Frequently Asked Questions

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The Mandated Counseling Assessment Rating Scale (MCARS) is an online assessment designed to give multi-disciplinary student teams a practical, evidence-based tool for making recommendations for mandated counseling as a related service as part of students’ IEPs or 504 Plans.

MCARS is designed for multi-disciplinary student teams, including school psychologists, teachers, school counselors, school social workers, and administrators who are responsible for student support and intervention planning.

The process is simple:

1. Go to the Start the Rating Scale from the top or bottom of the homepage.
2. Complete the Ratings Scale.
3. Review the results and recommended next steps.

Most assessments can be completed in under 10 minutes, depending on the availability of information and student-specific factors.

No special certification is required. MCARS is designed to be easy to use, with clear instructions and support resources provided.

After completion of the ratings scale, users will be provided an immediate total score indicating the level “impairment” and risk level associated with the need for mandated counseling as a related service. Users will also be sent an email with the results.

Yes. Personally identifiable information is NOT required to complete the MCARS. Only general demographic information is entered. MCARS protects student information and does not share data with third parties. However, deidentified data is used to improve and update the norms of the MCARS. See our Privacy Policy.

No. MCARS does not collect names or personal identifiers. To keep track of results, make sure to notate who is taking the assessment before you begin. You can also print your email confirmation and add the student’s name manually for your records.

MCARS is free. There are no hidden fees or subscriptions required.

We follow accessibility best practices and welcome feedback. See our Accessibility Statement.

Yes. Our support team is available to help with setup, troubleshooting, and general questions. You’ll also find downloadable guides on our Resource Page.

You can email the authors at mcars.assessment@gmail.com or send us a message below.