The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction supports the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program that is based on the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Model.
The "ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success: K-12 College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Every Student" describes the knowledge, skills, and attitudes students need to achieve academic success, college and career readiness, and social/emotional development.
The ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors can be aligned with initiatives at the district, state, and national levels to reflect the district’s local priorities.
Contact the Office of School Approval & Opportunity at (701) 328-2244 for additional information.
Academic and Career Planning
Designing a Counseling Program
Confidentiality
31-01-06.1.
Counselors shall be immune from disclosing information given by pupils. For the purpose of counseling in a school system, any elementary or secondary school counselor possessing a valid North Dakota guidance credential from the department of public instruction, and who has been duly appointed a counselor for a school system by its proper authority, shall be legally immune from disclosing any privileged or confidential communication made to such counselor in a counseling interview. Such communication shall be disclosed when requested by the counselee.
School Counselor Requirements
15.1-06-19. Counselor positions - Requirement
- Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, each school district must have available one full-time equivalent counselor for every three hundred students in grades seven through twelve.
- Up to one-third of the full-time equivalency requirement established in subsection 1 may be met by career advisors.
- For purposes of this section, a "career advisor" means an individual who holds a certificate in career development facilitation issued by the department of career and technical education under section 15-20.1-24 or an individual who is provisionally approved by the department of career and technical education under section 15-20.1-25 to serve as a career advisor.
Career Advisor - Duties
15.1-06-20.
A career advisor shall provide sequential career development activities, current career information, and related career exploration opportunities to students in grades seven through twelve. A career advisor shall use computer-assisted career guidance systems and work at the direction and under the supervision of the school district counseling staff.
Safe & Healthy Resources
- Compulsory Attendance
- Mental Health
- School Climate Assessments
- Youth Risk Behavior Survey
- Section 504
Educational & Career Resources
Financial Aid Resources
- BND College Planning Center
- Financial Aid Toolkit
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Student Loans of North Dakota
- North Dakota Dollars for Scholars
Professional Groups
- North Dakota Career Development Counselors
- North Dakota Counseling Association
- North Dakota School Counselor Association
- Selective Service System
When Administrative Rules refers to a "state-approved program," it refers to the process by which the Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB), in concert with the NDDPI, shall supervise a system of program approval at those colleges within the state of North Dakota which provide school counselor education programs
School counselor education programs from other states or private colleges which meet standards for program approval are listed in the Manual on Certification and Preparation of Education Personnel in the United States and Canada published by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification.
| Required Content | North Dakota State University State-Approved |
University of North Dakota State-Approved |
University of Mary State-Approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Counseling | 729 K-12 Professional School Counseling | 565 School Counseling Program Management | 634 School Counseling Practices |
| Secondary School Counseling | 729 K-12 Professional School Counseling | 565 School Counseling Program Management |
634 |
| School Counseling Internship | 794 B Elementary/Secondary School Counseling Internship | 581 Practicum 589 SC Internship |
691 School Counseling Internship |
| Counseling Program Management | 728 Guidance & Administration Counseling | 565 School Counseling Program Management | 626 Comprehensive School Counseling Programs |
| Theories of Counseling | 711 Counseling Theory | 530 Theories of Counseling, Pers & Development | 572 Counseling Theories |
| Group Counseling | 720 Group Counseling | 518 Group Theory & Process | 574 Group Counseling |
| Assessment Techniques | 713 Assessment Techniques | 517 Assessment Techniques | 580 Assessment Techniques |
| Social and Multicultural | 716 Social & Cultural Foundations of Counseling | 532 Multicultural Counseling | 520 Social and Cultural Foundations |
| Ethics and Law | 715 Professional Orientation & Ethics | 501 Ethics Counseling & Counseling Psychology | 510 Professional Orientation & Ethics |
| Counseling Techniques | 710 Counseling Techniques | 510 Counseling Methods | 570 Counseling Methods |
| Accreditation | CACREP Accreditation 2020 | CAEP | |
| Delivery Method | Face-to-Face | Mostly synchronously online, summer classes; partially face-to-face classes | Blended or online Synchronous with summer residency |
| Program Options | Full Masters only (48 credits) | Full Masters (60 credits). Graduate certificate options: Track A - 22 credits; Track B - 43 credits | Full Masters, School Counseling Certificate, or Non-Degree Seeking |
| Contact Information | Dr. Carol Buchholz |
Dr. Charmeka Newton |
Dr. Becky Meidinger (701) 355-8099 |