The Advanced Certificate in Professional Counseling is designed for persons who hold a Master of Science or Master of Arts degree in counseling.<br><br>The intent is to assist students in meeting educational requirements for the licensed professional counselor in Virginia.<br><br>The certificate program also may be pursued to fulfill pre-service or continuing education requirements for various national certifications, such as national certified counselor or certified rehabilitation counselor. Applicants to the program designate a preferred area of specialization based upon interest and need. Specialization requirements may exceed the minimum number of required credits for the certificate program as a whole.