The AARC Emerging Leaders Program was designed to provide graduate counseling students and new professionals early in their careers with cultivating experiences that support leadership skill and competency development.  Diverse opportunities for Emerging Leaders (ELs) include actively participating in AARC Executive Board meetings, serving on a committee and/or task force, engaging in projects of interest and presenting at conferences, receiving mentorship, building professional networks, and gaining exposure to the responsibilities associated with fulfilling elected leadership positions. Applicants who have exhibited exceptional leadership potential and who hold a willingness to serve AARC in a variety of roles for the betterment of the counseling profession and the consumers of counseling services are sought.

Emerging Leaders will receive free conference registration to the AARC Conference for the year they serve and be recognized at the awards ceremony.