TPC Journal-V6, Issue 4- FULL ISSUE

The Professional Counselor /Volume 6, Issue 4 382 When asked when students’ CBCs are conducted, 35% ( n = 13) reported it was before students are enrolled in internship, 27% ( n = 10) reported during students’ first year, 19% ( n = 7) reported before practicum, 8% ( n = 3) reported before practicum and renewed for internship if the initial clearance was more than one year old, 5% ( n = 2) reported during students’ second year, 3% ( n = 1) reported at admission and then every two years after that, and 3% ( n = 1) reported that CBCs are done every semester a student is enrolled in prepracticum, practicum, and internship. Participants reported various ways of letting students know that CBCs are a part of the program requirement. Twenty-seven percent ( n = 10) reported that notice is given via the program’s handbook; 24% ( n = 9) give it through orientation (i.e., new student, clinical), written correspondence (i.e., e-mail, letter), handbooks (i.e., program, clinical), and program Web site; 19% ( n = 7) give it only through a verbal discussion (i.e., orientation, interview); 14% ( n = 5) by give it by program’s Web site only; 11% ( n = 4) through multiple methods of orientation (i.e., new student, clinical), written correspondence (i.e., e-mail, letter), handbooks (i.e., program, clinical), program Web sites and written correspondence; and 5% ( n = 2) only via written correspondence (i.e., e-mail, letter, application). Established protocols for current students . Sixty-eight percent ( n = 25) of the 37 CACREP- accredited programs who reported requiring students to undergo CBCs had established protocols for deciding what action to take toward a student based on the CBC results. Twenty-seven percent ( n = 10) provided that their program had not established a procedure and 5% ( n = 2) reported that they did not know if their program had a recognized policy. Although 25 participants reported that their programs had established procedures, a few responses suggested processes might be informal. For example, one participant stated, “Nothing formal. We hold informal conversations amongst faculty.” Legal and Ethical Obligations The following information was collected to answer the final research question. Of the 83 participants, the majority (64%, n = 53) reported that licensure or certification was dependent upon a successful CBC for students who graduate from their programs. Twenty percent ( n = 17) of the respondents indicated that passing a CBC was not necessary for licensure or certification, leaving 16% ( n = 13) who did not know if licensure or certification was contingent on having a successful CBC. The majority (89%, n = 74) believed that it was the program’s obligation to notify students that CBCs can be required as part of certification, licensure or employment as a professional counselor; however 5% ( n = 4) believed it was not the program’s responsibility and 6% ( n = 5) provided they did not know. Eighty-seven percent ( n = 72) reported that their programs notified students that a CBC may be required to obtain certification, licensure or employment, leaving 13% ( n = 11) of the programs saying they did not notify their students. When program contacts ( n = 72) were asked how students are notified of this, 34% ( n = 25) stated during orientation, 25% ( n = 18) provided this information during the application process, 14% ( n = 10) reported the information is continually given throughout the program (i.e., admission, orientations, before field placements), 10% ( n = 7) stated the information was shared sometime during the first year of the program, 3% ( n = 2) provided the information during field placement orientation for practicum and internship, 3% (n = 2) indicated information is given via student handbook, and 7% ( n = 5) provided information was given via other means (i.e., during field placement discussions, when students apply for licensure due to licensure requirements varying by state). When program contacts were asked if they believed it is ethical for their programs to perform CBCs on applicants or students, 41% ( n = 34) believed it was ethical to perform CBCs on applicants and students, 29% ( n = 24) felt it was not ethical for applicants or students, 19% ( n = 16) responded it was ethical only for current students, and 4% ( n = 2) said it was ethical only for applicants. Eight percent ( n = 7) responded to this question by providing an alternate response.