ACSC Candidate Handbook 

Section 1: About the ASCA-Certified School Counselor Credential

  • Purpose
  • Eligibility Requirements 
  • Statement of Nondiscrimination

Section 2: Application Information/Process

  • Deadlines
  • Fees
  • Application Process 
  • Refunds and Deferrals
  • Resources

Section 3: Review and Scoring Process 

  • ACSC Portfolio Scoring 
  • Certification Status and Use of Certification Marks

Section 4: Resubmission

  • Resubmission Process

Section 5: Certification Maintenance/Renewal 

  • Continuing Professional Development Requirements
  • Continuing Professional Development Guidelines 
  • Continuing Professional Development Credit
  • Documentation of Continuing Professional Development Credits 
  • Fees 
  • Resources
  • Renewal More Than Three Years After Expiration
  • Revocation of Certification Due to Violations of Certification or Ethical Standards 

Section 1: About the ASCA-Certified School Counselor Credential

The ASCA-Certified School Counselor (ACSC) credential is an entry-level, individual-based certification that demonstrates school counselor knowledge in designing, implementing and assessing a school counseling program based on the ASCA National Model. School counselors who hold the ACSC demonstrate their commitment to the highest levels of professionalism, ethical practice and continuing professional development in their school counseling practice. ACSCs design and deliver school counseling programs that improve student outcomes.  

Purpose

Encourage school counselors to develop school counseling programs that: 

  • Are based on data-informed decision making
  • Are delivered to all students systematically
  • Include developmentally appropriate instruction focused on the ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success that all students need for postsecondary readiness and success
  • Close achievement and opportunity gaps
  • Result in improved student achievement, attendance and discipline
  • Promote the utilization of ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors and the ASCA Professional Standards & Competencies
  • Promote continuing professional development for school counselors
  • Promote uniform credentialing standards across states, agencies and training institutions

Eligibility Requirements

Pathway 1 Requirements

  1. Pass the Praxis School Counselor (5422) with a 159 or the Professional School Counselor Praxis (5421) with a 156 within the last 10 years.
  2. Complete the ACSC portfolio
  3. Apply for certification

Pathway 2 Requirements

  1. Listed on the RAMP application when it was submitted
  2. Pass the Praxis School Counselor (5422) with a 159 or the Professional School Counselor Praxis (5421) with a 156 within the last 10 years.
  3.  Complete Section 3 of the ACSC portfolio 
  4. Apply for certification

Future Pathway/Pathway 3 Requirements 

  1. Graduate from the college/university after it received the ASCA Recognition for School Counselor Preparation Programs
  2. Pass the Praxis School Counselor (5422) with a 159 or the Professional School Counselor Praxis (5421) with a 156 within the last 10 years
  3. Apply for certification

Pathway 3 is for individuals who graduate or have graduated from a college or university that has received the ASCA Recognition for School Counselor Preparation Programs. Applicant must have graduated from the college/university after it received the recognition.

Note: Individuals who graduate from an ASCA-Recognized program do not need to submit the ACSC portfolio, as they have already fulfilled this requirement through their school counselor preparation program. 

Statement of Nondiscrimination

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) does not discriminate in its credentialing programs on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender, gender identity,  gender expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. 

Section 2: Application Information/Process

Deadlines
Deadlines to submit the ASCA-Certified School Counselor application:

  • Jan. 15 (certification awarded in May)
  • June 15 (certification awarded in September)

Fees 
Those who graduate from a non ASCA-Recognized university program

  • ASCA Member: $260
  • Nonmember: $400

Those who graduate from a ASCA-Recognized university program:

  • ASCA Member: $110
  • Nonmember: $250

Individuals may pay by credit card, check or purchase order. Email purchase orders to asca@schoolcounselor.org. Mail checks to: ASCA, P.O. Box 37149, Baltimore, MD 21297-3149

Application Process: Earning ACSC Certification 
The application will be scored based on the applicant’s Praxis score and the ACSC portfolio. 

