By: John Ramirez

Dr. Carol A. Palmer, President of Amberton University, recently shared that the majority of candidates from their School Counseling program who took the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) School Counselor assessment in 2025 successfully passed the exam.

These results cap a strong year for Amberton’s Counseling division and further reinforce the program’s emphasis on real-world preparation for working adults.

Why This Matters

The TExES School Counselor exam is a state-required credentialing assessment for certification in Texas. A strong pass rate suggests that graduates are well-prepared for campus roles from the start. It also aligns with the program’s long-standing targets for licensure success and student achievement.

Amberton’s counseling programs are built for adult learners who balance work, family, and graduate study. Courses are skills-based and tied to licensure checkpoints. Students must demonstrate competency before advancing to the practicum. This design helps translate coursework into exam performance and school-based impact.

A Consistent Record of Outcomes

Amberton has achieved a high pass rate on the School Counseling TExES across recent cohorts, reflecting a culture of preparation and accountability. Internal student-achievement reporting demonstrates sustained strength over multiple years on state and national counseling exams. They also highlight steady course completion and graduation rates for adult learners.

Those same reports highlight measures that matter to working professionals, including high employment rates during enrollment, meaningful salary progression, and the pursuit of additional credentials. 

Together, these metrics form the backbone of Amberton’s “affordable, flexible, career-relevant” model for working adults.

Built for Practitioners, Taught by Practitioners

For faculty, the latest TExES result affirms an approach that blends scholarship and practice.

“Our students are serious,” said Dr. Don Hebbard, professor of Counseling and Human Behavior. “They come because they want to be counselors. I bring my current counseling work into the classroom, and the crossover is immediate for them.”

Dr. Hebbard helped launch Amberton’s counseling programs. He also noted that Amberton’s adult learners benefit from instructors who are active in the field. 

“Therapy is both an art and a science,” he said. “We teach the frameworks and the ethics, yes. But we also coach the personal side: how to be present, how to lead, how to heal. That combination is what shows up in licensure results.”

Program Design that Supports Licensure Success

Amberton’s School Counseling curriculum, like all other courses, emphasizes applied competencies. Students practice collaboration with teachers and multidisciplinary teams. They learn to support classroom management and implement behavioral interventions. 

The program also fosters ongoing collaboration with experts, ensuring that counselors stay current with the latest practices.

Structure matters as much as content. Adult learners progress through clearly marked milestones. Faculty require readiness checks before practicum, reinforcing mastery. Advising and student services maintain consistent contact to keep learners on track. 

The result is a program rhythm that matches the realities of work and family without compromising academic rigor.

Leadership & Culture

Faculty credit Amberton’s leadership for enabling this focus. Dr. Hebbard describes a university culture that rewards creativity in teaching and expects measurable outcomes.

“Our President, Dr. Carol A. Palmer, has energized the institution,” he said. “She understands Amberton’s mission and pushes for results. We’ve seen a renaissance across programs, and counseling is part of that momentum.”

That culture is reflected in Amberton’s Six Pillars of Service Excellence: Welcoming, Knowledgeable, Professional, Initiative, Excellence, and Communication. In practice, those values translate into responsive advising, clear policies, ethical instruction, and quick problem-solving.

A Mission Shaped by Working Adults

Founded more than 50 years ago to serve mature students, Amberton designs programs with a focus on flexibility and relevance. Many students study online, with options to mix in on-campus coursework in Garland or at the Frisco center. 

Tuition is “pay as you go,” and the university participates in employer tuition assistance, VA benefits, and Federal Title IV aid for eligible students.

Those design choices matter in counseling, where many students already work in schools or related settings. The ability to apply learning in real time helps candidates build a portfolio that resonates with hiring committees.

Faculty Perspective: Learning that Sticks

Dr. Hebbard says the goal is learning that endures beyond the exam. “I want students to leave with tools they’ll still use five and ten years from now,” he said. “We’ll analyze film to study conflict resolution. We’ll role-play difficult conversations. We connect theory to cases they’re seeing this week at work.”

That immediacy keeps motivation high. It also cultivates the professional judgment that state standards expect from school counselors — encompassing ethics, collaboration, crisis response, college and career advising, and student mental health support.

What’s Next

With a 2025 TExES School Counselor high pass rate, Amberton plans to broaden partnerships with school districts and expand mentoring for candidates during their practicum and in their first year on campus. The university will also continue to align course outcomes with licensure blueprints and emerging school needs. This will include student well-being and data-informed counseling programs.

“Ultimately, licensure is a threshold,” Dr. Hebbard said. “What matters next is impact; being the counselor who can support students and help a campus heal and grow. Our job is to prepare graduates for that responsibility.”

About Amberton University

Amberton University specializes in affordable, flexible degree programs for working adults. Established in 1971 and SACSCOC-accredited, Amberton offers online and on-campus options, practical curricula, and student services built around the realities of adult life. The university’s counseling division includes programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Christian Counseling, and School Counseling.