Azusa Pacific University  School of Education

Department of School Counseling and School Psychology

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) Re-Specialization Certificate in Clinical Counseling

Program Overview

APU’s LPCC Re-Specialization Certificate will assist School Counseling and/or School Psychology students for California state licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and will equip candidates with an in-depth understanding of the numerous issues and pressures facing students and their families today. The certificate will prepare students to meet the educational requirements for the California state licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) to counsel students, individually and in groups. Particular emphasis will be placed on the school counselor's role in the development of counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques to identify and remediate cognitive, mental, and emotional issues, including personal growth, adjustment to disability, crisis intervention, and psychosocial and environmental problems in the schools and beyond.  Students will conduct assessments for the purpose of establishing counseling goals and objectives to empower individuals to deal adequately with life situations, reduce stress, experience growth, change behavior and make well-informed, rational decisions related to the personal and academic growth of K-12 students. To support counseling skills, the counselor will learn to use various appraisal instruments, research data, and to consult with significant others in the lives of the students.

The LPCC Re-Specialization Certificate coupled with the Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Counseling or School Psychology will significantly increase one’s marketability. This certificate will immerse the candidate into the world of school counseling with clinical counseling emphasizing practical techniques to help students and their families know and understand the impact mental health has on academic success. Candidates will explore problem-solving skills, discipline procedures, crisis and routine intervention, and work side-by-side with practicing school counselors and other licensed professionals.

Admission requirements for the Re-Specialization of Clinical Counseling four course sequence, requires students to have a Master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology or related field.  The courses offered through this program are designed to assist students in meeting eligibility requirements for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor designation in the state of California.  Simply taking these four courses will not ensure licensure.  Each student is responsible to adhere to specific education and experience requirements, as well as take the required examinations in order to obtain licensure.   It is recommended that students review the California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors at http://calpcc.org/ , for the most current and accurate information about LPCC licensure requirements. 

Please contact a faculty advisor in the department of School Counseling and School Psychology for further information if you do NOT currently have a master’s degree in either School Counseling or School Psychology, click details>>

3 locations:

Azusa

Murrieta

Orange County (depending on enrollment)

12 units

5 months to complete*

*The certificate program used to be 2 - 15 week terms.  Once the courses were merged into the School Counseling masters degree program, the courses were made into 9 week terms. This schedule allows students to begin the LPCC Respecialization Certificate in either Fall 1 or Spring 1.  The first 2 courses are EDCO 571 and EDCO 572 (Fall 1 or Spring 1).  The second and final courses are EDCO 573 and EDCO 574 (Fall II and Spring II). The courses are NOT to be taken out of sequence.