The Doctoral Degree in Counselor Education and Supervision

Abstract

The doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) is a terminal or final degree in the field of counseling. This article, provides an abbreviated look at the development of the CES doctoral degree, reviews the development of accreditation standards, reports on current status of the doctoral degree, and comments on the possible future of the CES doctoral degree.

The Doctorate in Counselor Education

“…Counselor educators have long argued that the master's degree should serve as the entry qualification into the field, while psychologists believed that a doctorate was necessary for professional practice (Sweeney 2003;West et al 1995). Robert Stripling provided leadership to the field of counselor education by publishing guidelines for counselor preparation programs in the United States, which would later evolve into CACREP (Sweeney 2003).…”

“…Historically, the pathway to doctoral program creation and accreditation within the U.S. began with the philosophical split between counselor educators and psychologists regarding the training of practitioners (West et al 1995). Counselor educators have long argued that the master's degree should serve as the entry qualification into the field, while psychologists believed that a doctorate was necessary for professional practice (Sweeney 2003;West et al 1995).…”

“…Therefore, the focus of a doctoral degree is for students to obtain advanced competencies in clinical practice, instruction, supervision, research and leadership so that they can serve as future leaders for the profession (CACREP 2009;Sears and Davis 2003;Sweeney 2003;West et al 1995;Zimpfer et al 1997) within their particular contexts.…”

“…Robert Stripling provided leadership to the field of counselor education by publishing guidelines for counselor preparation programs in the United States, which would later evolve into CACREP (Sweeney 2003). Through the CACREP Standards, plans were made for both master's-and doctoral-level training programs with the former serving as the entry degree to the field and the latter serving as their advanced counterpart (CACREP 2009;Sweeney 2003;West et al 1995).…”

“…Students entering a doctoral program in counselor education are assumed to have achieved the competencies of an entry-level clinician and must have met the requirements of a CACREP-accredited master's program (CACREP 2009;West et al 1995). Therefore, the focus of a doctoral degree is for students to obtain advanced competencies in clinical practice, instruction, supervision, research and leadership so that they can serve as future leaders for the profession (CACREP 2009;Sears and Davis 2003;Sweeney 2003;West et al 1995;Zimpfer et al 1997) within their particular contexts.…”