School Counseling, AC

Enter a rapidly growing field, with diverse roles in various sectors, including addiction recovery, medical centers and community services.

A portrait of Catherine Cook-Cottone, a professor of counseling, in the School and Educational Psychology, in the Graduate School of Education, taken in June 2024 in Paula’s Plaza on North Campus. She is photographed with her new book, “The Worry Monster.” Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki.

Support Students’ Academic, Career, Social and Emotional Development

Our advanced certificate in school counseling focuses on training school counselors to assist students in grades K–12 in academic, career and social/emotional development. Our program is only open to individuals who currently hold a master’s degree and initial certification in school counseling.

See All Program Requirements

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The Value of an Advanced Certificate

In today’s dynamic professional environment, continuous self-improvement is essential for career success. Advancements, competition and evolving landscapes require professionals to maintain current, industry-relevant knowledge, skills and competencies. Advanced certificates can complement completed degrees or serve as standalone credentials. Regardless of your chosen path, an advanced certificate offers additional knowledge and opportunities to refine professional skills, facilitating career advancement. They offer a flexible, accessible and cost-effective educational route to pursue career goals and remain competitive.

Points of Distinction

Counseling Services offers a group meeting for the BIPOC Support Group, which meets weekly in at the Intercultural and Diversity Center (IDC) in the Student Union in April 2024. Counseling team members Amani Johnson and Frankie Kraft lead the group. Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki.

This 12-credit program provides a certificate for students to complete the 60-credit-hour state requirement for NYS professional school counselor certification.

Students and staff members attend a de-stress event hosted by UB Libraries in Silverman Library. The event includes many activities such as puzzles, Legos, games and a chance to pet a therapy dog. Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki.

After completing 12 credits, initial certification, successfully passing the NYSTCE school counseling exam (CST 193) and three years of full-time K–12 school counseling experience, you can apply for professional certification in New York State.

Gain hands-on experience in diverse school settings—with an unwavering commitment to social justice, equity and diversity—allowing you to obtain new skills and perspectives along the way to make a meaningful impact in your counseling career.

Program Summary

Academic credential granted	Advanced Certificate (AC)
Credits required for completion	24
Time to completion	2 full-time semesters
Course delivery	On campus
Experiential contact hours	150 hours in schools
Application deadline	Priority Deadlines Fall/Summer: April 1, then rolling

School counselor in K–12 setting.

Required Courses (15 credits)

CEP 505 Group Work in the Schools
CEP 532 Understanding Statistical Research
CEP 600 School Counseling Internship
CEP 648 Guidance Services: Organization and Administration
CEP 664 Process of Consultation

Elective Courses (9 credits) (choose three)

CEP 504 Introduction to Rehabilitation Substance Abuse & Addiction
CEP 541 Human Growth and Development
CEP 548 Coaching for Health and Physiological Integration (online)
CEP 549 Psychology of Women
CEP 553 Self-care in Service (on campus and travel course; alternating years)
CEP 560 Psychology of Learning and Instruction
CEP 566 Evidenced-based Interventions for Wellness and Engagement (online)
CEP 588 College Counseling for High School Students
CEP 611 The Mindful Therapist
CEP 615 Legal Aspects of Counseling
CEP 617 Advanced Group Counseling Theory and Techniques
CEP 629 Family Counseling
CEP 649 Rehabilitation Foundations
CEP 650 Behavior Therapy
CEP 689 Brief Solution Focused Therapy
CEP 750 Yoga for Health and Healing

*Note: You must have a master's degree in school counseling from an accredited institution and be seeking permanent certification as a school counselor in New York State.

Your master's degree must include:

100 hours of practicum in a K–12 school
600 hours of internship in K–12 schools (300 hours of internship must be in a K–8 school and 300 hours of internship must be in a 9–12 school)

Submit your completed online application, which includes:

Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
Contact information for at least three individuals who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter. (This requirement is waived for current students or graduates of the University at Buffalo’s school counseling master’s program.)
Academic transcripts: Upload scanned copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts, including the English translation, if applicable.
Statement of education and career goals

Admission Interview: An interview is required to be considered for admission to this program.

Former/Maiden Name: Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.

Admissions Decision: The admissions decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

In-State Residency Tuition

In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.

If accepted, you will need to upload three documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.

International Applicant Additional Requirements

Official original proof of your degree
A copy of your passport biographical page
Official test scores—dated within two years of submitting your application—for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, or DET (Duolingo English Test).
- TOEFL minimum score is 250 for computer-based test, 600 for paper-based test and 79 for internet-based test
- IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- DET minimum score is 120 overall
Financial documentation: International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
An official bank statement

All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application and dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.