1.A School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of theories of human development and characteristics and processes of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and language development.

1.B School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of factors (e.g., genetics, nutrition, chronic illness, family dynamics) that affect human development and developmental issues that affect student success 

1.C School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of skills and competencies that enhance the physical and emotional health of students at different stages of development.

1.D School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of learning theories and research related to the learning process and their implications for instruction.

1.E School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of factors (e.g., culture, language, family dynamics) that affect the learning process and the learning environment.

1.F School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of instructional implications of various learning styles, strategies, and environments as well as obstacles to student learning and strategies for coping with or removing these obstacles.

2.A School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of educational systems, philosophies, and theories, as well as current trends in education, including the organizational structure and governance of the national and state educational systems.

2.B School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of cultural, political, and social influences on current educational practices and the impact on student success of school, district, and state educational policies, procedures, and practices.

2.C School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies and techniques for creating and implementing a schoolwide needs assessment and for analyzing, interpreting, and utilizing data to develop a comprehensive guidance curriculum.

2.D School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for designing developmentally appropriate classroom and schoolwide guidance curricula that meet the needs of all students and align with educational and professional standards at the local, state, and national level as well as with district and school goals, curricula, and mission.

2.E School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for designing proactive prevention programming to support the healthy development of all students in the physical, social, emotional, academic, and career domains. 

2.F School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for collaborating with stakeholders to ensure a safe and secure learning environment by developing and implementing school safety initiatives, anti-bullying (including cyber-bullying) initiatives, violence prevention programs, and suicide prevention plans.

3.A School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of the history and purpose of school counseling, including traditional and transformed roles of school counselors.

3.B School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of the elements of a comprehensive school counseling program, including the instruction of students in academic and technical achievement; career and workplace development; and personal, social, and emotional development through individual, small-group, classroom, and schoolwide initiatives.

3.C School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies and methods for developing, implementing, coordinating, and managing an effective school counseling and guidance program for college and career readiness that meets the needs of all students.

3.D School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of skills and strategies for reviewing, selecting, using, and evaluating technology to plan, organize, and deliver a school counseling and guidance program that meets the needs of all students.

3.E School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies and methods for continually evaluating school counseling services to assess their impact on students, identify program gaps, and target interventions.

3.F School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies and methods for responding to evaluations of a comprehensive school counseling program and for using standards-based, data-informed decision making to develop and implement positive changes.

3.G School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies and methods, including program audits, for collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting data to demonstrate accountability, evaluate outcomes, and assess achievement of overarching district and school goals.

3.H School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for effective, efficient, and ethical recordkeeping and documentation.

3.I School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies and techniques for effective classroom management.

4.A School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of interviewing and other data-collection skills and techniques for identifying common problems that students face and for assessing the physical, emotional, and social level of students.

4.B School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of factors that affect a school counselor's decision to provide individual counseling and strategies for applying counseling theories and techniques to provide effective individual counseling.

4.C School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for delivering guidance lessons using developmentally appropriate instruction to promote educational success for all students in the academic and technical, college and career readiness, and personal and social domains.

4.D School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for implementing proactive prevention programming to support the healthy physical, emotional, social, academic, and career development of all students.

4.E School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for implementing a proactive prevention guidance curriculum to help all students develop and expand responsible and effective communication skills, make sound judgments and decisions, take responsibility for themselves and their actions, and accept the consequences of their behavior.

4.F School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of factors that affect a school counselor's decision to provide group counseling and strategies for applying counseling theories and techniques to provide effective group counseling.

4.G School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of factors that affect group dynamics, appropriate topics for small-group counseling and classroom guidance, and strategies for facilitating group discussions and presenting information in a group setting.

4.H School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for developing and maintaining a current referral database of community and professional resources and for helping individuals and families access those resources.

4.I School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of criteria for referring students to other professionals, community agencies, and service providers, as well as procedures for making and following up on such referrals.

4.J School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for analyzing strengths and needs of students from diverse populations and providing unbiased counseling services that respond to those strengths and needs.

4.K School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of methods for analyzing, synthesizing, and disaggregating data to examine student outcomes and to identify effective intervention strategies for documenting, monitoring, and evaluating schoolwide, targeted, and individual evidence-based interventions.

5.A School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of indicators of mental health problems; at-risk behaviors; and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in students.

5.B School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of effects of student mental health problems; at-risk behaviors; and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse on the educational environment.

5.C School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of intervention strategies for counseling students who exhibit at-risk behaviors; are targets of bullying, including cyber-bullying; or are facing other crisis situations.

5.D School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of methods, techniques, and protocols for crisis counseling and crisis management, including strategies for collaborating with stakeholders to develop and implement crisis-management plans.

6.A School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for helping students analyze their own strengths and needs; recognize their personal interests, preferences, values, talents, and skills; and apply this self-knowledge to make informed educational and career choices.

6.B School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of knowledge of student course content and the ways in which student course selection and academic performance affect postsecondary options and 

6.C School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for helping students identify their educational and career goals and develop specific plans for reaching those goals.

6.D School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of sources of comprehensive information, including databases and online resources, about postsecondary options, career opportunities and requirements, labor market trends, and economics, and strategies for helping students and their families access, understand, and use this information.

6.E School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for helping students identify and acquire the academic and technical, college and career readiness, and personal and social skills that are necessary for educational and career success.

6.F School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for providing students and their families with information about procedures associated with applying for employment in their chosen career.

6.G School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for providing students and their families with comprehensive information about postsecondary educational institutions, including information about admissions processes and procedures, costs, and eligibility requirements and application processes for financial aid, scholarships, and grants.

6.H School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for helping students use effective technological tools to assist them in exploring, planning, choosing, and achieving academic, career, and social goals.

6.I School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of knowledge of multicultural and diversity issues in education and career development, such as individual and institutional racism, classism, and sexism.

7.A School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for leading proactively, advocating for all students, and modeling fairness and equitable treatment of all.

7.B School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of the role of change theory in educational reform and the role of school counselors as agents of change within the school community, including strategies for facilitating and leading the change process.

7.C School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for using current literature, research, and other resources to promote school counseling programming and provide assistance services to students.

7.D School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of principles and methods of assessment; factors to consider when selecting assessments; and the uses, benefits, and limitations of a range of formal and informal assessment instruments.

7.E School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of the use of achievement-gap data to advocate for needed systemic change to promote educational equity and success for all students.

7.F School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of skills and strategies for working respectfully and collaboratively with individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds, as well as with special populations in the school and the community.

7.G School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of skills and methods for recruiting and collaborating with a diverse school advisory council and for applying a consensus-building process to effectively and efficiently meet group goals.

7.H School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of roles of school professionals (e.g., school social worker, school psychologist, school nurse) and strategies for communicating and collaborating with all members of the school student support team, including educators and administrators.

7.I School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of skills and strategies for communicating the benefits of a comprehensive, standards-based school counseling program for all school and community stakeholders.

7.J School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to evaluate the effectiveness of community outreach and public relations efforts and for reporting data results to stakeholders.

8.A School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of the legal and ethical responsibilities of working in a multicultural and technological society and of working with all students in a school setting.

8.B compliance with school district policy and local, state, and federal statutes, case law, and mandates that relate to school counseling, including those in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 

8.C School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of legal and ethical standards and principles of the school counseling profession, including the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Ethical Standards for School Counselors and position statements.

8.D School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for providing counseling services to students who are minors and students who are over the age of 18 in a legal and ethical manner, including by addressing issues of confidentiality.

8.E School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for establishing and maintaining a professional identity as a school counselor and for staying current with research, literature, and other resources related to school counseling issues and best practices through ongoing professional development and participation in professional school counselor organizations.

8.F School counselors have a broad and comprehensive understanding of strategies for using ongoing professional development in school counseling issues and best practices to inform and guide the legal and ethical aspects of a school counselor's work.