1952
American Counseling Association established as the American Personnel and Guidance Association (APGA). Founding Divisions include the The National Vocational Guidance Association (presently known as the National Career Development Association, NCDA), the National Association of Guidance and Counselor Trainers (NAGCT), the Student Personnel Association for Teacher Education (SPATE), and the American College Personnel Association.
1953
ASCA initiated as the first new division by the governing body, then known as the Senate.
1958
ARCA chartered.
1964
The Senate recommended formation of a branch in every state, U.S. territories and foreign countries.
1965
AAC charted.
1966
NECA chartered.
1968
New bylaws adopted giving branches more authority in association governance, with regional representatives serving on the Board of Directors.
1970
Charters granted to 56 branches and numerous local chapters.
1972
AMCD and IAAOC chartered.
1973
ASGW chartered.
1974
ASERVIC chartered.
1978
AMHCA chartered.
1979
American Counseling Association relocates headquarters to interim facility in Falls Church, VA.
1983
Association name changes from APGA to the American Association for Counseling and Development (AACD). American Counseling Association relocates to Alexandria, VA.
1984
ACEG chartered.
1985
American Counseling Association governance (Senate, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee) combined to form a single governance structure called the Governing Council of the American Counseling Association.
1986
AADA chartered.
1989
IAMFC chartered.
1991
ACCA chartered.
1992
ACPA, one of the founding associations of the American Counseling Association, disaffiliated as a division of ACA
Association name change from AACD to the American Counseling Association (ACA).
Committees were established in accordance with the American Counseling Association's strategic plan.
1994
American Counseling Association newspaper, GUIDEPOST, changed its name to Counseling Today.
State licensure, certification, and/or registry adopted in 41 states and Washington, DC.
First-ever Counseling Awareness Month celebrated in April.
President Clinton signed into law the American Counseling Association-proposed Elementary School Counseling Demonstration Act.
1995
The Governing Council took bold steps for the counseling profession by creating identity and vision statements for the American counseling Association and revitalizing the mission statement. Vision Statement: To become recognized as the association for professional counselors. Mission Statement: To promote public confidence and trust in the counseling profession. Identity Statement: The American Counseling Association is a partnership of associations representing professional counselors who enhance human development.
1996
Creation of the ACA Center for Effective Counseling Practice
State licensure, certification, and/or registry adopted in 42 states and Washington, DC
AGLBIC chartered as a new organizational affiliate
ACA's first annual World Conference held in Pittsburgh, PA with more than 3,300 attendees plus 1,000 at the Professional Development Institutes just prior to the conference
ACA World Wide Web site launched at World Conference
Nearly 4,000 people attended ACA Professional Development National Workshops
ACA filed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court which was cited along with the ACA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice in the Court's 7-2 ruling in Jaffee vs. Redmond stating that clients have the right to expect confidentiality. The Court ruled that communications between psychotherapists and their clients are privileged and protected from forced disclosure.
1997
Working jointly with other associations to educate and protect the public ACA helped draft and adopt: "The Principles for the Provision of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention Treatment Services: A Bill of Rights"
ACA's second World Conference in Orlando, FL attracted more than 4,000 attendees
Two additional states passed counselor licensure statutes providing increased protection for the public and increased professionalism for counselors. Now 44 states and the District of Columbia have counselor licensure or certification.
ACA Governing Council developed a unified definition of professional counseling.
1998
Launched ACAeNews - The electronic news and practice bulletin from the American Counseling Association. Published every other Thursday and delivered via e-mail, ACAeNews is free to counseling professionals, students, and other helping professionals.
1999
CSJ Chartered
2002
ACA 50th Anniversary
2004
ACC Chartered
2005
The first professional identity initiative to involve all 30 professional counseling organizations (including all ACA divisions and regions), 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling was initiated as a co-sponsored project between the American Counseling Association and the American Association of State Counseling Boards.
2006
Law enacted recognizing counselors as mental health specialists within the Veterans Affairs health care system.
2008
The historic 20/20 Principles for Unifying and Strengthening the Professions was promulgated and endorsed by 29 counseling organizations, including 18 ACA divisions and all four ACA regions.
ACA's monthly member publication, Counseling Today, debuted its new format as a four-color magazine. Counseling Today first began publishing in December 1958 as a newsletter called The Guidepost before later converting to a tabloid-size newspaper and changing its name, first to Guidepost and later to Counseling Today.
2009
Counselor licensure enacted in all 50 states.
2010
A consensus definition of counseling was promulgated by the delegates to 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling: "Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals."