This is the next part of your journey as you prepare for the
challenging career of a professional counselor
or school psychologist….
Unwritten Rules About
Succeeding in Graduate School
Graduate v. Undergraduate
 9 semester units considered full-time status at the graduate
level
 Whereas, 12 semester units is full time for undergraduates
 The expectation is that students will be self-sufficient and
independent
 Advising should be used primarily as a time to discuss
academic plans/academic interests, not to negotiate special
requests
 Grad students should exercise good judgment in and
outside of the classroom
 This includes social media behavior
Characteristics of Effective
Counselors and School Psychologists









Openness & Flexibility in Novel Situations
Ability to Deal with Ambiguity
Positive Attitude
Cooperativeness
Willingness & Ability to Use Feedback
Awareness of Impact on Others
Ability & Willingness to Deal with Conflict
Willingness to Accept Personal Responsibility
Ability to Express Feelings Effectively &
Appropriately
General Expectations
 As a Counseling or School Psychology graduate student, it is important
to be in communication with faculty, conduct yourself in a professional
manner in and outside of class, show an interest in class
topics/discussions (i.e., strive toward becoming a “future contributor”),
as opposed to someone focused only on one’s own needs/interests.
 Some of the most important skills for counselors and school
psychologists are:
 A problem-solving orientation and the ability to seek new information
 Flexibility
 Openness to changing your mind and your views
 Doing what’s best, not necessarily what’s most convenient
 Integrity, ethical, and legal conduct both in and outside of all
professional relationships
 Cell Phone Use
 Turn OFF electronics and Turn ON to class participation and
engagement
Establishing Positive
Relationships
 As in any professional program, it is important to develop
positive relationships with faculty and classmates.
 Faculty sometimes play a key role in helping you secure
fieldwork and employment opportunities
 Classmates will serve as collaborators and sometimes
references in the field, as well
 Obtaining employment in the field of Counseling and
School Psychology is primarily through referrals:
 Therefore letters of recommendation and references are
critical to finding a position
 Class participation is highly valued in graduate school.
 Meeting with faculty advisors during regularly scheduled
office hours about academic topics is highly valued.
Student Accountability
 When in doubt, do not go by what you hear from others in passing…
 Check the Student Handbook & verify information with your faculty
advisor
 You are required to read and be familiar with the handbook, which is
located on the College of Education website (note: The School
Psychology Handbook is currently being updated and will be available
shortly)
 Routinely check your email for updates and announcements. A student
listserv is a critical way of communication in all programs.
 Keep all correspondence that you receive from both EDC & OGS in a file
 You are responsible for keeping informed of all deadlines and due dates
throughout your program of study
 Missing deadlines can impact matriculation and graduation.
How
to
Address
Student
Concerns
 If you have a problem that needs to be resolved, follow the steps below:
If the problem is about a class issue, first meet with the class instructor
to attempt to resolve the problem
Schedule an IN-PERSON meeting with your faculty advisor (Make sure
you are aware of office hours) if you are unable to resolve the problem
using step 1
Make an appointment with the Graduate Branch Chair if you are unable
to resolve the problem using step 2
1.
2.
3.

In some cases, the Chair may refer you to the Dean’s Office to resolve your
problem. It’s important that you do not contact the Dean’s Office
without the Chair’s approval and/or knowledge.
 If you need assistance from the Academic Program Services Office
(APS; Eureka Hall 401), be patient, as they help many students
throughout the day
 If you have a concern about another student, schedule a meeting
with the instructor if the issue is specific to one class; schedule a
meeting with the program coordinator if the issue is not specific to one class
How to Get “Off-Track”
 Behaving in an unprofessional manner online, with
instructors, classmates, administrators, and office staff.
 Not following established procedures, including missing
required departmental deadlines or not following the
required course sequence.
 Sharing information with other students when the
assignment indicated not to.
 Completing assignments in a manner not reflective of a
graduate student.
 Keep in mind that while “C” work was acceptable at the
undergraduate level, such a grade is unacceptable at the
graduate level.
Grades
 Students may not earn credit towards their degree
for a course in which they earn a grade of B- or
below.
 Grades are important in graduate school; however,
learning is not about regurgitating information and
cramming to pass an exam. It’s about mastering
information, thoughtful and analytical analysis, and
applying theory to practice.
 The skills you will be developing will affect the lives of
the students and clients you serve.
