ASCA Recognition for School Counselor Programs

AAQEP members now have the option to pursue American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recognition for their school counselor preparation programs by using information submitted in their AAQEP Quality Assurance Report.

AAQEP encourages interested members to take advantage of this opportunity to receive national recognition and feedback from field experts based on the ASCA Standards for School Counselor Preparation Programs.

Eligibility: The optional program recognition process with ASCA is available to all AAQEP members that included (or will include) their school counseling programs in their scope of AAQEP accreditation. To earn the ASCA recognition, providers must achieve accreditation status with AAQEP.

Cost: There is no charge to AAQEP members that opt to participate in this program review.

How It Works: AAQEP and ASCA have partnered to develop an efficient application and review process.

1. The provider completes a program report using this template, extracting most of the information from the AAQEP Quality Assurance Report and documenting additional evidence related to the ASCA standards.
2. The report is then reviewed by three ASCA-trained reviewers (at least two of whom are school counseling faculty with doctoral degrees). If warranted, the program has an opportunity to make revisions.
3. ASCA will deliver its recognition decision once the AAQEP accreditation action is taken.

Timeline: From June 2022-June 2024, any AAQEP-accredited provider may apply for ASCA recognition if the AAQEP accreditation was granted no more than 3 years prior to the ASCA program report submission date. After this initial period, interested providers will seek ASCA program review simultaneously with their AAQEP accreditation (see annual timeline below).

Program Report Due	ASCA Reviewer Response Due to Provider	Provider Revisions Due (if required)	Final ASCA Decision Rendered
March 15	June 15	August 15	Following AAQEP decision
September 15	December 15	February 15	Following AAQEP decision

Questions? Contact Angela Hickman at ASCA or Sungti Hsu at AAQEP.