A national sample of 246 Directors of Pupil Personnel Services and Directors of Special Education were surveyed to assess the importance they place on training, degrees, and credentials in the hiring of school psychologists. High, but varying, levels of importance were found for the content knowledge and skill areas in the National Association of…

The authors provide a sociohistorical overview of the development of the counseling profession in Japan. They describe Japan's major social, cultural, and political changes; growing psychological problems in Japanese society; and an increased need for counseling services. Historical overviews and the current state of counseling are presented with…

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is celebrating its 40th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential. NASP was founded on March 15, 1969 during a national planning conference in St. Louis. In this article, the author provides a brief overview of the NASP.

Explores issues related to testing and certification of social workers and discusses the National Association of Social Workers' experience in the assessment of competence. Explores formulation of definitions, determination of standards, and construction of quality instruments. (JAC)

Asserts that, since most states now have counselor licensure, the National Board for Certified Counselors and the National certification process itself may be obsolete. Authors question whether the National Counselor Exam differentiates between effective and ineffective counselors and question why only 8% of American Counseling Association members…

Presents the results of a survey on ethical complaints reported to state licensing boards, raises concerns about specific areas of ethical complaints and violations, and makes suggestions regarding ameliorating problem areas. (Contains 42 references and 2 tables.) (GCP)

Reviews the context, politics, illusions, contradictions, ironies, and possibilities involved in the search for identity in the counseling profession. Provides an overview of counseling psychology's history, its professional bodies, and the profession's political battles. Discusses attempts at establishing an identity and the need for a knowledge…

Describes the purpose and organization of the Board of Certified Professional Counselors developed by the American Mental Health Counselors Association. The decision to certify rather than license was based on HEW research and recommendations. A glossary of terms is included. (JAC)

Certification procedures protect consumers, but when licensing institutions become monopolistic, alternative paths to credentialing need to be considered. A series of articles examine third party payments, a changing job market and consumer protection concerns, all of which have had an impact on credentialing problems. (JAC)

Presents an interview with the director of the National Board for Certified Counselors, who provides a history of the organization. He discusses his efforts in establishing unified addictions specialist credentials and offers suggestions for addiction and offender counselors seeking these credentials. He explores the pressing credentialing issues…

The Georgia Department of Education initiated a statewide effort to establish standards and procedures for certification of educational personnel based on competency demonstration. A project was commissioned to develop a performance-based system for the certification of school counselors. This article presents the premises, procedures, and…

The establishment of a Board of Certified Professional Counselors increases the professionalism of counselors. It assures the public of the counselor's competence, protects the profession and the counselor, and determines qualification for entrance into the profession. (JAC)

Ratings of actual and ideal goals and tasks of counselor licensing boards were obtained. A sample of 237 licensing board members from states issuing licenses, certification, or registry to counselors was provided by 37 boards. Board members rated public protection goals as most frequently accomplished and public protection tasks as most…

Master's and doctoral level counselors face exclusion from the mental health care system because of the trend toward funding by health insurance. Organized psychology is moving to bar doctoral level counselors and counseling education graduates from licensure. Counselors are losing their jobs to practitioners with insurance-eligible credentials.…

Examines the development of standards for accreditation and licensure by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Presents a detailed description of the requirements for clinical membership. Suggests the American Personnel and Guidance Association might learn from AAMFT in designing accreditation programs. (Author/JAC)