The National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) believes there is a basic body of knowledge and fundamental skills one must possess to be effective in counseling students as they progress through school and make decisions regarding their postsecondary educational alternatives. Competencies common to school counselors and admission counselors at the college and university level include: (1) possession and demonstration of exemplary counseling and communication skills; (2) ability to understand and promote student development and achievement; (3) ability to facilitate transitions and counsel students toward the realization of their full educational potential; (4) ability to recognize, appreciate, and serve cultural differences and the special needs of students and families; (5) demonstration of appropriate ethical behavior and professional conduct in the fulfillment of roles and responsibilities; (6) ability to develop, collect, analyze, and interpret data; and (7) demonstration of advocacy and leadership in advancing the concerns of students. In addition to these, school counselors must possess the ability to organize and integrate the precollege guidance and counseling component into the total school guidance program. The admission counselor at the college and university level must possess the ability to organize and support a college admission counseling program. NACAC believes that the responsibility for the design of specific curricula for the teaching of the knowledge and skill areas leading to these competencies belongs to the training agent. (LLL)