Advising for Students Majoring in Mental Health Counseling

Psychological Services in Education Program
Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems
Florida State University

The purpose of the advising program for students majoring in Mental Health Counseling (MHC) is to provide students with information on:

The elements of successful graduate study
Resources available to support graduate study
Requirements, procedures, and deadlines for completing the M.S./Ed.S. degree

Some of the following topics will be covered in group advising sessions while other topics will be covered in MHS 5007 - Foundations of Mental Health Counseling. Questions about the advising program can be answered during group advising sessions or in MHS 5007.

Brief discussion of CACREP accreditation
Role of the Coordinator of the MHC major MHC student advising: Importance of attending academic advising meetings
FSU graduate student orientation Content and use of the M.S./Ed.S. student handbook Course registration: Identification of first semester courses
On-line registration
Assistance from the departmental Course Scheduling Coordinator (644-4592)
Potential negative consequences of taking courses out of sequence
Financial aid (Link 2) (Link 3): Scholarships
Assistantships
Tuition fee waivers
Obtaining residency in the State of Florida (Link 2)
Outside employment Communication with students via e-mail* Self care during graduate school Student tasks:: Complete the student data sheet on Blackboard
Locate student mail box
Register for fall semester courses
Obtain FSU Card

American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)
Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA)
American Counseling Association (ACA)
Other specialty professional organizations
Licensure: Benefits and costs
Similarities and differences in licensure among states
Licensed Professional Counselor vs. Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in Florida
Certification
: Benefits and costs
Certification as a National Certified Counselor
Certification as a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Other certification options with specialty training
Annual evaluations Student retention Networking with second-year students Counseling and Psychological Services in Education Graduate Student Association Student tasks:: Meet M.S./Ed.S. major professor

Course option vs. thesis option
Registering for doctoral level courses Participating in faculty research Presenting at professional conferences Completing a thesis Student tasks:: Submit M.S./Ed.S. draft program of study to the Coordinator of the MHC major

Endorsement of students for practicum by counseling theory course instructor
Fingerprinting requirements for students working in public schools Doctoral study: Costs and benefits in obtaining a doctoral degree
Doctoral study in counselor education, counseling psychology, school psychology, and clinical psychology
Options for doctoral study outside of FSU
Options for doctoral study in the Combined Doctoral Program in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology
Working prior to enrolling in a Ph.D. program
Similarities and differences, as well as costs and benefits, of Ph.D. vs. Psy.D. degrees
Working as a faculty member or practitioner with a doctoral degree
Student tasks:: Submit M.S./Ed.S. final program of study
Show proof of student liability insurance to the MHC Coordinator
Register for spring semester courses

Endorsement of students for internship by practicum course instructor
MHC internship application process: Specific requirements for international students
Background checking for internship sites Student tasks:: Meet with major professor to review student progress
Review, sign, and return the annual M.S./Ed.S. student evaluation to the MHC Coordinator
Identify potential internship sites
Apply for internship
Review and sign semi-annual student evaluation (March)
Register for summer semester courses

Summer Semester Year 1
Student tasks:

Review and sign annual student evaluation (April)
Attend AMHCA conference (Recommended)
Register for fall semester courses

Fall Semester Year 2
Graduation deadlines
Planning for job search or applying for doctoral programs: Resources and services available at the FSU Career Center
Preparation for the comprehensive exam Preparation for the National Counselor Exam (Optional) Student tasks:: Register for spring semester courses
Apply for doctoral programs (optional)

Spring Semester Year 2
Graduation process, fees, and required forms
Graduation ceremony
Begin job search (optional)
Student tasks:

Apply for graduation
Apply for the comprehensive exam
Prepare for the comprehensive exam
Complete the comprehensive exam
Apply for the National Counselor Exam (Optional)
Prepare for the National Counselor Exam (Optional)
Complete the National Counselor Exam (Optional)
Review, sign, and return the annual M.S./Ed.S. student evaluation to the MHC Coordinator
Register for summer semester courses (optional)

Summer Semester Year 2 (Optional)
Graduation process, fees, and required forms
Graduation ceremony
Begin job search (optional)
Student tasks:: Apply for graduation
Apply for the comprehensive exam (Exam can be completed Spring semester)
Prepare for the comprehensive exam)
Complete the comprehensive exam
Apply for the National Counselor Exam (Optional)

* If the official FSU student e-mail address is not frequently checked, automatically forward FSU e-mail to your primary e-mail account.

