Contact: Debra Bass
dbass@counseling.org
703-823-9800, x243
March 5, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ACA MEMBERSHIP TOPS 50,000; HIGHEST SINCE 2003
ALEXANDRIA, VA.....Membership in the American Counseling Association (ACA) topped 50,000 at end of February, an increase of 10% as compared to the same period in 2011. Membership rose to 50,219, the highest in 9 years.
The 4,478 new members boosted the totals in nearly all membership categories, but the growth was particularly strong in the Professional and Student membership categories.
The Professional member category, for individuals who hold a master's degree or higher in counseling or a related field, grew by 9% over last year and the Student category grew by 10%.
Despite the current economic challenges, ACA membership has been increasing steadily over the past 11 months.
"With the increased investment in membership benefits over the past several years and the intensive focus on assisting members with finding jobs, more counseling professionals are joining ACA and staying with us year after year" said ACA Executive Director Richard Yep, CAE.
"Reaching this membership milestone during our 60th anniversary year is especially poignant and gives us even more to celebrate at our annual conference in a few weeks," said ACA President Dr. Don W. Locke, Dean of the School of Education at Mississippi College.
Nearly 4,000 ACA members will convene in San Francisco for the ACA Annual Conference & Expo, plus 60th Anniversary celebration, March 22-25. The conference is the largest educational event for counseling professionals in the world.
The American Counseling Association (counseling.org) is a not-for-profit professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. Founded in 1952, ACA is the world's largest association exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings.