ASCA-Recognized School Counselor Preparation Program

College/university school counselor preparation programs may seek national recognition of their school counselor preparation program through the ASCA-Recognized School Counselor Preparation Program. Programs receiving the national recognition have affirmed that candidates are prepared to deliver a comprehensive school counseling program and are knowledgeable about the foundations and concepts of school counseling.

 Graduates of ASCA-recognized school counselor preparation programs demonstrate they have met the ASCA School Counselor Preparation Program Standards. These standards  are a unified set of principles guiding school counselor preparation programs in training effective future school counselors in areas of professional practice and ethical behavior. 

To apply for ASCA-Recognized School Counselor Preparation Program, your program must be accredited by one of the following:
1. The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
2. The Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)
3. A regional education accrediting organization of university education departments/schools

Seven school counselor preparation programs have earned the ASCA National Recognition, including:
Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo. (December 2025)
University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark. (December 2025)
University of Missouri – Columbia in Columbia, Mo. (July 2025)
Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. (July 2024)
Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort. Myers, Fla. (July 2024)
NOVA Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (February 2023)
Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo. (December 2023)

The recognition lasts for seven years. Universities may seek the ASCA recognition again at the time of their accreditation renewal. Note that two cycles of data (two student cohorts) are required for program reports, so time your submission appropriately. 

Application Process
Programs must complete the program review process, providing evidence that they meet each of the ASCA standards. Program reports are completed in the ASCA Recognition portal here. Click here to view a PDF of the program report and instructions. At present, there are no fees for ASCA National Recognition for School Counselor Preparation Programs. 

ASCA accepts program reports two times per year:
    Spring, March 15
    Fall, September 15
    This includes Revised and Response to Conditions Reports.

  • CAEP-accredited universities or those seeking CAEP accreditation must announce their intention to seek the ASCA national recognition three years prior to their CAEP accreditation site visit. ASCA program reports reports are due one year before the CAEP site visit for CAEP accreditation. 
  • AAQEP-accredited programs should submit their ASCA program report simultaneously with their AAQEP accreditation review material. 
  • For regional accreditor timelines, contact ahickman@schoolcounselor.org.

Program reports are reviewed by three ASCA-trained reviewers (at least two are school counseling faculty with doctoral degrees).