SUPPORTING YOUR GROWTH
Congratulations! You have embarked on an exceptional, rewarding career. Choosing to become a counselor is a selfless decision to support, guide and advocate to help others grow and thrive.
The American Counseling Association—the professional home for all counselors—is here to support, guide and advocate for you and your profession for only $105 a year.
Student Member Benefits
LIABILITY INSURANCE: In partnership with HPSO, ACA provides complimentary liability insurance to cover you while in practicum. For master’s degree students only.
Students and Telebehavioral Health
Master-level students with HPSO liability insurance may be covered for telebehavioral health counseling sessions if they are a counselor-in-training (masters level intern) and if they meet the following conditions:
- The scope of practice of the licensed site supervisor permits the practice of telebehavioral health,
- The site supervisor is trained to provide both clinical services and supervision for this type of service delivery,
- The counselor-in-training receives proper training to facilitate telebehavioral sessions,
- The site supervisor is available for the trainee or client, as needed, and
- Funding sources for each client session allows the trainee to provide counseling (i.e., the supervisor or agency should make sure the trainee is authorized to provide counseling services based on the funding source or contract).
Note that if items 1-5 above are met, and if supervision by both the university and site supervisors are fulfilled, the trainee would presumably be training within their “scope of practice” as an intern. Therefore, HPSO would likely cover their clinical work at an approved site. Volunteering at another unapproved site or “moonlighting” on their initiative, however, would not be covered.
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
EXPERT CAREER GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES
RECOGNITION AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Ethics Competition
Graduate Student Essay Competition
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Annual Conference Volunteers
Student Leadership Roles
GUIDE: Next-Level Learning
Taking You Out of the Classroom and Positioning You Ahead of the Curve
ETHICS
ACA PUBLICATIONS, BOOKS AND JOURNALS
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ONLINE
INSIGHTS AND TRENDS: Counseling Today, Journal of Counseling and Development, Online Member Forums, Graduate Student & New Professional Blog
PROFESSIONAL ADVOCACY: Build and promote the work of counselors in society.
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY: Support legislation and policy that affects your career.
STUDENT LOAN SUPPORT: Public resources to help with your loans.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
PSLF provides complete student loan forgiveness of your remaining student loan balance after 10 years of service and 120 qualifying payments. Counselors and mental health therapists often work for a nonprofit, school or agency that provides a service, making them good candidates for PSLF. The Department of Education can provide you with more information.
State Loan Repayment Program
Your state may have a loan forgiveness program for mental health therapists or counselors. More than 30 states receive cost-sharing grants from the HRSA to operate a State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Eligible disciplines vary state by state based on need and funding.
The NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Rural Community Loan Repayment Program (LRP) is for providers working to combat the opioid epidemic in the nation’s rural communities.
Please visit the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) for updates.