Professional School Counselor Licensing

Standards for
Utah School Counselor Education Programs - PDF

GETTING STARTED
1. PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN UTAH MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:  

  1.A  Earn a master’s degree or higher in school counseling from an institution accredited in accordance with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) rule and which meets the Standards for Utah School Counselor Education Programs adopted by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) in January 2003, and

1.A.1  
Receive a recommendation for license from the school counselor education program at the above described institution, and

1.A.2   
Have a professional Educator license from the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) with a School Counselor Area of Concentration.

1.A.3
Candidates who completed their master's degree or higher in a school counseling education program more than five years ago who now want to obtain a school counselor license must complete current course work in 1) Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance, 2) School Counseling Program Evaluation, 3) Special Education Law, and 4) Career Development. Recent significant changes in these areas of study require current knowledge and skills.

1.A.4
All candidates for a Utah Counselor (K-12) License Area of Concentration must pass the PRAXIS 0421 test with a score of 156 or higher prior to receiving approval for the license area. Information regarding this test, including how to register to take the test, can be found at www.ets.org.

2. APPLICANTS FOR UTAH SCHOOL COUNSELING LICENSE WHO HAVE ATTENDED AN INSTITUTION OUT-OF-STATE AND WHO ARE NOT LICENSED IN SCHOOL COUNSELING MUST HAVE:

  2.A  A master’s degree or higher from a CACREP accredited institution or  program, , that meets equivalent standards (see directory at www.cacrep.org/) and meets the USBE Standards for Utah School Counselor Education Programs adopted in January 2003,which may require additional coursework, and

  2.B  A professional Educator license from the Utah State Office of Education (USOE). See licensing procedures at www.schools.utah.gov/cert/Out-of-State-License.aspx Additional coursework for candidates shall be determined by the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Specialist and/or Coordinator at USOE.

  2.C  All candidates for a Utah Counselor (K-12) License Area of Concentration must pass the PRAXIS 0421 test with a score of 156 or higher prior to receiving the license area. Information regarding this test, including how to register to take the test, can be found at www.ets.org.

Information regarding this test, including how to register to take the test, can be found at www.ets.org.

3. PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS INITIALLY LICENSED IN ANOTHER STATE MUST HAVE:

  3.A  A current license from another state, and

  3.B  A master’s degree or higher from a CACREP accredited institution or a program, that meets the equivalent to those standards (see directory at
www.cacrep.org/) and meets the USBE Standards for Utah School Counselor Education Programs adopted in January 2003, which may require additional coursework, and

3.B.1
Individuals with a master’s degree from an online program must have completed their school counselor education program with an on-line program that is accredited by CACREP and that meets the USBE Standards for Utah School Counselor Education Programs adopted in January 2003,
which may require additional coursework. Candidates with a master’s degree from an online program must first be licensed in the state in which the online program is located, and

  3.C  A professional Educator license from the Utah State Office of Education (USOE). See licensing procedures at www.schools.utah.gov/cert/Out-of-State-License.aspx.

  3.D  Additional coursework for candidates may be required in order for the candidate to be fully prepared to work in the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Programs in Utah schools.

  3.E  All candidates for a Utah Counselor (K-12) License Area of Concentration must pass the PRAXIS 0421 test with a score of 156 or higher prior to receiving the license area. Information regarding this test, including how to register to take the test, can be found at www.ets.org.

RENEWAL
Renewal license candidates follow the same procedures for license renewal as teachers. Forms and directions can be found at www.schools.utah.gov/cert/License-Renewals.aspx.

CHANGE OF LEVEL
Candidates for a change of level follow the same procedures as any other licensed educator. Forms and directions can be found at www.schools.utah.gov/cert/License-Requirements/Upgrade-License-Level.aspx . The EYE brochure explains the requirements for educators with only a school counselor license.