Becoming a School Counselor – Education, Experience & Licensure

Step-by-Step Guide to Become a School Counselor

Step 1: Graduate from High School or Obtain a GED (Four Years)

The first step in achieving the degree requirements for a school counseling degree is to complete a basic education. This will allow the prospective student to have a greater chance at being accepted to an appropriate college. While in high school, volunteer work related to leadership, strengthening communities, or child development would be worthwhile to spend time on, as this could help set the student apart when it is time to apply for advanced education.

Choosing classes that encompass human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, and education would also be recommended. Volunteer experience in a field related to student mental health or academic success creates a foundation for future colleges to know that the student is dedicated to this field. Relevant experience could include working in the tutoring center or volunteering in school counseling centers. Coordinating an LGBTQ+ or another type of support group in school would also be a way to work with students and learn some of the foundations of mental health and the importance of student support networks.

Step 2: Complete a Bachelors’ Degree (Four Years)

Once the student graduates from high school or earned their GED, the next step is to decide on a four-year college to earn a bachelor’s degree. Since most counseling degree programs are more interested in students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in a related field, it would be recommended to study education, counseling, psychology, social work, or sociology.

An important consideration at this step is whether the college is accredited or not. Most graduate schools require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program, or at the very least from a regionally accredited school. Students would be advised to research the requirements of the state where they wish to work or the colleges that they might be considering for their graduate degrees to ensure that they are on track to meet the graduate or professional requirements.

Program accreditation ensures that all coursework, grading procedures, supervisory procedures, prerequisites, degree requirements, and student services provide an overall high standard of education; teach students the best practices within the field; and that the overall education is relevant to the career. Accreditation occurs at national and regional levels, along with accreditation for individual programs. If the school itself is not accredited by a relevant organization, the program itself should be.

Accreditation for school counseling programs is generally done through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, or CACREP. CACREP is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling in the United States and throughout the world. The Council on Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredits departments, schools, and colleges that prepare teachers and other educators.

At this stage, prospective students should begin considering the school from which they wish to obtain their master’s degree. Some schools require the passing of a graduate student entrance exam (GRE). If the school requires this, this could add months to the student’s degree timeline for preparation, study, and passing the exam.

Step 3: Obtain a Master’s Degree (Two Years)

Most states require prospective school counselors to complete a master’s degree. These programs vary, but many of them are general counseling education programs that provide an option for a specialty in school counseling.

For instance, the online master of arts in school counseling available through Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, has a specialization in clinical mental health counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling, which are both 60-credit programs, and a school counseling specialization, which is a 48-credit program.

California’s requirements for becoming certified as a school counselor, according to the American School Counselor Association, are to complete a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university followed by completion of a minimum 48-credit graduate degree program specializing in school counseling, including a practicum with school-aged children.

Within the master’s degree program are opportunities for the student to specialize in working with certain populations. For instance, Walden University‘s online master of science in school counseling offers a specialization in addiction counseling. That coursework prepares the school counselor to help students with issues that impact the family, whether it’s substance abuse or compulsive gambling. The crisis and trauma specialization would be a worthwhile specialization in areas where impacts such as natural disasters that cause trauma could be regularly experienced.

Students need professional help recovering from catastrophes that affect either their personal family or the community as a whole. Marriage, couples, and family counseling encompasses family challenges such as sexual development, intergenerational influences, or other issues related to culture, gender, and identity.

Finally, a specialization in military families would prepare the school counselor to help children from military families. This could mean working in a school or town with a large population of military families or specifically working in a military school. Children of active military personnel may have to deal with long-term separation from their loved ones or other issues that veterans face such as combat-related injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Step 4: Pass Required Examinations (Timeline Varies)

Passing an exam for a school counselor certification or licenses is common in most states. The most common exam required is the Praxis II Professional School Counselor exam (5421). Currently, according to the American School Counselor Association, 22 states including the District of Columbia require the Praxis test.

Different states have their own requirements, including minimum scores. For instance, Kansas requires a minimum score of 600 while Oregon has a minimum required score of 610. Pennsylvania requires a minimum score of 173 on Praxis Mathematics, 172 on Praxis Reading, and 173 on Praxis Writing, with a minimum score of 590 on the Praxis School Counselor exam.

Step 5: Apply for a Certification or License (Timeline Varies, Weeks to Months)

Once the student completes their education requirements, most states require applying for a certification or license to verify eligibility for working as a school counselor. Each state has its own licensure requirements and application process.

Generally speaking, each state requires proof of completion of an appropriate master’s degree, a passing score on a state-administered certificate exam, and a background check. Check the state’s requirements to be sure. Each state has its own certifying body, which is often the state’s Department of Education. There is typically a fee involved in the application process, and the processing period can take a month or more.

To learn more about local requirements, check out this comprehensive guide to school counseling state licensure.

Step 6: Licensing Maintenance or Renewal (Timeline Varies)

Many states issue provisional or interim licenses that become permanent once the state’s licensing requirements are met. For instance, according to the American School Counselor Association, Colorado issues an interim authorization to practice as a school counselor. The holder of this interim license must have completed a master’s degree or higher degree in school counseling as defined by accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling or Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Alternatively, they must have a valid licensed professional counseling license (LPC) issued by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies with three or more years’ experience as a licensed clinical counselor. The interim authorization to work is valid for one year. Within that year’s time, the holder must complete an approved induction program for SSPs/school counselors and pass the PRAXIS 5421 exam (SSP stands for Special Services Provider).

Once those requirements are met, the interim license holder can then apply for a permanent professional SSP license with a school counselor endorsement. Colorado requires a minimum of 100 hours of a practicum and 600 hours of an internship, working directly with multiple grade levels of students under the supervision of a licensed school counselor. Also required in this licensing step is a background check with fingerprinting (which all states also require).

Most states require licensure renewal after a period of time, often five years. The license renewal process and requirements vary with each state. Most license holders are required to participate in career advancement, training, or direct client work that satisfies the state’s standards. This could mean working with a multicultural group of students for a set number of hours or completing a set number of hours of training. Advancing or renewing a certification involves an application process where proof is submitted that the requirements were met.