Emergency Permits for Counselors-in-Training: A Qualitative Inquiry of the School Counselor Coordinator Perspective

ABSTRACT In Texas, counselors-in-training can gain employment as a school counselor before they have completed a degree in school counseling through a provision for emergency permits in the Texas Administrative Code. Little is known about this hiring practice. Using a qualitative approach, the authors explored the perspectives and experiences of five school counseling program coordinators who have experienced this process with counselors-in-training. Authors identified four themes from semi-structured interviews and discussed the advocacy implications of the study for professional school counseling.