Culminating Requirement
 School Psychology
 M.A. = Case Study + Praxis Exams or Project
 Ed.S. = Thesis or Project
 Counselor Education
 CPCE
CPCE v. NCE
 Students take EDC 290 in their final semester , where
they take the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive
Examination (CPCE).
 If you pass the CPCE, you are eligible to graduate
 The National Counselor Examination (NCE) covers the
same 8 sections as the CPCE, but is a separate exam
that can only be taken after graduating from our
program.
 If you pass the NCE you are eligible to be a Nationally
Certified Counselor (NCC)
PPS & NCSP
 All School Psychology students are required to take
and pass the Praxis Exam before internship.
 After completing the internship, students are eligible
for the PPS School Psychology Credential.
 If you pass the Praxis and successfully complete your
internship you are eligible to be a Nationally Certified
School Psychologist (NCSP)
 All school counseling and school psychology students
must also complete the CBEST in order to be eligible
for the PPS Credentials.
 The BBS is responsible for consumer protection through the regulation of
Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT), Licensed Professional Clinical
Counselors (LPCC), and Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEP).
 To be hired as a counselor or school psychologist in CA, you don’t need to be
licensed in California if you are working under the auspices of a school, college,
university or other public organization and are limiting your “scope of practice”
to “Counseling,” and not practicing “Therapy” or “Clinical” work
 If you are conducting “therapy” you need to be a licensed as an MFT, LPCC, or
LEP
 As the holder of a Counseling or School Psychology degree, it may help with
job prospects if you are a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) [passing the
National Counselor Exam (NCE)], Nationally Certified School Psychologist
(NCSP), or, depending on the job, are an LPCC
 MFTs will need to pass a law and ethics exam, California MFT exam, and earn
3,000 post-degree supervised hours
 Some of the 3,000 hours may be earned while earning your M.S. degree
 LPCCs will need to pass a law and ethics exam, the National Clinical Mental
Health Counselor Exam, and 3,000 post-degree supervised hours
 None of the 3,000 hours may be earned while earning your M.S. degree



For MFT Students
 No extra coursework is needed to apply to become an MFT Registered Intern after graduation. For
licensure, you will apply as an intern and finish earning 3,000 supervised hours, sit for a law and
ethics exam, and successfully pass the California MFT licensure exam
 Note: MFT students may count up to 500 hours of supervised trainee experience towards
licensure (these hours are earned during Field Study in the program)
 No extra coursework is needed to apply to become a PCC Registered Intern after graduation. For
licensure, you will apply as an intern, complete 3,000 supervised hours, sit for a law and ethics exam,
and successfully complete the NCMHCE
 Note: No hours may be earned as a trainee towards the LPCC; however, you may double-count
post-degree hours earned towards both the MFT and LPCC licenses
For Career Counseling Students
 You are not eligible for the MFT license
 No extra coursework is needed to apply to become a PCC Registered Intern after graduation. For
licensure, you will apply as an intern, complete 3,000 supervised hours, sit for a law and ethics exam,
and successfully complete the NCMHCE
For School Counseling Students
 You are not eligible for the MFT license
 One extra course is required to apply to become a PCC Registered Intern after graduation. For
licensure, you will apply as an intern, complete 3,000 supervised hours, sit for a law and ethics exam,
and successfully complete the NCMHCE
 This course (EDC 254) may be taken during your last semester in the program
 For school psychology students.



No extra course work is needed to sit for the LEP exam and apply for this
independent professional practice license.
All that is required is completion of the internship and two years of practices as a
school psychologist.
Extra course work is required to be eligible for the LPC internship credential.
 Two extra courses must be taken before completion of the internship
 EDC 231, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
 EDC 254, Counseling and Psychotropic Medicine (offered spring semester
only).
 These two courses are core Counselor Education classes and are thus be made
available on a space available basis.
 After students graduate and before Licensure, additional requirements that must
be met are:
 Take a 3 unit graduate course in career counseling (www.aatbs.com may have
this course).
 Take a 3 unit graduate course in addictions counseling.
 Complete the School Psychology Internship and obtain a graduate degree.
 Obtain the LPCC Intern license.
Helpful Information about Working
with Faculty
 Faculty Levels
 Emailing Faculty
 Recommendation Letters
Academic Faculty Levels
 Full-Time “Tenure-Track” Faculty
 Holds either a Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.