	Educational Psychology and Learning Systems Psychological Services	Location & Hours 3210 Stone Building M-F, 8am-5pm Map Contact Contact List 850/644-4592



About Admissions -Masters -PhD Programs -Career Counseling -Mental Health Counseling -Rehabilitation Counseling -School Psychology -PhD in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology Faculty/Staff Centers -Adult Learning Evaluation Center -Center for the Study of Technology in Counseling and Career Development -Human Services Center	Advising for Students Majoring in Mental Health Counseling Psychological Services in Education Program Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems Florida State University Handbook \| Curriculum \| Financial Aid \| Admissions \| Academic Advising \| Internships \| Employment \| Certification/Licensure \| Faculty The purpose of the advising program for students majoring in Mental Health Counseling (MHC) is to provide students with information on: The elements of successful graduate study Resources available to support graduate study Requirements, procedures, and deadlines for completing the M.S./Ed.S. degree Some of the following topics will be covered in group advising sessions while other topics will be covered in MHS 5007 - Foundations of Mental Health Counseling. Questions about the advising program can be answered during group advising sessions or in MHS 5007. Orientation Session in August Year 1 Mental Health Counseling major Mental Health Counseling curriculum Brief discussion of CACREP accreditation Role of the Coordinator of the MHC major MHC student advising Importance of attending academic advising meetings FSU graduate student orientation Content and use of the M.S./Ed.S. student handbook Course registration Identification of first semester courses On-line registration Assistance from the departmental Course Scheduling Coordinator (644-4592) Potential negative consequences of taking courses out of sequence Financial aid (Link 2) (Link 3) Scholarships Assistantships Tuition fee waivers Obtaining residency in the State of Florida (Link 2) Outside employment Communication with students via e-mail* Self care during graduate school Student tasks: Complete the student data sheet on Blackboard Locate student mail box Register for fall semester courses Obtain FSU Card September Year 1 Pot luck dinner with first and second-year students Student handbook Curriculum and graduation requirements Student liability insurance Professional association membership American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA) American Counseling Association (ACA) Other specialty professional organizations Licensure Benefits and costs Similarities and differences in licensure among states Licensed Professional Counselor vs. Licensed Mental Health Counselor Licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in Florida Certification Benefits and costs Certification as a National Certified Counselor Certification as a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor Other certification options with specialty training Annual evaluations Student retention Networking with second-year students Counseling and Psychological Services in Education Graduate Student Association Student tasks: Meet M.S./Ed.S. major professor October Year 1 Similarities and differences in undergraduate and graduate study Employment options after graduation Role of M.S./Ed.S. supervisory committee assignments Notification of major professor and M.S./Ed.S. supervisory committee assignments Completing of the program of study Course option vs. thesis option Registering for doctoral level courses Participating in faculty research Presenting at professional conferences Completing a thesis Student tasks: Submit M.S./Ed.S. draft program of study to the Coordinator of the MHC major November Year 1 Practicum in the Human Services Center Endorsement of students for practicum by counseling theory course instructor Fingerprinting requirements for students working in public schools Doctoral study Costs and benefits in obtaining a doctoral degree Doctoral study in counselor education, counseling psychology, school psychology, and clinical psychology Options for doctoral study outside of FSU Options for doctoral study in the Combined Doctoral Program in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology Working prior to enrolling in a Ph.D. program Similarities and differences, as well as costs and benefits, of Ph.D. vs. Psy.D. degrees Working as a faculty member or practitioner with a doctoral degree Student tasks: Submit M.S./Ed.S. final program of study Show proof of student liability insurance to the MHC Coordinator Register for spring semester courses Spring Semester Year 1 MHC internship sites Endorsement of students for internship by practicum course instructor MHC internship application process Specific requirements for international students Background checking for internship sites Student tasks: Meet with major professor to review student progress Review, sign, and return the annual M.S./Ed.S. student evaluation to the MHC Coordinator Identify potential internship sites Apply for internship Review and sign semi-annual student evaluation (March) Register for summer semester courses Summer Semester Year 1 Student tasks: Review and sign annual student evaluation (April) Attend AMHCA conference (Recommended) Register for fall semester courses Fall Semester Year 2 Graduation deadlines Planning for job search or applying for doctoral programs Resources and services available at the FSU Career Center Preparation for the comprehensive exam Preparation for the National Counselor Exam (Optional) Student tasks: Register for spring semester courses Apply for doctoral programs (optional) Spring Semester Year 2 Graduation process, fees, and required forms Graduation ceremony Begin job search (optional) Student tasks: Apply for graduation Apply for the comprehensive exam Prepare for the comprehensive exam Complete the comprehensive exam Apply for the National Counselor Exam (Optional) Prepare for the National Counselor Exam (Optional) Complete the National Counselor Exam (Optional) Review, sign, and return the annual M.S./Ed.S. student evaluation to the MHC Coordinator Register for summer semester courses (optional) Summer Semester Year 2 (Optional) Graduation process, fees, and required forms Graduation ceremony Begin job search (optional) Student tasks: Apply for graduation Apply for the comprehensive exam (Exam can be completed Spring semester) Prepare for the comprehensive exam) Complete the comprehensive exam Apply for the National Counselor Exam (Optional) * If the official FSU student e-mail address is not frequently checked, automatically forward FSU e-mail to your primary e-mail account.	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