The results of the 2025 National Examination for Specialized Professional and Technical Personnel – Counseling Psychologist Category, organized by the Ministry of Examination, were announced on September 23. Tamkang University’s Graduate Institute of Educational Psychology and Counseling once again achieved outstanding success, with 39 students passing the exam. Among the 34 graduating students from the 2024 academic year, 30 took the exam, and all passed, resulting in a 100% passing rate.

Institute Director Kuei-Chieh Chang praised the students’ remarkable performance while reminding alumni not to forget their original motivation for becoming counseling psychologists — “It’s not about saving others, but about accompanying them.” He noted that students come from diverse backgrounds, including mid-career changers such as journalists, engineers, and accountants, as well as those with prior experience in psychology. He acknowledged that completing the program in 3 years is no easy feat, especially since the third year involves full-time internships, thesis completion, and preparation for the national exam all at once. He added that among this year’s newly certified graduates, 7 passed the exam upon graduation. At the same time, two students from Hong Kong and Macau overcame numerous challenges, remarkable accomplishments that were by no means easy.

Among this year’s successful graduates, Yi-Jie Zheng, who majored in clinical psychology as an undergraduate, shared that he initially interacted with clients through a pathological lens but found the results limited. This prompted him to reflect: “If I truly want to facilitate change in a person or help others through relationships, what do I need?” This question led him to pursue studies at TKU’s Graduate Institute of Educational Psychology and Counseling, where he integrated both psychological and educational expertise. Now serving as a counseling teacher at Tamsui Elementary School, Zheng believes that becoming a licensed counseling psychologist allows him to serve a broader range of clients, from children and adolescents to adults. His advice to juniors: “This path is not easy, but the key is to find ways to care for yourself and people who can support you.”

Another graduate, Cheng-Ying Hsieh, shared that her interest in counseling began during her undergraduate years when she joined activities organized by the university’s Counseling and Guidance Center. Through group and individual counseling experiences, she discovered personal growth and decided to pursue a career in counseling. She hopes to work in a university counseling center in the future to support students struggling with psychological or career issues. Offering words of encouragement to younger students, she said, “You will face many challenges, setbacks, and doubts along the way, but believe that you can overcome them and grow from the experience.”