Local Professional Earns Prestigious Credential

Local Professional Earns Prestigious Credential

Laurie Kopp Weingarten of One-Stop College Counseling in Marlboro, NJ is part of a growing group of educational consultants and school counselors in the nation to earn the designation of Certified Educational Planner (CEP). Currently there are only nine counselors in New Jersey who have been awarded the CEP designation.

“We are proud to have Laurie Kopp Weingarten receive this certification,” said Judy Bass, Chair of the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners (AICEP). “We believe this certification sets the standard for professional college counselors not only in knowledge and experience, but in ongoing professional development. There is no higher mark of distinction in the profession,” she noted.

One-Stop College Counseling offers a comprehensive approach to helping students receive admission to their top choice colleges. Weingarten begins meeting with students as early as 9th grade, to gain an understanding of the applicant’s goals and future aspirations. She will then develop the best possible plan, unique and personalized, to ensure each student’s success in the competitive world of college admissions. Weingarten helps students select the “best fit” schools, hone their interview skills, and master the technique of writing essays that reveal their “voice.”

The profession of college counseling is growing in importance and recognition, as the need for a post-secondary education increases in today’s society.

Certification is granted to those consultants and counselors who meet stringent application requirements including a Master’s degree, specialized training, significant professional experience, and involvement in professional activities and organizations. Weingarten had to pass a board certified examination, covering both institutional and professional knowledge; provide a list of professional references; and sign a pledge to adhere to stringent ethical practices.

CEP's are recertified every five years on the basis of college visits, continuing education hours and other professional endeavors.

“The group of certified educational consultants and counselors is a remarkable one,” noted Bass. “Never before in the profession of educational consulting have persons been asked to demonstrate such a high level of professional knowledge and experience,” she concluded.

The CEP Program began under the sponsorship of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), an association representing full-time experienced professionals in private practice in the field of college guidance and school/educational program placements. “The CEP designation assures families that they are working with a qualified professional who is committed to maintaining the highest quality of service to their students,” said Mark Sklarow, Executive Director of IECA.

Information on the CEP program is available through the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners, 617 W. Montecito Ave, Sierra Madre, CA 91024, www.aicep.org.

For more information about One-Stop College Counseling, please call 732-252-6190 or visit www.one-stopcc.com.