All Bradley Counseling Students Pass National Certified Counselor Exam

10/10/2013 2:12 PM

In June 2013, the Department of Leadership in Education, Leadership, and Counseling was notified that 100 percent of Bradley’s counseling students passed the National Certified Counselor exam, scoring well above national averages for the entire test. Passing the exam is a requirement for national certification as a counselor and for receiving an initial level of licensure as a professional counselor in Illinois.

Accredited through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), graduate students are given the opportunity to take the exam during their final semester. Once the testing organization receives confirmation that the students have been granted their Master’s degrees, the students receive their scores.

Bradley’s counseling program has an emphasis on professional development through state and national counseling associations. For example, the Counseling Honor Society connects alums from the counseling program with current students by sponsoring events during the year that promote interaction. The society also sponsors an annual review process to help students prepare for the comprehensive exam.

“It’s very gratifying to students to earn this national recognition, showing they are highly qualified as counselors,” said Dr. Christopher Rybak, chair of EHC. “They easily meet all of the knowledge requirements for counselors nationwide, and they are highly prepared to work in the profession as professional counselors.”