Certification Standards for Client Counselors
Certification as an Associate
Primary Certification as an Associate signifies basic competency minimally required for supervised practice with individuals. The minimum academic requirement for certification as an Associate is an earned Master’s Degree or ABD in Philosophy (or Licensura in Hispanic countries). Candidates must demonstrate evidence of appropriate competency in ethics (values analysis/clarification), logic (formal and informal reasoning), epistemology (belief justification), metaphysics (world views) and at least the major figures and themes of the history of western (and preferably also eastern) philosophy. While no particular philosophical orientation is expected or required, candidates should also be familiar with the basic principles and themes of both the analytic and existential/phenomenological traditions of recent philosophy. In addition, candidates must demonstrate practical knowledge of the principles of interpersonal psychology, psychopathology, experience and/or training in personal counseling, familiarity with the history of philosophy as a discipline of counsel, and evidence of personal stability and good character. Evidence of satisfactory demonstration of these requisites and skills may be established by successful completion of the APPA Primary Certification Training Program for Philosophical Counselors.
Private Practice
Primary Certified Associates may practice as Certified Members of the APPA under the supervision of an APPA approved Fully Certified Fellow in Client Counseling. Supervision is normally conducted by submission of audio cassette or written case study (with prior consent of the client) to an APPA supervisor. Recorded or written commentary on the cases will be provided by the supervisor for which a fee will be charged. Upon the submission of a minimum of ten cases over a period of at least one year of practice, or a one-year internship under APPA supervision, Primary Certified Associates will be eligible to complete an APPA Advanced Certification Training Program for Client Counselors. Upon the successful completion of that program, candidates will be granted Full Certification in Client Counseling.
Certification as a Fellow
Primary and Full Certification as a Fellow are identical to Primary and Full Certification as an Associate, respectively, except that the minimum academic preparation for a Fellow is an earned Doctorate in Philosophy. Fully Certified Fellows are eligible, by APPA invitation, to provide training and supervision of candidates for APPA Certification.
