College of Health Science and Human Service : How to Become a Licensed School Counselor in Ohio

Return to School Counseling Page

Applicants holding a current valid Ohio Teaching License with two or more years of teaching experience must:

• Complete a state approved master’s level school counselor preparation program including a 600 hour internship in a school setting.  Some School Counselor preparation programs do not require teachers who already have a Master’s degree in education to complete another Master’s degree in School Counseling. However, they must complete any coursework that is required in that program’s current Master’s degree in School Counseling that was not completed as part of their original Master’s degree. All programs have time limits on how old coursework can be to still count.
  
• Upon completion of the Master’s degree, the approved school counselor preparation program and the Praxis II specialty area test for school counseling (0420) they are eligible to apply for the Professional Pupil Services License, valid for five years for working with learners at all levels. They do not have to complete an Induction year.

Applicants without a current valid Teaching License or two years of teaching experience must:

• Complete a state approved Master’s degree program in School Counseling including a 600 clock hour internship in a school and the Praxis II specialty area test for school counseling (0420).
  
• Applicants without a current valid Teaching License and two years of teaching experience are eligible to apply for the Provisional School Counselor Pupil Services License which is valid for two years and shall be required to complete a one-year induction under the supervision of a Licensed School Counselor. For more information on the Induction year see:

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=1310&Content=19703

 Applicants who have a Master’s degree in Counseling not specifically school counseling  (including PC’s and, PCCs), and those who completed a Master’s in School Counseling but never got Certified or License) must:

• Complete any coursework that is required in that program’s current Master’s degree in School Counseling that was not completed as part of their original Master’s degree, including a 600 clock hour internship in a school setting and pass the Praxis II specialty area test for school counseling (0420). All programs have time limits on how old coursework can be to still count.
  
• Applicants without a current valid Teaching License and two years of teaching experience are eligible to apply for the Provisional School Counselor Pupil Services License which is valid for two years and shall be required to complete a one-year induction under the supervision of a Licensed School Counselor.

Applicants who have completed a master’s degree program in school counseling outside the state of Ohio and who have three years of experience as a Licensed or Certified School Counselor in another state are eligible to apply for Ohio professional Licensure as a School Counselor by applying directly to the Ohio Department of Education.  If the out of state applicant is not a licensed teacher with at least two years of teaching experience and has not worked as a licensed school counselor in another state for at least three years then they are eligible to apply for provisional licensure as a school counselor and then complete the induction year as described in the previous paragraph.

In addition, all applicants must:  

1. Pass a criminal background check through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII) and also an FBI check if the person has not lived continuously in Ohio for the past 5 years.
   
2. Pass the Praxis II Examination 0420 School Guidance and Counseling. Out-of-state applicants also need the test if the school counselor program was completed after July 1, 1991.
   
3. Send in appropriate Licensure application and fee. Candidates who complete a program through an Ohio college or university apply through the institution where the program was completed and the application must be signed by the dean or head of teacher education at the institution.  Out of state applicants may contact the Ohio Department of Education for application materials.

A Temporary School Counselor License may be issued at the request of an employing superintendent to an individual who holds a currently valid standard Teaching Certificate or professional Teaching License, who is enrolled in an approved school counselor preparation program, and who demonstrates an understanding of the competencies listed in Ohio Administrative Code 3301-23-44, or to an individual who holds a valid license to practice as a Counselor from the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board who is enrolled in an approved School Counselor preparation program, provided the vacancy has been posted with the Ohio Department of Education for two weeks and no properly licensed and suitable candidate has been identified by the employing district. The School District applies directly to the Ohio Department of Education and the Temporary License is valid for one year.  A temporary school counselor license may be renewed upon completion of an additional 6 semester hours of coursework in an approved program leading to licensure in the area and upon the request of the employing superintendent.

Renewal of School Counselor Licenses

Note, all School Counselor Licenses become valid on July 1st and expire on June 30th.

Renewal of Provisional School Counselor Pupil Services License:

The Provisional School Counselor Pupil Services License is valid for two years from date of issuance. If employed as a School Counselor, the first year is the Induction Year. Upon successful completion of the Induction Year, the Induction Year Verification Form is completed and sent to the Ohio Department of Education and if it is accepted the person issued the Five-Year Professional License. There is no permanent licensure for School counselors, only the Five-Year Professional License.

If the person holding a valid Provisional School Counselor Pupil Services License is not employed as a School Counselor and does not hold a current teaching license, the only way to renew the provisional license is to take three semester hours of appropriate (counselor-related) coursework from an accredited university of college within the two-year period of the provisional license. If the provisional license has expired for up to five years it takes 6 semester hours of coursework and if it has expired for over five years it takes 9 semester hours. Whenever the person is employed as a School Counselor, their first year shall be their Induction Year.

Renewal of the Five-Year Professional License

If employed as a School Counselor the person can a) accumulate 18 Continuing Education Units (180 Clock Hours) approved by their Local Professional Development Committee, or b) complete 6 semester hours of appropriate coursework from an accredited university of college within the five-year period of the professional license.

Renewal of an Expired School Counselor License

The requirement for the renewal of a license that has lapsed for up to five years is completion of 9 semester hours of appropriate coursework.

The requirements for the renewal of a professional or associate license that has lapsed for more than five years is completion of 12 semester hours of appropriate coursework, and upon the recommendation of the dean or head of Teacher Education at an institution approved to prepare teachers.

Disclaimer:  This should only be used as a guide.  Licensure rules are subject to change. Any questions about school counselor licensure should be directed to the Ohio Department of Education. Individual institutions vary in their requirements for degrees and endorsement, therefore, check with individual colleges or universities for their specific requirements.

Ohio Department of Education
Office of Certification and Licensure
25 South Front St., Mail Stop 105
Columbus, Ohio 43215-4183
614-466-3593

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=1283

Educator.Licensure@ode.state.oh.us

Return to School Counseling Page