On August 18th of 2004 the Faculty unanimously voted that beginning in the Spring semester of 2005 all students would be required to purchase professional liability insurance beginning in COU 846 through completion of internship. The motion was passed unanimously. Information will be posted this semester and instructors will note this requirement in classes and next semester all faculty teaching courses other than the EPY classes, COU 813 and COU 840 will verify that students have insurance before they allow students to proceed in their classes.

This requirement that students have professional Liability Insurance has always been a part of the Practicum and Internship requirements but is new to other classes. It was agreed upon based on the fact that our students in our skill classes beginning with COU 846 Techniques in Counseling, all have contact with others in a therapeutic manner and as such, even though it may only be in a role playing manner, run the risk of being seen as a professional therapist who is liable for their actions as such. In order to cover our students and the university, we decided to follow the model of most other counselor training programs nationwide and adopt this policy.

In the past, students have also been allowed to use their professional association professional liability coverage (such as through KEA) in Practicum and Internship. This will no longer be allowed as our research has shown that most of these types of coverage's cover their members only in their regular duties as an employee but not specifically as a student counselor.

The department will accept any personal professional Liability Insurance that specifically says it covers student counselors/counselors in training in their role as a student counselor. An example of this type of insurance plan is available via the web at http://www.hpso.com/pli/pliindex.php3 where a one year policy for a student clinical or school counselor is approximately $32 and this plan is also endorsed by KCA and there is additional information on it available on the web at KYCA.org. If you have other questions contact any faculty member in the Counseling and Educational Psychology unit.