Got CCEP?
Customizable, on-demand professional learning for college counseling professionals
Is your credential older than your students are? Or maybe you’re not sure if you are ready for a full graduate program in counseling? Have prior college counseling experience, but want to expand on your knowledge?
Introducing…
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
- Attend 10 sessions (see example sessions below) and write reflections
- Do two college visits and visit reports
- Create your professional learning plan (don’t worry, we have templates!)
- Email us to let us know your portfolio is complete and ready for review.
- When your review is complete, you will receive your certificate!
WHAT’S THE TIMELINE?
- We have three enrollment periods (see chart below)
- Work at your own pace, combining live professional learning opportunities with recorded sessions to create a totally customized learning experience
- When you’re ready, let us know you have completed your portfolio: 10 Session Response Forms, 2 College Visit Reports, and your Professional Learning Plan.
- Portfolio review dates are three times per year (see chart below)
- WACAC will provide you with confirmation of your successful completion of the program, along with a certificate and a badge for your email signature.
| Quarter | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | Spring 2026 | Summer 2026 |
| Enroll by | – – – | 10/15/2025 | 3/1/2026 | 7/1/2026 |
| Complete by | 7/31/2026 | 10/31/2026 | 2/28/2027 | 7/31/2027 |
| Portfolio Review | August 2026 | November 2026 | March 2027 | August 2027 |
WHO’S IT FOR?
- Counselors – and future counselors – in all states who work across settings
- High School Counselors – public, private, parochial, charter
- Independent Educational Consultants (IECs)
- Admission folx looking to explore new opportunities
- Counselor educators
- Counseling interns and graduate students
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
- Learn practitioner and research-based strategies that align with the Performance Expectations outlined by the California Department of Education PPS credential requirements for college counseling.
- Attend ten (10) in-person and/or virtual professional development workshops plus completion of Session Response Forms
- Opportunities include Share, Learn & Connect (SLC) events and/or the WACAC Annual Conference, as well as NACAC, CSAC, WACAC Wednesdays, and UC/CSU Conferences
- Tour two (2) college campuses in person and complete College Visit Reports
- Create a Professional Learning Plan
- Email us to let us know your portfolio is complete and ready for review
COST
$195 for the Certificate Program (this amount does not include membership or fees for SLCs or the Annual Conference).
*Option to purchase 4 quarter units of credit through UCSD Extension at an additional cost.
REGISTER
To register for the CCEP course, you need to create a MyExtension account, enter the section ID numbers into your cart, and check out. For students who would like to receive credit for the course, there is also an option to purchase those credits through UCSD Extension.
Fall 2025 Section IDs
194370: WACAC College Counseling Education Program – Certificate ONLY
193623: WACAC College Counseling Education Program – Certificate AND Credit
Spring 2026 Section IDs
194371: WACAC College Counseling Education Program – Certificate ONLY
194372: WACAC College Counseling Education Program – Certificate AND Credit
Note: It is not required to be a WACAC member to receive this certification. However, we recommend becoming a WACAC member to benefit from discounted event registration and access to members-only* professional development content.
*WACAC membership is free for counselors from public high schools and community-based organizations.
Questions? wacacia@wacac.org
FAQ
I already have a credential – is this for me?
Maybe! The certificate may be a good match for you if:
- You are looking to meet the education requirements for new PPS credentials based on California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Performance Expectations.
- You are looking to expand your college counseling knowledge
- You have an older credential, or a degree earned in a time and place when college and career readiness was not part of your studies
- You are considering a career move that will include an emphasis on college counseling
Can I complete the certification without a huge budget for professional learning?
Membership in WACAC is free for counselors from public high schools and community-based organizations (CBOs). While some recorded webinars are available for free to members on the WACAC website, participants will likely have to register and attend one or more of the Share, Learn & Connect (SLC) programs, which offer approximately 25 sessions every February and March, and/or the Annual Conference in the spring, which schedules over 80 presentations.
Who is behind this program?
WACAC, the Western Association for College Admission Counseling, is a non-profit volunteer organization with a membership of more than 2,300 high school, community college, community-based organizations, independent, and college admission counselors.
What are the Required Topics?
- Creating a College-Going Culture (recommended as the first topic) (RCCC)
- Understanding Financial Aid Applications, How Financial Aid is Awarded and How to Create Financial Aid Awareness (RFA)
- Reviewing Transcripts and Understanding A-G (RA-G)
- Understand the Common Application and the Application Process for Private and Out-of-State Universities (RCAP)
- Knowledge of University of California and California State Admissions Criteria and Application Process (RCPB)
- Understanding Community College Options, including concurrent and dual enrollment and understanding the transfer process (RCCT)
- Private and Out-of-State Colleges and Universities, Common Application (RPCA)
What are the Elective Topics?
Choose three Elective Topics:
- Knowledge of Writing Letters of Recommendation (ELR)
- Knowledge of the NCAA and NAIA and The College Admission Process for Athletes (EATH)
- Understanding of College Application Process for International Students and the TOEFL (EINT)
- Understanding of Standardized Testing and College Admissions (PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP, IB) Including Process for Accommodations (ETST)
- Knowledge of the College Admissions Process for Students with Disabilities (ELD)
- Knowledge of the College Admissions Process for Students Pursuing Fine and Performing Arts (EVPA)
- Knowledge of Admission to Military Academies and ROTC (EMIL)
- Knowledge of the Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship Program (EWUE)