PCA's 58th ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Join us at the Penn State Hotel and Conference Center November 5-8, 2026

• Awards
• Conference Agenda
• Presentations
• Pre-Conference Institute
• Registration
• Hotel and Area Information
• Exhibit and Sponsor Opportunities
• Continuing Education
• Disclaimer

AWARDS

The Call for Awards will open in April 2026. Please consider nominating yourself or a colleague! 

• PCA Outstanding Practitioner Award: Awarded to an outstanding professional counselor for service to the profession; nominees must be current PCA members.
• PCA Lifetime Achievement Award: Awarded to a PCA member who is a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania resident and who has demonstrated outstanding dedication, service, and/or achievement in professional counseling. A PCA member can only receive this award once.
• PCA Outstanding Counselor Education Program Award: Awarded to an outstanding professional counseling program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. At least one member of the counselor education program must be a PCA member.
• PCA Outstanding Graduate Student Award: Awarded to an individual who is currently a graduate student in professional counseling within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and who shows excellent potential and professionalism; preference will be given to a PCA student member who has had some involvement with the association.
• PCA Outstanding Research/Publication Award: Awarded to a PCA member who has contributed to the professional counseling profession through outstanding effort in the area of research and/or publication.
• PCA Outstanding Supervisor Award: Awarded to a PCA member who has demonstrated outstanding work as a supervisor in a university, community/mental health counseling, or school setting.
• PCA Outstanding Professional Teaching Award: Awarded to a PCA member to honor excellence in teaching in a counseling, counselor education, or counseling supervision program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• David W. Hall Advocacy Award: Awarded to a PCA member who has promoted the profession of counseling through advocacy to whom the many professional counselors in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are forever indebted.  

Guidelines for Submitting a PCA Award Nomination

Nominations for PCA Awards should follow the guidelines below, and the process has two stages:

First, nominators should: Create one combined PDF file that includes the nomination letter and the additional support letter. A letter of nomination that clearly states the award for which the nominator is nominating the person (or program) and the reason why the individual (or program) should be honored as the recipient of the award. ONE additional letter of support that clearly states the award for which the person (or program) is being nominated and the reasons the award should be granted to the individual (or program). Additional letters of support are welcome to strengthen an application. 

Second, complete the online form document. The link is here: https://forms.gle/ZNor7xyiU33Cngt38 

The form requires the nominator to input their contact information AND the nominee’s contact information, as well as a PCA membership number. Nominations for non-PCA members will be considered with the approval of the PCA board. 

The form also requires the nominator to upload their combined PDF file that contains their nomination and additional support letter.

1. All PCA Award nominations are due by Sunday, September 6, 2026 – 11:59 pm. At that time, the form will close.
2. The Awards Committee will review and score all proposals. For objectivity, all names will be redacted for a blind review by the award committee participants.
3. Awards will be presented at the PCA Conference held November 5-8, 2026, in State College, PA.
4. Award recipient notifications will be made by Monday, September 28, 2026.
5. Questions should be directed to Dr. Cornelia Sewell-Allen, Awards Committee Chair, at cvsewell15@gmail.com AND pca.programs@gmail.com.
6. If no nominations are received within certain categories, those awards will not be awarded for that year.
7. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.

CONFERENCE AGENDA

The full 2026 conference schedule will be available beginning in May 2026 in the conference app. Below is an overview of the tentative conference schedule.  

PRE-CONFERENCE INSTITUTE

Pre-Conference Details will be available in May 2026 when Registration Opens. 

• Pre-Conference 1: Leadership - Thursday 11/5 1-3:30pm
• Pre-Conference 2: PS-SAIGE - Friday 11/6 9am-12pm
• Pre-Conference 3: PASERVIC - Friday 11/6 9am-12pm 

PRESENTATIONS

• The PCA conference call for proposals is CLOSED! We are thrilled to have received over 200 proposals, and our reviewer team is looking forward to reviewing them. We are aiming to have proposal decisions to prospective presenters by May 15th. 
• A tentative agenda outlining presentations will be available shortly on the SCHED App. 

REGISTRATION

Registration for the conference will go live on SCHED by May 1st, 2026. Registration fees include the full conference and all meals detailed in the schedule. Pre-conferences are a separate registration fee.

*Student pricing will remain the same through the entire registration period*

HOTEL AND AREA INFORMATION

The Hotel Booking Link for the Penn State Hotel and Conference Center is Live! You can click here to reserve your room for the conference: https://reservations.travelclick.com/9877123?groupID=5136230

EXHIBIT AND SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES

PCA is excited to invite you to partner with us as a sponsor or exhibitor at the 2026 Annual Conference, which is taking place November 5-8th, 2026 in State College, PA.  Each year, our conference brings together approximately 400 counseling professionals and students from across the state of Pennsylvania to learn, connect, and grow!

This year, we are offering a range of sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities designed to showcase your organization to our statewide network of counselors, educators, and students.  As a sponsor or exhibitor you will gain visibility through recognitions at events, marketing, platforms, and exclusive opportunities to engage with attendees.

The exhibitor and sponsor application can be accessed here: https://forms.gle/32aeAPVKY1RQPmRz8

CONTINUING EDUCATION

The PCA Conference is a total of 13 CEs included in the full registration fee.  An additional 5.5 hours may be earned by attending a pre-conference Institutes as an additional cost.

The Pennsylvania Counseling Association has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider ACEP No. 2039. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Pennsylvania Counseling Association is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

The conference committee can be reached by emailing pca.programs@gmail.com. 

Joseph Birli, EdD, LPC, NCC - 58th President of PCA

Joe Charette, PhD, LPC, NCC - 57th President of PCA, Programs Co-Chair

Stephanie Onkst, PhD, LPC - Programs Co-Chair

Michael Stephens, PhD, LPC - Logistics Chair 

PCA EVENT ATTENDANCE DISCLAIMER

Registration and attendance at, or participation in, the Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA) conferences, meetings, and events constitutes an agreement by the registrant to PCA for use and distribution, now and in the future, of the registrant or attendees’ image or voice in photographs, videotapes, electronic reproductions and audio of such events and activities to illustrate and promote the PCA experience and products.

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