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Professional Counseling Fact Sheet—PA version
- Demographics
- Specialties of the Profession
- U.S., N.E., PA, and Local Professional Associations
- Program Accreditation Boards
- Common Degree Abbreviations
- Professional Counseling Skills
- Specialty Certification Boards
- PA State Licensure Boards
Demographics
app. number of professional counselors practicing in the U.S.: 526,000 (largest mental health profession)
app. number of professional counselors practicing in the N.E.: 105,000 (largest mental health profession)
app. number of professional counselors practicing in PA: 21,000 (largest mental health profession)
some places of employment: schools and universities, hospitals, mental health agencies, the military, law enforcement and correctional institutions, private practice
related professions: social work, psychology, medicine (psychiatry), nursing (psychiatric nursing)
source: U.S. Dept. of Labor (2004)
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Specialties of the Profession
career counseling, geriatric counseling, marriage & family counseling, mental health counseling, rehab counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling
note: "specialty" is defined here as a practice area recognized through the accreditation and board certification processes
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U.S., N.E., PA, and Local Professional Associations
American Counseling Association
www.counseling.org
1-800-347-6647 (outside U.S.: +1 (703) 823-9800)
aca@counseling.orgAmerican Counseling Association—North Atlantic Region
www.eca-counseling.com/acanar.htm
(203) 762-0603
wiltonite@aol.comPennsylvania Counseling Association
www.pacounseling.org
(717) 571-6240
pca@pacounseling.orgGreater Philadelphia Counseling Association
www.pacounseling.org/gpca2.htm
webmaster@pacounseling.orgGreater Pittsburgh Counseling Association
www.eca-counseling.com/gpca.htm
(412) 276-5194
MMatlak123@aol.comKeystone Counseling Association
www.pacounseling.org/kca.htm
webmaster@pacounseling.orgNortheastern Pennsylvania Counseling Association
www.pacounseling.org/npca.htm
webmaster@pacounseling.org
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Program Accreditation Boards
Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
www.counseling.org/cacrep
1-800-347-6647 (outside U.S.: +1 (703) 823-9800)
cacrep@aol.comnote: accredits career, geriatric, marriage & family, mental health/community, and school counseling programs, plus doctoral-level professional counseling programs
Council on Rehabilitation Education
www.core-rehab.org
(847) 394-1785
dclink@wans.netnote: accredits rehab counseling programs
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Common Degree Abbreviations
M.A., M.S., M.Ed., Ph.D., Ed.D.
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Professional Counseling Skills
clinical skills (assessment [including diagnosing and psychological testing], counseling/psychotherapy, and consultation)
administrative skills (program development/management/evaluation, case management, etc.)
at doctoral level, clinical supervision and advanced research skills
note: based on CACREP accreditation standards (2001)
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Specialty Certification Boards
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
www.crccertification.com
(847) 394-2104
cchapman@foundrehab.orgnote: board-certifies rehab counselors
National Academy of Certified Family Therapists
www.natlacad.4t.com
(361) 949-7937
natlacad@netscape.netnote: board-certifies marriage & family counselors
National Board for Certified Counselors
www.nbcc.org
(336) 547-0607
NBCC@nbcc.orgnote: board-certifies mental health, school, and substance abuse counselors
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PA State Licensure Boards
PA Dept. of Education's state board of education
www.teaching.state.pa.us
(717) 783-6788
00statbd@psupen.psu.edunote: licenses school counselors
PA Dept. of State's state board of social work/professional counseling
www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa
(717) 783-1389
ST-SOCIALWORK@state.pa.usnote: licenses career, geriatric, marriage & family, mental health, rehab, and substance abuse counselors
note 2: LPC state license not necessary to practice professional counseling outside schools in PA, only to hold oneself out as a "licensed professional counselor"
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