The Role of Graduate Programs as Gatekeepers: A Model for Evaluating Student Counselor Competence

Current literature indicates that in addition to academic ability, counselor educators must also assess students' personal characteristics and clinical skills. Given the increased awareness of the possible damage caused by counselors who do not possess the personal qualities and requisite skills, faculty may be expected to serve as gatekeepers for the profession. This article reviews the ethical and legal mandates relevant to developing and implementing a gatekeeping model. It presents a model endorsed, in principle, by the Texas Association of Counselor Educators that uses a behaviorally specific student evaluation instrument developed in accordance with competencies outlined in the American Counseling Association (1995) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.