 Hired to teach, advise students, conduct research, serve the college,
university, and community
 Part-Time/Adjunct Faculty
 Hired as part-time faculty to teach one or more classes
 Typically hold Master’s degree, sometimes Ph.D., and may hold
some form of licensure or credential
How to Email your Professor
 Refer to article
Dear [1] Professor [2] Last-Name [3],
This is a line that recognizes our common humanity [4].
I’m in your Class Name, Section Number that meets on This Day
[5]. This is the question I have or the help I need [6]. I’ve looked in
the syllabus and at my notes from class and online and I asked
someone else from the class [7], and I think This Is The Answer [8],
but I’m still not sure. This is the action I would like you to take [9].
Signing off with a Thank You is always a good idea [10],
Favorite Student
Asking a Faculty Member to Serve
as a Reference
 You may send an email or leave a phone message, but only to
schedule a face-to-face meeting (ideally during office hours) to
discuss the possibility of a letter of reference, NOT TO
REQUEST THE LETTER
 Ask the faculty member “Would you feel comfortable writing a
letter of reference for me?”
 If you need a reference letter , you need to supply a current copy
of your résumé to the reference
 Provide the reference with a minimum of 2 weeks notice to write
the letter. Requests received later than 2 weeks prior to the end
of a semester will not be granted.
Personal
Counseling and
Informed Consent
(Career and School Counseling Only)
A Sampling of Counselor Education
Alumni – Where They Are Now
Jennifer Smith, School Counselor,
Kaseberg Elementary School
Edward Tracy, School Counselor,
Howe Avenue Elementary School
Maria Cook, School Counselor,
Korematsu Elementary School
Lovedeep Purewal, School Counselor,
Marysville Charter School
Thavone Vongphakham, School
Counselor, Renewal Virtual Academies
Adam Freas, Career Counselor, Sac
City College
Armando Oseguera, School
Counselor, Davidson Middle School
Daisy Carmona, Career Developer,
San Joaquin Office of Education
Linsey Vanzant, MFTI, Aegis Medical
Caitlin Scott, MFTI, River Oak Center
for Children
Bianca Soriano, School Counselor,
Encina Preparatory High School
Ken Times, Career Counselor, Sac City
College
A Sampling of Counselor Education
Alumni – Where They Are Now
Dr. Kenyatta Jones, University of
California, Los Angeles
Lynn Bohecker, Candidate for Ph.D. in
Counseling at Idaho State University
Dr. Lanisha Redic, School Counselor,
Lincoln High School, Stockton &
Ed.D. from California State University,
Stanislaus
Pali Gill, Candidate for Ph.D. in
Counseling at Oregon State University,
CSUS Adjunct Professor
Dr. Crystal Martinez, Tribal TANF
program; Ed.D. from CSUS
Dr. Virgil Moorehead, Psy. D. from
Wright Institute
Shannon Wells, Career Counselor & CoOp Coordinator, CSUS Career Center
Alyssa Soboleski, Ed.D. Candidate at the
University of San Francisco
Jennifer Lidster, School Counselor, Dublin
Unified School District
Paolo Soriano, EOP Counselor, CSUS
Full Circle Project
Veronica O’Campo, MEAP Coordinator
Tara Mann, Family Court Counselor
Jenny Thao, School Counselor, Colonial
Heights Elementary and Middle School
A Sampling of School Psychology
Alumni – Where They Are Now
Dr. Meagan O’Malley, Assistant
Professor CSU, Sacramento
Dr. Shelley Hart, Assistant Professor,
CSU, Chico
Rondy Yu, Doctoral student, UC,
Santa Barbara
Kelly Regan-Brown, School
Psychologist, Twin Rivers USD
Jordan DeWitt, School Psychologist,
Twin Rivers USD
Pa Dipad, School Psychologist, San
Juan USD
Michelle Ahern, School Psychologist,
Twin Rivers USD
Jenifer Judy, School Psychologist, San
Juay USD
Eric Van Lengen, School Psychologist,
Twin Rivers USD
Swati Shende, School Psychologist, Twin
Rivers USD
Kim Babwin, School Psychologist, San
Juan USD
Melissa Ponce, School Psychologist,
Washington USD
Christy Byrne Yates, School Psychologist,
San Juan USD
Student Counseling Society
Words of Wisdom
Email
[email protected]
for more information.
School Psychology Association
Words of Wisdom
Email
[email protected]
for more information.
Breakout by Specialization
Career Counseling: MRP 1002
School Counseling: MRP 1000 (Stay)
School Psychology: MRP 1001