  • Praxis: Individuals in Pathways 1–3 must have received a passing Praxis score of 156
  • Portfolio: Individuals in Pathways 1–3 must receive a score of 30 out of 33 on their the ACSC portfolio. 

Refunds and Deferrals

The ACSC application is nonrefundable, but individuals may choose to defer payment and an incomplete application to the next certification cycle. 

Resources

Section 3: Review and Scoring Process

The application is scored based on the applicant’s Praxis score and the ACSC portfolio. The portfolio scoring rubric is based on “The ASCA National Model: A Foundation for School Counseling Programs (fourth edition)” and “The ASCA National Model Implementation Guide (second edition).” Each application is scored by an ACSC reviewer who is supervised by a lead ACSC reviewer. The application will not be reviewed if all required components are not complete or provided. 

  • Pathway 1: Praxis score of 156 and portfolio score of at least 30 out of 33
  • Pathway 2: Praxis score of 156 and Section 3 portfolio completed with a score of at least a 30 out of 33. Points from Section 1 and Section 2 of the rubric will be automatically awarded if applying under Pathway 2. 
  • Future Pathway/Pathway 3: Praxis score of 156. No portfolio required

Certification Status and Use of Certification Marks
Certification designation will be announced in May (for Jan. 15 applications) and September (for June 15 applications) of each year. Once certification designation is awarded, individuals may use the ACSC seal on their resume, business card, social media platforms, email signature, etc., for five years, at which point they must apply for recertification.

Section 4: Resubmissions

  • Applicants who score between a 25–29 (out of 33) on the original ACSC portfolio rubric (January 2021–June 2023 cycles) are eligible to resubmit their application in the next cycle at no cost
  • Applicants who score between a 24–28 (out of 32) on the October 2023 revised ACSC portfolio rubric are eligible to resubmit their application in the next cycle at no cost.

Resubmission Process: 
*ASCA assumes that revised application information is accurate and completed with fidelity.   

  1. Within one month of receipt of scores, notify ASCA if you wish to resubmit your application for the next application cycle.
  2. Do not delete any original application information in any section.
  3. Upload all revised uploads in Upload Supporting Documentation tab at the end of each section. Do not upload documents to any other location in the application. When uploading resubmitted information, clearly label the new information as REVISION.
  4. Follow the guidelines below for each section of the ACSC portfolio rubric: 
    • Section 1: Annual Administrative Conference & Calendars
      • Annual Administrative Conference: No revisions allowed to signed annual administrative conference forms.  
      • Annual Calendar
        • Upload revised Annual Calendar in Upload Supporting Documentation tab. Label the file REVISION.
      • Use-of-Time Calculator: 
        • If use-of-time calculator template was not used or use-of-time calculator(s) listed the incorrect school year or incorrect categories were selected, upload revised document(s) in Upload Supporting Documentation tab. Label the file(s) REVISION.
    • Section 2: Lesson Plans
      • Lesson Plan & Data Collection Plans:
        • To provide reviewers a clear understanding of what was revised, upload the lesson plan template(s) indicating all revisions by doing one of the following to the revised text: Highlight, Different color ink or Bold.
        • Upload revised lesson plans in Upload Supporting Documentation tab. Label the files REVISION.
    • Section 3: Results Reports
      • Classroom Instruction or small-group results report and closing-the-gap action plan/results report
        • No revisions allowed to results report, with the exception of your goal statement.
        • Revise your goal statement on a Word document and upload in Upload Supporting Documentation tab. Label the file REVISION.
      • Mindsets & Behaviors Results At-A-Glance Bar Graph(s)
        • If data was reported incorrectly, upload revised graph(s) in Upload Supporting Documentation tab. Label the file(s) REVISION.
      • Outcome Data Results At-A-Glance Bar Graph: 
        • If data was reported incorrectly, upload revised graph(s) in Upload Supporting Documentation tab. Label the file(s) REVISION.
  5. Complete and Upload the ACSC Resubmission Directions and Applicant Summary document in the Finalized section of your application. 

