Post-Master's certificates designed to meet licensure requirements are available in both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling for students with a previously earned Master's in Counseling. Courses are taken in an interactive, online format and are not campus-based.
Admission to the post-master's certificate programs requires a previously earned Master's degree in Counseling, preferably from a CACREP-accredited program and completion of all requirements for admission to MS in Professional Counseling degree programs. Candidates must complete each course noted below with grades of B or better.
Students will not be allowed to enroll in any of the field experience courses (COUN 580, 581, 585 and 586) unless they have passed their Professional Fitness Evaluation at the end of the semester prior to the enrollment in those courses. Students are required to complete a minimum of 700 clock hours of supervised field experience. Clinical Mental Health students have the flexibility to complete these hours using secure telemental health software or on-campus/in person. All field experiences must be completed inside the US territory. Students required to perform field or practicum experiences will accept personal responsibility for their learning and professional behavior. Each student contracts to abide by the policies of the School of Education and Psychology.
Students must remain registered in 1 hour of Practicum II until they have completed all requirements, regardless of whether or not they have registered for the number of credits required for graduation. The student must register for this credit each semester until the course requirements are met and a grade has been issued.
No counseling student can accumulate Clinical Internship hours unless they have received approval from the Counseling Programs Council, are registered for Internship, and have received corresponding approval from the faculty supervisor. Students must remain registered in 1 hour of Internship until they have completed all requirements, regardless of whether or not they have registered for the number of credits required for graduation. The student must register for this credit each semester until the course requirements are met and a grade has been issued.
External supervisors of Practicum or Internship must have the following qualifications:
The State of Tennessee and local school districts have laws and policies governing the safety of K-12 students in reference to accessibility to these students. To be in compliance with state and local laws, all School Counseling candidates must submit to fingerprinting conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Should a fingerprint report yield record of a criminal offense, established departmental protocol will be followed.
Per this policy, School Counseling candidates who have been convicted of a criminal offense or who are currently under investigation for a criminal offense will be considered for admission to Practicum II on a case-by-case basis to be decided by a committee that will include the Dean of the School of Education and Psychology as well as the Program Director.
Students admitted to Practicum II must become familiar with policies outlined in the School Counseling Field Experience Manual and/or the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum II and Internship Manuals.
The School of Education and Psychology reserves the right to revise, add, and withdraw policies as necessary to ensure a quality program.
Upon completion, students may obtain official Southern transcripts Post-Master's Certificate completion; no diploma or degree is awarded. Post-Master's certificate candidates are not required to complete a comprehensive exam.