The Educational Specialist degree program for counseling provides the knowledge and experience for students who intend to sit for an examination offered either by the Board of Examiners for Psychology of the Commonwealth of Kentucky (KRS 319) or by the Kentucky Board of Certification for Professional Counselors (KRS 335). The degree requires 30 credits.

The scope of practice under the two certifications is different. Accordingly, the specific course work leading to completion of the Educational Specialist degree and recommendation to the appropriate state board is different and is depicted in the Comparison of Course Requirements for Certified Professional Counselor (KRS 335) and Psychological Associate (KRS 319).

The course work for the two programs is displayed in a comparison table. Confirmation of program selection is established either in the Educational Specialist Decision Form for Psychological Associate or the Educational Specialist Decision Form for Professional Counselor. The Decision form is signed in the first semester of EdS enrollment. The program is described in the EdS Handbook.

The Internship Experience for KRS 319 and KRS 335 contrast

The internship experience (EDP 708) for students seeking certification under KRS 319 should conform to the guidelines for Counseling Psychology internships under the Kentucky Board of Examiners for Psychology and should be monitored by your faculty advisor. A written proposal stating your long-term career goals in the light of your choice of internships must be submitted to the Director of Counseling Training. Your internship may be paid, semi-paid, of if absolutely necessary, voluntary experience within a counseling psychology setting. The internship experience should last a minimum of 600 clock hours. At least one-quarter of the time spent on site must be in client contact so that there is a minimum of 150 client contact hours expected. Ideally, you should balance your experience equally between 1-to-1 client contact, group counseling contact, and assessment (there is a minimum requirement of 20% of your time in each of these areas). You will be supervised both on-site and by your advisor. One hour per week of on site-supervision is required for the internship. An evaluation of the internship indicating that hour and content requirements have been met and must be signed by a Doctoral Level, Licensed on Site Supervisor.

The internship experience (EDP 708) for students seeking certification under KRS 335 should conform to the guidelines for Certified Professional Counselor graduate training with an "approved supervisor". A contract for supervision is available on the Kentucky Board of Certification for Professional Counselors.

Again, overall guidelines for internship should be specified in your Specialist program of study. As a Specialist student, you will still have a faculty advisor (usually the Director of Counseling Training) whose job it is to help you with the details of your course work contracting and internship placement.

The Internship may be taken for six credit hours.

Two aspects should be considered:

• students must enroll in the University Professional Liability program until they graduate from the program, or as long as they are a student. Enrollment occurs during the first month of the Fall semester; and,
• the actual number of client contact and supervision hours must be validated to the Psychology Board by the on-site, doctoral level, licensed psychologist.

NOTE: Kentucky State Board of Psychology will accept a limited number of 500-level courses as long as they are taken as a graduate student (only one may be in the required areas). Our department WILL NOT accept 500-levels courses to meet requirements. Also, Kentucky State Board of Psychology requires 600 site hours of clinical work, while our program requires 840 total practicum and internship hours.

The Kentucky Board of Certification for Professional Counselors will accept a limit of 1000 practicum hours while in a graduate program. The application must show a total of 4000 hours of professional counseling experience in accordance with KRS 335.500(4). The supervised experience minimally includes 1200 hours of direct counseling and 100 hours of weekly face-to-face supervision.

In order to complete the educational specialist degree program in counseling psychology, a student will complete a specialist paper while enrolled in EDP 782 for three credits. A total of 30 post-master's degree credits are required in the Ed. S. program.

Application to Educational Specialist Degree Program

• If you are a current UK master's student, you must submit to the Director of Graduate Study a departmental application (including one letter [TYPED] from your on-site Practicum supervisor) . Be sure to specify "Specialist" on the application form.
  
  
• If you are NOT a current UK master's student, you must submit to the Director of Graduate Study a departmental application (including three letters of reference) and a Graduate School application. Be sure to specify "Specialist" on both application forms.

• If necessary, the Director of Graduate Studies will assign your application to a faculty member for review. The Director of Graduate Studies will arrange for a faculty advisor interview with you during which you will mutually determine what course work you need to take beyond your M.S. You are responsible for bringing transcripts and other pertinent data to this meeting. In addition, your to-date counseling skills will be assessed to determine what areas of experience you need to seek out. On the basis of the above interaction, your Specialist program of study will be formed. As with the master's program of study, remember that this is an agreement between you and the program and that you should know exactly what it is saying before you sign it.

• The Counseling Psychology Area Committee will review your application and contract, and you will be mailed a letter of admission if all goes well.

• You have the responsibility of writing to the Graduate School a letter in which you request transfer from the Master's degree program to the Educational Specialist degree program. This letter is sent via the Director of Graduate Study.

For more information contact the Director of Graduate Study, Dr. William Earle Stilwell, or write: