University Catalog 2024-2025

Counselor Education (Certificate)

Our innovative online program prepares school teachers, administrators, staff, advisors, tutors in schools and universities, human service workers, and individuals interested in counseling work to advocate and support students, their families, clients and local communities. Our certificate program allows students to learn in a flexible environment, with flexible online classwork, without the hassle of traffic and on-campus parking. Students will meet online each week for a 90-minute interactive discussion with the professor, instructors and classmates, in order to stay connected and challenged. The certificate program alone does not prepare students to work as professional counselors. In order to work in professional counseling, additional classes, training and licensure will be required through a master’s degree program.

The GCCE Program now offers both full-time and part-time options for accepted students! Financial aid resources are available to full-time students; part-time students are not eligible for financial aid benefits. Please be sure to indicate which option you would like to attend when completing your application process to be considered as a GCCE student.

Program Information

Full-Time GCCE

If accepted into the GCCE program as a full-time student, you will begin in the fall semester and be required to enroll in 2 courses for the Fall semester AND 2 courses for the Spring semester. Upon receiving an official acceptance letter into the GCCE program, you will be provided specific course listings and other important programmatic information. If students successfully complete their courseload (i.e. receives an earned grade of a “C” or better), the GCCE program can be completed in just 2 semesters as a full-time student (August-May)!

A Full-Time course schedule is as follows:

FALL: Multicultural Lifespan Development AND Orientation to Professional Counseling, Identity, and Ethics (15-week semester)

SPRING: Theories & Techniques of Counseling (15 weeks) AND Multicultural Counseling (15-week semester)

Part-Time GCCE

If accepted into the GCCE program as a part-time student, you will begin in the fall semester and enroll in one course per semester throughout the course of one year. Upon receiving an official acceptance letter into the GCCE program, you will be provided specific course listings and other important programmatic information. If students successfully complete their course load (i.e. receives an earned grade of a “C” or better), the GCCE program can be completed in just under 1 year (August-July)!

A Part-Time course schedule is as follows: 

FALL: Multicultural Lifespan Development (15 weeks)

SPRING: Theories & Techniques of Counseling (15 weeks)

SUMMER 1: Multicultural Counseling (5 weeks)

SUMMER 2: Orientation to Professional Counseling, Identity, and Ethics (5 weeks)

More Information

Email us at ncsu_gcce@ncsu.edu with any questions.

Program Website

Distance Website

Admission Requirements

Applicants should have a 3.0 GPA but may be admitted provisionally based on related graduate classes completed in the field of education, human services or training and development, and, ultimately, by earning at least a “B” (3.0) average in the first GCCE class.

  • Completed online Graduate School application and admission fee
  • Resume outlining education and work experience

Please see the program webpage for more information about Application Deadlines and Information Sessions. If there are available seats throughout the rest of the academic year, it might be possible for a few students to begin the GCCE program during Summer I or Spring semesters.

Applicant Information

  • Delivery Method: Online
  • Entrance Exam: None
  • Interview Required: None

Application Deadlines

  • Fall: August 11
  • Spring: November 15

Plan Requirements

Required Courses13
Orientation to Professional Counseling, Identity, and Ethics
Multicultural Lifespan Development
Theories and Tech of Counseling
Multicultural Counseling
Total Hours13