Modules for New Counselors

Free professional development designed to help new high school counselors.

Sign up for the full Modules for New Counselors course.

Register Now

Our Modules for New Counselors offer free professional development designed to help new counselors as they embark on the career of high school counseling. Learn foundational information in the following categories: Counselor Tasks and Techniques, College Advising, and College Board Programs and Services.

Our Modules:

  • Are available as a comprehensive, self-paced course that comes with .5 CEU credits or as stand alone modules that give you the flexibility to select your topics of interest.  The stand alone modules take 30 minutes or less to complete and therefore, are not eligible for CEU credit.  You will, however, earn a certificate of completion.
  • Are pre-recorded and available for on-demand viewing for your convenience.
  • Provide downloads of the PowerPoint presentations and a wealth of resources.

To access the full course for CEU credit, click the "Register Now" icon. To access a stand alone module, select from the Resources section below.

Resources

Link

Introduction

Welcome! Check out our introduction section for an overview on Modules for New School Counselors.

Link

Module 1: Building your Counseling Curriculum and Calendars

In this module, we will cover the following topics: how to build a counseling curriculum, appropriate and inappropriate counseling duties (ASCA), and using calendars to plan and stay organize.

Link

Module 2: Course Advising

In this module, we will cover the following topics: using transcripts to help with course selection, getting input from students, parents, and teachers, adding or reducing rigor in a schedule, and best practices and tips.

Link

Module 3: Helping your Students Conduct a College Search

In this module, we will cover the following topics: college search criteria, finding the best fit, safety, match, and reach colleges, and other factors.

Link

Module 4: Conducting College Conferences

In this module, we will cover the following topics: preparing for your college conferences, accurate records, parent nights and classroom guidance, setting appointments, resources and documentation, conducting a college conference, follow-up sessions, and best practices and tips.

Link

Module 5: College Application Basics

In this module, we will cover the following topics: identifying information, courses and activities, essays, interviews, portfolios and auditions, admissions tests, application fees and platforms, supplemental forms, and letters of recommendation.

Link

Module 6: What are College Admissions Officers Looking for in an Application

In this module, we will cover the following topics: holistic review, types of admissions decisions, grades, strength of curriculum, admissions test scores, and letters of recommendation.

Link

Module 7: Paying for College

In this module, we will cover the following topics: types of financial aid forms, financial aid process, types of financial aid, and financial aid offer letters.

Link

Module 8: Navigating College Board

In this module, we will review several of the College Board programs and services: SAT Suite of Assessments, Advanced Placement, BigFuture, CSS Profile, Services for Students with Disabilities, Accuplacer and CLEP, and College Board Resources.

Link

Module 9: Overview of Advanced Placement

In this module, we will cover the following topics: AP overview, AP course offerings, benefits of taking AP, ,who should take AP courses, AP exams and scoring, and AP credit.

Link

Module 10: Overview of BigFuture

In this module, we will cover the following: an overview of BigFuture, tools under explore careers, tools under plan for college, tools under pay for college, BigFuture scholarships, and BigFuture communities and events.

Link

Module 11: Overview of the SAT Suite of Assessments

In this module, we will cover the following: SAT Suite overview and benefits, scoring and benchmarks, going digital, SAT in a test optional world, SAT School Day and SAT Weekend, SAT Weekend fee waivers, sending scores, and practice resources.

Link

Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Credits

Frequently asked questions on the College Board's status as an IACET-approved provider of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits for qualifying programs.