education requirements, certification and licensure levels or requirements, salary, and the future of this profession.

Professional counselors have to meet distinct requirements set by individual states. This work focuses on the requirements counselors have to meet in the state of Alabama. The difference between licensure, certification, and accreditation will be highlighted. The state has two levels of counseling license; the associate licensed counselor, and the licensed professional counselor (LPC). Licensed counselors in other states can apply for licensure through endorsement.

All states compel professional counselors to progress through a licensing process and most states developed their criterions through CACREP. Yet, CACREP entertains more than one set of criteria. Several states have guidelines comparable to the general professional counselor whereas others employ the benchmarks for mental health counseling. Consequently, Florida has stringent requirements governing licensure for mental health counselors. The following sections compare Connecticut’s and Nevada’s requirements for licensure to Florida’s.

A counselor helps people come up from the lowest part of their life. To do this they have to have certain personality qualities. Addiction flows though all walks of life; interpersonal skills are needed. Interpersonal skills include: listening, communication, problem solving, and decision making. A professional needs to have these skills to assess the severity of the addiction and develop and treatment plan (Substance). It is a Substance Abuse Counselors (SAC) job to identify the severity of one’s addiction and what triggers it. While evaluating a client’s mental and physical health, and addictive behavior. SACs do not only help the client but the families, too; advising them on warnings signs of relapse and how to help. An addict has to be read to see treatment, so counselors have to assess reediness for treatment to know how to treat a patient (Substance). Addiction is a life long illness and addicts need help not only with recovery, but with daily necessities, like acquiring a job. SACS recommend job placements and support groups such as AA and NA so that one can find other people with the same difficulties as themselves (Substance).

The Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) is an organization of professionals who focus on addiction counseling. The NAADAC prides itself on four main roles: professional development, public engagement, professional services and to communicate its mission. The organization will aide in professional development by providing the most current education and training to ensure counselors are adopting the newest evidence based practices in their work (Tuohy, C., n.d. para. 2). NAADAC also provides mentorship and a career path, which are always essential for continued growth. While the NAADAC is directed towards addiction professionals; The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) supports school counselors. The ASCA also provides assistance in professional development as well as mentorship for its members. By providing annual conferences, webinars, specialist training to one-day workshops, the ASCA is committed to the professional development of its members (n.d. para 2). Both of these organizations provide publications that administer the latest knowledge regarding the organization and profession. Although a membership fee is required for both of these associations, the benefits make it well worth it.

Lewis, J. A., Dana, R. Q., & Blevins, G. A. (2015). Substance Abuse Counseling (5th ed.). Stamford, CT, United States of America: Cengage

This is especially important because any hours obtained here will count towards my work experience and 100 of these hours must be with a professional who has the level of certification in which I am pursuing. After 3,200 hours has been accrued and 1,600 of these hours are directly with clients not to exceed two years, I can take the exam to be a licensed counselor. After passing examination within two tries I can apply with the board for certification of a LISAC level (Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, 2016 & Human Services Guide, 2015). However, these are only the steps to becoming a counselor. There is much more to this profession such as key legal and ethical issues in counseling.

Corey et al. (1998) states about the boundaries of a counselor competency; "Counselors may need to be both generalists and specialists to be competent to practice with some client populations. Many substance abuse counselors argue that if you are licensed as a generalist, you are not qualified to work in the area of treatment of addictions. To qualify as a substance abuse counselor, the CACREP (2009) standards identify specific knowledge,

This paper will describe consultation and supervision in the counseling profession. Later, the credentialing process for school counselors will be discussed. Finally, the importance of counseling program accreditation will be examined.

Through imperial research I hope to examine the effects on a variety of approaches. Upon acceptance in to this program, I hope to gain a full understanding on the current approach. To improve on the methods already being used, I must have a complete understanding of what it is to be a substance abuse counselor. I think the best way to do that is to become one. I want to know the challenges of the professionals currently in the field.

The reason I selected Standards for Assessment in Substance Abuse Counseling is, because of personal past experiences. Therefore, I have developed a passion of wanting to help people afflicted by substance abuse issues overcome this deadly obsession breaking the chains that bind them.

Credential, a verification agency located at Canada focussed in hiring people of right talent. Sam, an employee working in that company had hired 10 people with fake details and experience. A search warrant was issued against him for searching his phone, laptops. While analyzing the phone, it was found that the accused was having connections with the hired people. Then the investigator had taken an image of the hard disk. Later while analyzing, he found that the email conversation was done with fake users and committed was crime. Later he was accused of charges and was fired from his

When credentials are cancelled in the Print Farm, a Print Farm employee typically notifies Credential Management via email to have the credential reprocessed for printing/reprinting. No further tracking occurs to ensure the cancelled credential is reported to and reprocessed by Credential Management. Occasionally Credential Management is not notified of a cancelled credential and the credential is not reprocessed, resulting in a customer not receiving a credential.

Obtaining competence can be done in various ways for psychologist and counselors. According to (Fisher, 2013) psychologists/counselors planning to try new activities must take some relevant education, training, supervised experience, consultation, or study. The purpose is to avoid harm to participants and to improve psychologist and counselors. The two most effective ways I believe in are supervised experience and training.