“It’s Just Been a Wild Ride”: A Phenomenological Study of Emergency School Counselor Credentialing Experiences

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of emergency credentialed school counselors in training. We interviewed 10 school counselor trainees across the United States who worked as school counselors while simultaneously completing their graduate coursework. We sought insights about challenges faced and support received. Four superordinate themes emerged: systemic barriers, support dynamics, professional development, and personal attributes that support career success. We discuss implications for credentialing bodies, district and site-level supervisors, school counselors, and school counselors in training.