Section 5: Certification Maintenance 

The ACSC credential is valid for five years from the month the initial application or renewal is approved. The expiration date is always the last day of the month (Ex. ACSC awarded on March 15, 2022, will expire March 31, 2027).

Renewal reminders will be sent prior to expiration, but the responsibility for renewing in a timely fashion remains solely on the individual holding the credential. You may check your expiration date at any time in your ASCA account. Successful renewal of the ACSC will be reflected in your ASCA account and acknowledged by a letter from the American School Counselor Association. 

Continuing Professional Development Requirements: 
100 hours of continuing professional development activities 

  • Minimum of 10 hours total over the course of five years of legal/ethical training. Recommended two hours/year.
  • Minimum of 10 hours total over the course of five years of culturally sustaining school counseling practice training. Recommended two hours/year.
  • Minimum of 10 hours total over the course of five years of ASCA National Model training. Recommended two hours/year.
  • 50 of the 100 hours must come from ASCA or an ASCA-affiliated state school counselor association. The remaining 50 hours must be related to the school counseling profession; see Continuing Professional Development Guidelines for more information. 
  • School counselors showing evidence of having completed the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies Assessment can receive 1 ASCA-approved continuing professional development credit each year, for up to 5 credits per renewal cycle. 

Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
A variety of activities have potential for enhancing a school counselor’s knowledge and skills. Activities should be chosen as part of an overall professional development plan designed to enhance your practice as a school counselor. Learning activities can include workshop experiences, coursework, presentations, self-study, program development, leadership, volunteer work or research. You may evaluate and select continuing professional development activities based on your own professional development needs and may claim the activities for continuing professional development credit without contacting ASCA for preapproval. However, you should be able to answer “yes” to all three of the following questions to claim continuing professional development credit:

  • Did the activity enhance my professional skills or add to my knowledge base?
  • Was the activity relevant to the professional practice of school counseling?
  • Did the activity fit into my personal plan for continuing professional development?

Continuing Professional Development Credit
One continuing professional development credit is defined as one contact hour or an actual clock hour (60 minutes) spent in direct participation, as a learner, in a structured educational format. For purposes of ACSC renewal, continuing professional development credits are valid for a five-year period after they are earned. The five-year period is counted backward from the month in which your renewal application is submitted to ASCA. For example, if the renewal application is submitted in March 2026, credits earned from March 2021 through March 2026 would be accepted for that renewal cycle. Credits from a previous renewal cycle may not be resubmitted. Credits above the required 100 hours may not be carried over to the next renewal cycle.

Documentation of Continuing Professional Development Credits
The following forms of continuing professional development documentation are acceptable:

  • Documentation of attendance supplied by the provider
  • Official transcripts for college or university credit

Documentation of continuing professional development activities should include the following information:

  • Name of participant
  • Title of learning activity 
  • Hours of participation
  • Category or type of activity (see below) 
  • Certification or member number
  • Activity provider, if applicable
  • Date of activity

Categories of Continuing Professional Development Activities

Category A: Attending Workshops, Conferences, In-Service Training: This category is defined by professional development activities that involve opportunities for direct instruction and interaction. It includes seminars, workshops, real-time webcasts and distance-learning programs with interactive capabilities. One hour of participation equals one credit.

  • Maximum credits: None
  • Required documentation: Completed Activity Documentation Form documenting attendance or activity. Program fliers, handouts, agendas and brochures may be used to supplement the Documentation Form but are not accepted forms of documentation.

Category B: College and University Coursework: This category includes all college or university credit, including both on-site and distance-learning courses.

  • One semester hour = 15 credits (e.g., three-credit course = 45 credits)
  • One quarter hour = 10 credits
  • Maximum credits: None
  • Required documentation: Official college or university transcript

Category C: Delivering and Preparing Training and In-Service Activities: This category includes delivery of training or professional presentation for other school counselors, school staff, parents and other education professionals. 

