School Counselor Professional Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
- Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
- Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD)
- New Jersey School Counselor Association, Inc. (NJSCA)
- National Jersey Education Association (NJEA)
- New York State School Counselor Association (NYSSCA)
- Pennsylvania School Counselors Association (PSCA)
American Counseling Association (ACA)
The American Counseling Association is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. Founded in 1952, 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 to nearly 55,000 members, 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.
American School Counseling Association (ASCA)
The American School Counselor Association is the national organization with a membership of more than 12,000 school counseling professionals that represents the profession of school counseling. ASCA focuses on providing professional development, enhancing school counseling programs, and researching effective school counseling practices. Their mission is to promote excellence in professional school counseling and the development of all students.
Through a strong government relations program, thoughtful documents have been written such as the Role Statement: The School Counselor, Ethical Standards for School Counselors, Position Statements, the recent release of The National Standards for School Counseling Programs, and many other publications and services. ASCA advocates for the school counseling profession.
Since its founding in 1952, ASCA has provided publications, educational programs and conferences, professional development workshops, and other programs for school counselors in public and private pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle/junior high, secondary, and post secondary schools.
ASCA has been instrumental in developing and recommending strong professional and ethical standards for the school counseling profession. ASCA assists counselors in delivering more effective services by providing the means and information to enhance skills, to support self-evaluation, and research to measure counselor effectiveness. ASCA speaks for school counselors at the national level through strong government relations programs and activities.
ASCA publishes The Professional School Counseling Journal five times during the school year. It also provides its members with a newspaper, The ASCA Counselor, published five times each year.
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
The Association for Counselor Education and Supervision emphasizes the need for quality education and supervision of counselors in all work settings. Through the accreditation process and professional development activities, ACES strives to continue to improve the education, credentialing and supervision of counselors.
The association strives to encourage publications on current issues, relevant research, proven practices, ethical standards and conversations on related problems. Persons who are engaged in the professional preparation of counselors will find leadership through ACES. The ultimate purpose of the Association, in accordance with the purpose of ACA, is to advance counselor education and supervision in order to improve the provision of counseling services in all settings of society.
Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD)
The Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development seeks to develop programs specifically to improve ethnic and racial empathy and understanding. Its activities are designed to advance and sustain personal growth and improve educational opportunities for member from diverse cultural backgrounds.
AMCD is charged with the responsibility of defending human and civil rights as prescribed by law. It encourages changing attitude and enhancing understanding of cultural diversity. Provisions are made for in-service and pre-service training for members and for others in the profession. Efforts are made to strengthen members professionally and enhance their ability to serve as behavioral change agents. Operationalization of Multicultural Counseling Competencies by AMCD represents a benchmark for the counseling profession and the American Counseling Association.
New Jersey School Counselor Association, Inc. (NJSCA)
The New Jersey School Counselor Association Incorporated is the organization which represents professional school counseling in New Jersey. The mission of the NJSCA is to promote excellence in the school counseling profession and to advocate for the development of ALL students.
National Jersey Education Association (NJEA)
The mission of the National Jersey Education Association is to advance and protect the rights, benefits, and interests of members, and promote a quality system of public education for all students.
New York State School Counselor Association (NYSSCA)
The mission of the New York State School Counselor Association is to promote excellence in the profession of school counseling in order to enhance the development of all students. We are the primary advocate for School Counselors throughout New York.
Pennsylvania School Counselors Association (PSCA)
The mission of the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association is to expand the image and influence of professional school counselors, to promote professional and ethical practice, and to advocate for equity and access for all students.