School Counseling Program
The school counseling track prepares students for careers as certified teachers who seek to become elementary or secondary school counselors. Public schools offer a diverse audience and challenging forum for certified counselors. Certification as an Illinois school counselor requires that the candidate complete an approved program in counseling and possess a master's degree. Western's approved program has been preparing candidates for certification since the 1940's. If you are seeking school counseling certification for another state, contact the certification office in that state for certification guidelines.
In June 2004, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) changed requirements, and it is now possible to become a school counselor without having teacher certification. Following is the Department document explaining what will be required. After studying this document, for those who want to pursue school counselor certification without teaching certification, please contact the Department for application materials.
To see the Illinois Adminstrative Code document, please click on the link below and scroll to Section 25.225.
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/023/02300025sections.html