Section 181-79A-221. Academic and experience requirements for certification—School counselors and school psychologists.

Candidates for school counselor and school psychologist certification shall complete the following requirements in addition to those set forth in WAC 181-79A-150 and 181-79A-226: Provided, That it shall not be necessary for any candidate who holds a master's or doctorate degree to obtain the specified master's degree if the candidate provides satisfactory evidence to the superintendent of public instruction that he or she has completed all course work requirements relevant to the required master's degree and has satisfactorily completed a comprehensive examination required in such master's degree program. This examination shall be an examination of a regionally accredited institution of higher education or the National Counselor Examination (NCE) of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) or, in the case of school psychologists, hold the NCSP accreditation from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP): Provided, That if any candidate has been awarded a master's degree without a comprehensive examination, the candidate, as a condition for certification, shall successfully complete the Praxis II exam in the appropriate role.

(1) School counselor.

(a) Residency.

(i) The candidate shall hold a master's degree with a major in counseling.

(ii) The candidate shall have successfully completed a comprehensive examination of the knowledge included in the course work for the required master's degree. This examination shall be a proctored examination of a regionally accredited institution of higher education or the candidate may meet this requirement by receiving a passing score on the Praxis II guidance and counseling examination.

(b) Professional. A professional certificate can be earned in one of the following ways:

(i) An individual who has successfully completed an approved professional certificate program shall be deemed to meet the requirement for professional certification.

(ii) An individual who holds a school counseling certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) shall be deemed to have met the requirement for completion of a professional certificate program, in recognition that NBPTS certification is issued only to individuals who have demonstrated highly advanced skills as a school counselor.

(c) Beginning with certificates first issued or renewed after July 1, 2015, continuing and professional certificates for school counselors include a requirement for suicide prevention training per RCW 28A.410.226.

(2) School psychologist.

(a) Residency.

(i) The candidate shall hold a master's degree with a major or specialization in school psychology.

(ii) The candidate shall have successfully completed a comprehensive examination of the knowledge included in the course work for the required master's degree. This examination shall be a proctored examination of a regionally accredited institution of higher education or the candidate may meet this requirement by receiving a passing score on the Praxis II school psychology examination.

(b) Continuing.

(i) The candidate shall hold a valid initial or residency school psychologist certificate, a master's degree with a major or specialization in school psychology, and have completed at least fifteen quarter (ten semester) credit hours of graduate course work offered by a college or university with a state approved school psychologist program or one hundred fifty clock hours of study, which meet the state continuing education clock hour criteria pursuant to chapter 181-85 WAC, or a combination of credits and clock hours equivalent to the above. The study shall:

(A) Be based on the school psychologist performance domains included in WAC 181-78A-270 (5)(a);

(B) Be taken subsequent to the issuance of the initial or residency school psychologist certificate; and

(C) Be determined in consultation with and approved by the candidate's employer or the administrator of a state approved school psychologist preparation program.

(ii) The candidate shall provide documentation of one hundred eighty days or full-time equivalent or more employment in the role of school psychologist with an authorized employer—i.e., school district, educational service district, state agency, college or university, private school, or private school system—and at least thirty days of such employment with the same employer.

(c) Professional. An individual who holds an NCSP certificate issued by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) shall be deemed to have met the requirement for professional certification, in recognition that NCSP certification is issued only to individuals who have demonstrated highly advanced skills as a school psychologist.

(d) Beginning with certificates first issued or renewed after July 1, 2015, continuing and/or professional certificates for school psychologists include a requirement for suicide prevention training per RCW 28A.410.226.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.210. WSR 15-20-059, § 181-79A-221, filed 10/1/15, effective 11/1/15; WSR 14-24-057, § 181-79A-221, filed 11/25/14, effective 12/26/14; WSR 14-09-121, § 181-79A-221, filed 4/23/14, effective 5/24/14; WSR 11-15-051, § 181-79A-221, filed 7/15/11, effective 8/15/11; WSR 08-12-055, § 181-79A-221, filed 6/2/08, effective 7/3/08; WSR 06-14-010, § 181-79A-221, filed 6/22/06, effective 7/23/06. WSR 06-02-051, recodified as § 181-79A-221, filed 12/29/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.401.010 [28A.410.010]. WSR 04-21-040, § 180-79A-221, filed 10/15/04, effective 11/15/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (1) and (2), 28A.410.010 and 28A.150.220(4). WSR 99-01-174, § 180-79A-221, filed 12/23/98, effective 1/23/99.]

RCW 28A.410.210. WSR 15-20-059, § 181-79A-221, filed 10/1/15, effective 11/1/15; WSR 14-24-057, § 181-79A-221, filed 11/25/14, effective 12/26/14; WSR 14-09-121, § 181-79A-221, filed 4/23/14, effective 5/24/14; WSR 11-15-051, § 181-79A-221, filed 7/15/11, effective 8/15/11; WSR 08-12-055, § 181-79A-221, filed 6/2/08, effective 7/3/08; WSR 06-14-010, § 181-79A-221, filed 6/22/06, effective 7/23/06. WSR 06-02-051, recodified as § 181-79A-221, filed 12/29/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.401.010 [28A.410.010]. WSR 04-21-040, § 180-79A-221, filed 10/15/04, effective 11/15/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (1) and (2), 28A.410.010 and 28A.150.220(4). WSR 99-01-174, § 180-79A-221, filed 12/23/98, effective 1/23/99.

Rules

181-79A-150,181-79A-226,181-85,181-78A-270,