  • Credit allowances: One hour of participation = 1 credit. Credit may be claimed once for development and presentation of new workshops or in-service training activities.
  • Maximum credits: 50 credits
  • Required documentation: Program flier, syllabus or Activity Documentation Form. The hours of continuing professional development credit, date of training and sponsor must be included in the documentation.

Category D: Research and Publications: Research and contribution to the professional knowledge base are valuable continuing professional development activities. To claim credit in this category, it is necessary for the participant to reasonably estimate the amount of time spent and claim those actual hours up to the maximum specified.

  • Maximum credits: 50 credits total
  • Empirical research: Up to 15 credits per project
  • Professional publication: Up to 10 credits per project
  • Required documentation: Activity Documentation Form; documentation of publication or presentation of findings

Category E: Supervision or Mentorship of Graduate Students or Early-Career Professionals: For purposes of continuing professional development credit, field supervisors of school counseling practicum students, interns and mentors of early-career professionals should consider the extent to which this activity leads to professional growth on the part of the supervisor/mentor.

  • School counseling supervision/mentorship of one intern/mentee for one academic year: Up to 15 credits
  • School counseling supervision/mentorship per semester: Up to 5 credits
  • Maximum credits: 20 credits per maintenance cycle

Category F: Supervised or Mentored Experience: ASCA advocates that school counselors engage in school counseling supervision to promote their own professional growth and exemplary professional practices. The supervised experiences may occur as part of a planned and sequential program on the job or in settings outside the school counselor’s regular job setting. For continuing professional development credit, the supervised experience should lead to professional growth and new knowledge and skills.

  • One hour per month: Up to 10 credits
  • Two hours per month: Up to 20 credits
  • Maximum credits: 20 credits
  • Required documentation: Activity Documentation Form signed by mentor or supervisor

Category G: Program Planning/Assessment: Credit for program planning and assessment may be claimed when planning, implementing and assessing a school counseling program

  • One hour of participation: 1 credit
  • Maximum credits: 20 credits

Category H: Self-Study: Formal structured programs are self-study programs developed and published to provide training in specific knowledge or skill areas, including, for example, ASCA U Specialist Trainings. A test is typically given at the end of the program, and often a certificate of completion is issued. 

  • One hour of participation: 1 credit
  • Maximum credits: 100 credits 
  •  Required documentation: Certificate of completion and/or transcript supplied by provider

Category I: Professional Organization Leadership: A school counselor may earn continuing professional development credit for holding a leadership position in a local, state or national school counselor organization. 

  • Formal, structured professional leadership opportunities include, for example, serving as officer, board member or committee member: 10 credits per position, per year
  • Informal forms of professional leadership include, for example, volunteering to be a RAMP or an ACSC reviewer: 10 CPD credits per year
  • Maximum credits: 30 continuing professional development credits are allowed every five years.

Category J: Professional Recognition: School counselors listed on awarded Recognized ASCA National Model Program (RAMP) applications.  

  • Maximum credits: 10 credits per maintenance cycle

Renewal Fees
$99 for members, $300 for nonmembers
Individuals may pay by credit card, check, or purchase order. Mail checks to: ASCA, 1101 King St., Suite 310, Alexandria VA 22314; email purchase orders to asca@schoolcounselor.org.

Resources
ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies Assessment

Renewal More Than Three Years After Expiration
An individual who fails to renew the ACSC credential beyond three years of the expiration date must reapply for the ACSC under the current standards at the time of reapplication. Note that ETS has set an expiration date of 10 years for the Praxis School Counselor Exam.

Revocation of Certification Due to Violations of Certification or Ethical Standards 
By finalizing your ACSC application, you attest that all information submitted is truthful and your own work. Additionally, you agree to abide by the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors and ASCA Professional Standards & Competencies. Should you earn certification, ASCA maintains the right to revoke certification should you violate the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors.