A. Valid for Five Years. Universities that plan to admit new candidates into school counseling programs after December 31, 2012 must provide the Louisiana Department of Education by January 1, 2013 with a copy of the application submitted to the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) for national accreditation. Universities that submit CACREP applications must be CACREP accredited by July 1, 2015 to admit new candidates into school counseling programs after June 30, 2015. Universities that do not submit CACREP applications by January 1, 2013 may not admit new candidates into their school counseling programs after December 31, 2012. Candidates who are already in the process of working toward certification under the previous guidelines will be given until June 30, 2017 to complete all coursework. Individuals who have completed all courses and degree requirements for the previous policy by June 30, 2017 will be allowed to have this endorsement added to their certificates. B. Eligibility requirements:

1. completion of a Standard-based master's degree program in counseling from a regionally-accredited college or university approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP); a. candidates completing counseling programs that are not in the specialty area of school counseling must complete six credit hours of school counseling courses from a CACREP-accredited program;
2. practicum/internship requirements: a. complete a practicum in counseling from a CACREP-accredited program to include 100 contact hours; and b. complete an internship in counseling from a CACREP-accredited program to include 600 contact hours in a school setting;
3. completion of the PRAXIS examination in school guidance and counseling (0421 or 5421). C. Renewal Requirements. For purposes of maintaining a valid counseling endorsement, any school counselor receiving certification after July 1, 2013 is required to either provide verification of a current licensed professional counselor (LPC) license or complete 150 hours of continuing learning units (CLUs) over a five-year time period that are consistent with the individual professional growth plan (IPGP). These CLUs must be Standard based and follow the models of the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) and CACREP.