ACA Ethical Code for Professional Counselors
Licensure Information
Required Professional Exams
- Comprehensive Professional Counseling Examination
- National Board for Certified Counselors
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission/ Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors
- Texas Administrative Code Requirements for Professional Counselors
Counseling-Related Professional Organizations
Academic standing is based on students’ cumulative grade point averages (GPA) based on all graduate work attempted at Lubbock Christian University. Grade point averages will be computed at the end of each semester. Students have the right to continue their studies at the university as long as they are making satisfactory progress toward a degree and complying with all other university standards. A permanent transcript of each student’s academic work is maintained in the registrar’s office. Students may come in to see their transcripts, view their transcripts on SelfServe, or request copies in writing at any time.
- Good Academic Standing: To remain in good academic standing, the student must maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA and not have more than one grade of “C” on their graduate transcript.
- Probation: Should the student’s cumulative graduate GPA fall below 3.00 or should they earn a second “C” on their graduate transcript, he/she will be placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation will not be allowed to enroll for more than 6 hours during any term the probation applies. The probationary student is required to achieve a 3.25 cumulative GPA by the time the student has completed the next 9 hours of course work. A course(s) may be repeated to achieve the requisite GPA. If the requisite GPA is attained, the academic probation status will be removed.
- Suspension: If the requisite GPA is not attained, the student will be suspended from graduate studies at LCU for the following semester, after which the student may apply for readmission. Additionally, a graduate course in which a student earns an “F” will cause suspension for the following semester. The student may be required to appear before the Graduate Council. A graduate course in which a student has earned a “C” or “F” may be repeated. In such cases, only the higher grade will be used to compute the student’s GPA. Failing grades will provide no credit toward the degree. A 3.00 GPA must be maintained to be eligible for financial assistance.
- Appeals: Students seeking an appeal must submit a letter to the registrar explaining all extenuating circumstances. This letter will be forwarded to the graduate appeals committee. Note: Students desiring to enroll for classes at another institution must have prior permission. Students desiring to re-enroll at LCU after a second academic suspension must petition in writing the vice president for academic affairs for re-instatement before enrolling in any additional graduate courses at LCU.
Students are required to enroll in COU 6062 Comprehensive Exam concurrently with COU 5393 Internship II. CMHC students will take the computer based comprehensive exam (CPCE-CBT) within the designated month, in the semester they are enrolled in Internship II. Students are expected to schedule and take their exam within the designated month. Once registered to take the exam, students will receive an email from the CMHC Program Coordinator detailing the steps to follow in order to secure a desired test time and date.
Designated Exam Month
Summer: June
Fall: October
Spring: March
Testing Locations
Lubbock area students have the option to take the exam at Lubbock’s Pearson site, which is located downtown in the Wells Fargo building. The cost to take the exam at a Pearson site is $150.
Pearson Professional Centers-Lubbock TX
1500 Broadway St
Suite 1113
Wells Fargo Center
Lubbock, Texas 79401
Students who wish to take their exam on the Lubbock Christian University campus, must contact Ingrid Wright at (806) 720-7480 for dates and schedule. Traditionally, the on-campus testing date is on a Saturday within the designated month. The cost of the exam is $75 to take the exam at LCU.
Students who reside outside of the Lubbock, TX region may schedule their test at a Pearson Vue Site near them. More information regarding test scheduling will be discussed in COU 5393 Internship II supervision.
Students will complete the Intent to Pursue Practicum form (located in the Clinical Experiences Handbook) and file it with the Clinical Director by the appropriate deadline, the semester prior to enrolling into COU 5391 Practicum. Clinical Mental Health Counseling practicum provides an opportunity for students to perform, on a limited basis and under supervision, some of the major professional activities of a professional Clinical Mental Health counselor pertinent to the students’ program emphasis. It includes:
Practicum
- A minimum of 75 hours of direct service work with clients
- A minimum of 75 hours of guided participation in and observation of a variety of professional activities other than direct service (e.g., staff meetings, case conferences, coordination and administrative activities)
- A minimum of one (1) hour per week of individual or triadic supervision on site
- A minimum of one-and-a-half (1.5) hours per week supervision on campus orvirtually through GoToTraining (or other secure video conferencing media)
Internship I
- A minimum of 150 hours of direct service work with clients
- A minimum of 150 hours of indirect service work with clients
- A minimum of one (1) hour per week of individual or triadic supervision on site
- A minimum of one-and-a-half (1.5) hours per week supervision on campus orvirtually through GoToTraining (or other secure video conferencing media)
Internship II
- A minimum of 150 hours of direct service work with clients
- A minimum of 150 hours of indirect service work with clients
- A minimum of one (1) hour per week of individual or triadic supervision on site
- A minimum of one-and-a-half (1.5) hours per week supervision on campus orvirtually through GoToTraining (or other secure video conferencing media)
Field Site Responsibilities
Students will participate in field site activities according to the mode of operation of the setting. During the Clinical Mental Health Counseling practicum, students are expected to perform, on a limited basis and under supervision, the principal professional activities of the Clinical Mental Health setting.
The University delegates supervisory and administrative responsibility for field site activities to field site supervisors. University faculty instructors and the CMHC Clinical Director will communicate and collaborate with field site supervisors regularly.
If special problems or concerns (clinical, supervisory, interpersonal, etc.) develop, site supervisors are asked to contact the University faculty/supervisor in a timely fashion, depending on the nature of the problem. It is the responsibility of the University faculty instructor to work with field site supervisors and students to resolve special problems or concerns.
At the end of the semester, site supervisors and faculty supervisors will complete evaluation forms, on which they assess students’ activities.
For more detailed information about the CMHC Clinical Experience, please refer to the most current CMHC Clinical Experience Handbook.