Professional Development

Training and coaching from the source and experts you trust

As the national organization that defines and upholds school counseling professional standards, ASCA is the gold standard for training, resources and advocacy. ASCA developed and maintains the ASCA National Model^®, first published in 2003 – now in its fifth edition – to unify the profession under a common framework and provide a comprehensive, data-informed structure for school counseling programs. 

ASCA also developed and maintains the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies, ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors, ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success and a comprehensive set of position statements – foundational documents to guide school counselors’ work. 

ASCA’s wide range of professional development opportunities are aligned with its national standards – ensuring training is both relevant, respected and continuously updated to respond to a changing environment. 

Personal Professional Development

The numbers tell the story. ASCA’s Annual Conference brings together more than 6,000 school counselors for four days of inspiration and education. The conference’s motivational keynote sessions, informative breakout sessions and in-depth looks at current issues, and opportunities to share challenges and learn from colleagues all help school counselors around the globe meet their professional development needs. The ASCA Annual Conference provides access to CEUs and/or graduate credit (graduate credit requires an additional fee). Learn more or register.

ASCA U Specialist (online, self-guided)
Whether you are new to the field or have years of experience, earning an ASCA U Specialist designation enhances your expertise in key school counseling subject areas. ASCA U Specialists are self-paced, online professional development. You’ll read a series of books and articles, view/listen to webinars and/or podcasts and take a series of quizzes on the material. ASCA U Specialist designations are valid for five years and worth 5 CEUs/50 Contact Hours. All Specialists are also available for graduate credit for an additional fee. Learn more or register.  

Webinar Series (virtual live and on-demand)
Get quick, convenient professional development from your home or office with ASCA webinars – available to watch live or on demand. Free to members, ASCA webinars offer educators a variety of 60-minute or shorter professional development opportunities. Can’t watch them during the scheduled time? Past webinars are available for on-demand viewing. CEUs available for a small fee. Learn more or register.

ASCA@Home (virtual live and on-demand)
ASCA@Home offers in-depth, online programming to equip school counselors with tools to navigate the challenges in school counseling practice. Focused on a different, top-of-mind topic each year, ASCA@Home provides focused professional development in the convenience of your home at a time that works for you. Content is highly practical, giving you relevant information you can apply immediately. Learn more or register.

Ignite (virtual live and on-demand)
Are you a new school counselor about to start your first job? Or looking to refresh your knowledge of comprehensive school counseling programs and current trends in the profession? Start the year with confidence with Ignite: Practical Strategies for a Successful Year. This online training includes more than 20 hours of expert-led sessions designed to help you build and sustain an effective school counseling program. Sessions cover the foundational elements of the ASCA National Model®, practical use of the templates, navigating legal and ethical considerations, leveraging free ASCA resources and more. Learn more or register.

Professional Development for States, Districts and Teams 

Comprehensive Districtwide Training and ASCA National Model Implementation
School counseling is essential to student success. The ASCA National Model®: A Framework for School Counseling Programs outlines the components of a school counseling program that is integral to the school’s academic mission and is created to have a significant positive impact on student achievement. ASCA’s districtwide ASCA National Model® training and implementation program for all district school counselors includes consultation, professional development, program implementation and districtwide program evaluation and improvement of a school counseling program. The training consists of six full-day workshops presented over the course of two school years and is designed to specifically meet the district’s unique needs based on school-specific data. Following this two-year training, district directors will be prepared to quantify the impact of their schools’ school counseling programs on student and district outcomes. Email Jen Walsh to learn more or bring the training to your district.

Coaching for ASCA National Model
Individualized coaching from an ASCA-certified trainer^® provides your school with customized support to develop a school counseling program aligned with the ASCA National Model^®. Even schools that already have a program based on the ASCA National Model® can benefit by working with a coach to prepare to apply for RAMP^®. ASCA-certified trainers can walk you through the RAMP^® framework and application process. Note: Coaching is for individual schools, not districts. Learn more or book your coach.

On-Site Training
ASCA-certified trainers^® can provide targeted on-site professional development to school counseling teams. Full-day, on-site professional development is available in a variety of areas, such as the ASCA National Model^®, academic achievement, career development, AI in school counseling, trauma and crisis and much more. Learn more or book your training.

Consulting
In addition to the more structured districtwide training, ASCA offers customized consulting to aid school counseling teams, districts or district leaders in their ASCA National Model^® or RAMP^® journeys. Whether you need to identify and analyze current district policies and procedures, develop a short- or long-term plan for ASCA National Model^® implementation or help meet district improvement goals, an ASCA consultant can help. Your ASCA consultant will listen to your interests, focus on your district’s unique needs and help you move your school counseling program from where it is now to where you want it to be. You can meet with your consultant virtually up to seven hours a month, or bring your ASCA consultant to your school for a daylong consultation as many times as you would like. Email Jen Walsh to learn more or book your consultant.