Section 1.  Conditions and Prerequisites. (1) The provisional and standard certificate for guidance counselor shall be issued in accordance with KRS Chapter 161 and 16 KAR Chapters 3 and 6 to an applicant who has completed the approved program of preparation which corresponds to the certificate at a teacher education institution approved in accordance with 16 KAR 5:010.

(2) The guidance counseling program shall be subject to the program approval requirements established in 16 KAR 5:010 and shall incorporate the Kentucky Standard For Guidance Counselor Programs, incorporated by reference in 16 KAR 5:010.

(3) The provisional and standard certificate for guidance counselor established under this administrative regulation shall be valid for the position of guidance counselor for all grade levels, primary through grade twelve.

Section 2. (1) The provisional certificate for guidance counselor shall be issued to an applicant upon completion of an approved master's level program in guidance counseling.

(2) The provisional certificate for guidance counselor shall be issued for a period of five (5) years and may be renewed upon application to the board, using the "Form TC-2, Application for Certificate Renewal Duplicate," incorporated by reference in 16 KAR 2:090, and submission of proof of the completion of a minimum of nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit in the areas of counseling or guidance counseling.

(3) If there is a lapse of a provisional certificate for guidance counselor for lack of meeting the renewal requirements, certification may be reissued at a later date upon application to the board, using the "Form TC-2, Application for Certificate Renewal/Duplicate," incorporated by reference in 16 KAR 2:090, and the submission of proof of the completion of a minimum of nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit for each five (5) year period of validity or period of lapse of the guidance counselor certificate. The graduate credit shall be in the areas of counseling or guidance counseling.

Section 3. (1) The standard certificate for guidance counselor shall be issued to an applicant who meets one of the following qualification options:

• (a) Option I:

• 1. Successful completion of an approved master's level program in guidance counseling;
• 2. Successful completion of an additional three (3) to six (6) credit hours from an approved graduate level counseling or guidance counseling program.
• 3. One (1) year of full time employment as a provisionally- certified guidance counselor in a public school or nonpublic school which meets the state performance Standard as established in KRS 156.160 or which has been accredited by a regional or national accrediting association;
• 4. A valid Kentucky Professional teaching certificate; and
• 5. A minimum of one (1) year of full time classroom teaching experience on a Professional Teaching Certificate in a public school or a nonpublic school which meets the state performance Standard as established in KRS 156.160 or which has been accredited by a regional or national accrediting association; or

• (b) Option II:

• 1. Successful completion of an approved master’s level program in guidance counseling;
• 2. Successful completion of an additional three (3) to six (6) credit hours from an approved graduate level counseling or guidance counseling program; and
• 3. A minimum of two (2) years of successful employment as a provisionally full-time certified guidance counselor.

(2) The standard certificate for guidance counselor shall be issued for a period of five (5) years and shall be renewed subsequently for five (5) year periods upon completion of, by September 1 of the year of expiration, the Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) hours as specified by the Kentucky Department of Education in KRS 156.101. It shall be the responsibility of the guidance counselor to provide documentation of this training to the local school superintendent who recommends certificate renewal.

(3) If there is a lapse in the standard certificate for guidance counselor for lack of meeting renewal requirements, the certificate may be reissued at a later date by first completing twelve (12) clock hours of counselor role specific training for each year since the expiration of the certificate up to a maximum of seventy-five (75) clock hours or nine (9) semester hours of additional graduate credit appropriate to position of guidance counselor.

Document detailing various responsiblities for counselors and schools districts.