Section 1: Teachers and educational specialists: general certificates and endorsements

1.12 Certificate 075: School Counselor

• A. Function: This certificate allows the holder to serve as a school counselor to provide guidance services public kindergarten through grade 12.

• B. Eligibility: Applicants shall meet eligibility requirements specified in Part I. In addition, eligibility for this certificate shall be established by one of two pathways. Individuals who are not eligible through either pathway may be eligible for a conditional certificate, in accordance with Section 1.12.B.3, below, and Part I Section 5.4 of this rule.

• 1. Certificate Eligibility Pathway 1

• (a) Graduated from a Maine program approved to prepare school counselors, together with a formal recommendation of the preparing institution;

• (b) Earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, in accordance with Part I Section 4.4 of this rule;

• (c) Earned a master's or a doctorate degree from an accredited college or university, in accordance with Part I Section 4.4 of this rule; and

• (d) Completed an approved course for Teaching Exceptional Students in the Regular Classroom;

• (e) Passed content area assessment, in accordance with to Me. Dept. of Ed. Reg. 13.

• 2. Certificate Eligibility Pathway 2

• (a) Earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, in accordance with Part I Section 4.4 of this rule;

• (b) Earned a master's or a doctorate degree from an accredited college or university, in accordance with Part I Section 4.4 of this rule;

• (c) Provided a formal recommendation for a school counselor certificate from a college or university approved to prepare school counselors;

• (d) Completed an approved course for Teaching Exceptional Students in the Regular Classroom;

• (e) Passed content area assessment, in accordance with Me. Dept. of Ed. Reg. 13; and

• (f) Passed pedagogical knowledge and skills assessment at the appropriate grade level, in accordance with Me. Dept. of Ed. Reg. 13, or successful completion of an approved alternative professional studies program for school counseling.

• 3. Conditional Certificate

• (a) Earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, in accordance with Part I Section 4.4 of this rule;

• (b) Matriculated into an approved program for school counselor education or current enrollment in graduate coursework for school counselor education; and

• (c) Completed a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate study in school counselor education coursework.

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings.

   • B. “School counselor” means a person who is employed as a school counselor in a school setting and who:

   • (1) Is certified as a school counselor by the department; or

   • (2) Possesses a minimum of a master’s degree in an approved program in guidance and counseling.