Professional Associations for School Counselors
American School Counselor Association
A worldwide nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, Virginia, and founded in 1952, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on academic, personal/social, and career development so they not only achieve success in school but are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. The association provides professional development, publications, research, and advocacy to more than 12,000 professional school counselors around the globe.
Indiana School Counselor Association
A state division of the Indiana Counselors Association, Indiana School Counselor Association (ISCA) is a resource for all professional school counselors in the state of Indiana. Graduate students are encouraged to join ISCA and attend their functions as a part of their professional growth.
American Counseling Association
Founded in 1952, the American Counseling Association (ACA) is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. ACA is the world’s largest association exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings. By providing leadership training, publications, continuing education opportunities, and advocacy services, ACA helps counseling professionals develop their skills and expand their knowledge base. ACA has been instrumental in setting professional and ethical standards for the counseling profession. The association has made considerable strides in accreditation, licensure, and national certification. It also represents the interests of the profession before congress and federal agencies, and strives to promote recognition of professional counselors to the public and the media.
National Board for Certified Counselors Inc.
An independent not-for-profit credentialing body, the National Board for Certified Counselors Inc. (NBCC) was incorporated in 1982 to establish and monitor a national certification system, to identify those counselors who have voluntarily sought and obtained certification, and to maintain a register of those counselors. NBCC’s certification program recognizes counselors who have met predetermined standards in their training, experience, and performance on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE), the most portable credentialing examination in counseling. NBCC has over 50,000 certified counselors. These counselors live and work in the United States and over 50 countries. Our examinations are used by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam to credential counselors on a state level.