College of Education and Human Development

Counselor Education

Destination Graduation

Congratulations! Just a few more steps and you are done with your degree and officially graduated. Please check out the Graduation Checklist below to be sure you have done everything that is needed.

Graduation is NOT automatic. You must file an Application for Degree form with the Registrar.

Commencement Ceremony: USM has one ceremony a year which is held in May. Anyone who has applied for graduation (May or August) or graduated since the last ceremony (December) will be sent information about Commencement. The ceremony, which takes place at the Cumberland County Civic Center, 10 Civic Square, Portland, Maine and begins 9:00 a.m. (usually goes until noon). No tickets are required and ample open seating is available (we recommend that guests arrive early for the best choice of seats). Parking is available at the nearby Spring Street Parking Garage and other lots in the area. Carpooling is encouraged as nearby lots will fill up quickly. If you have any questions about Commencement, please feel free to contact the Registrar's Office at (207) 780-5230.

Graduation Checklist (for all counseling graduates): File an “Application for Degree” form by mid-March. Late applications are acceptable, but your name may not appear in the commencement booklet.

• Once grades are posted for your final semester, your file will be evaluated certify you for graduation.
• Your internship instructor should have all of your internship logs and your site supervisor final evaluation(s).
• Make sure all library fines, parking fees are paid.
• Get a free copy of your Immunization Record from University Health Services
• Complete a news release for your hometown newspaper. USM Career Services will send it to the publication of your choice once you have provided them with contact information.
• Contact the Alumni Office by calling (207) 780-4110 or email alum@usm.maine.edu for information on Alumni benefits.
• Pick up FREE Cap and Gown in bookstore two weeks prior to Commencement.
• Commencement Location: Cumberland County Civic Center
• If you previously had a USM e-mail address, remember it will be discontinued within one month after graduation.
• If you have not received an invitation for the year-end graduation celebration by May 1, contact Kerry Bertalan at bertalan@usm.maine.edu or (207) 780-5316. .

Click here to view the Guidance Certification Checklist for school counseling graduates)

Click here to view the Counselor Licensure Checklist (for clinical mental health counseling graduates)

Click here to view the CRC Certification Checklist (for rehabilitation counseling graduates)

For non-clinical mental health majors seeking counselor licensure, please contact the Maine Counselor Licensure Board Administrator, Penny Vaillancourt at (207) 624-8420 or penny.vaillancourt@maine.gov.

Guidance Certification Checklist for School Counseling Graduates:

• Apply for guidance certification. We recommend you visit the Department of Education’s web site at http://www.state.me.us/education/cert/cert.htm for application information.
• Once approved for graduation, we will forward a letter of recommendation to Maine’s Certification Office (a copy will also be sent to you).
• You then must contact the Registrar’s Office to have a copy of your official transcript (with degree posted) forwarded to the Maine’s Certification Office.
• If you took the National Counseling Examination (NCE), a copy of your official transcript (with degree posted) must also be forwarded to NBCC. Note: Scores on the NCE cannot be released until the transcript and Professional Endorsement forms are received.

If you have any questions, please contact Kerry Bertalan, in the HRD Office, (207) 780-5316 or bertalan@usm.maine.edu.

Counselor Licensure Checklist for Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduates:

Go to the Maine Counseling Licensure Board’s website for application information and to download the application.

Please note: The Board will accept a photocopy of USM’s course descriptions from the Graduate Catalog. A course syllabus should be submitted, if the description is not listed in catalog or does not adequately describe course content.

• Once approved for graduation, we will forward the Degree/Internship Verification Form (Attachment 8) directly to the Maine Licensure Board. A copy will also be sent to you. We recommend you include a photocopy of this copy with your application.
• You then must contact the Registrar’s Office to have a copy of your official transcript (with degree posted) forwarded to the licensure board.
• If you took the National Counseling Examination (NCE), a copy of your official transcript (with degree posted) must also be forwarded to NBCC. Note: Scores on the NCE cannot be released until the transcript and Professional Endorsement forms are received.

If you have any questions, please contact Kerry Bertalan, in the HRD Office, (207) 780-5316 or bertalan@usm.maine.edu.

CRC Certification Checklist for Rehabilitation Counseling Graduates:

Go to the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification’s website for CRC application information and to download the application. The application deadline (postmarked by) is November 15 for the spring cycle and May 15 for the fall cycle. Examinations are usually scheduled on the last Saturday of April and October.

To ensure an accurate review, CRCC requires that you send a course description or syllabus for all applicable coursework. For your education to be considered as acceptable for certification purposes, the course shown on your official transcript must cover the areas indicated in the category requirements. See Section 4 for Category Course Descriptions.

Maine Counselor Licensure: If you are seeking Maine Counselor Licensure, please refer to the Clinical Mental Health Checklist above.

If you have any questions, please contact Kerry, in the HRD Office, (207) 780-5316 or bertalan@usm.maine.edu.