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  Have earned a master’s degree or higher in school counseling.

1.A.1  
The degree and a license recommendation from an institution accredited in accordance with Utah State Board of Education 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.2   
Have a professional Educator license from the Utah State Office of Education (USOE).

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 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
A master’s degree in a closely related field, which shall be recognized as school
psychologist or school social worker, may be acceptable if the training programs
meet the standards of the National Association for School Psychologists (NASP)
www.nasponline.org/certification/NASPapproved.aspx  or the Council on
Social Work Education (CSWE) www.cswe.org/Accreditation/organizations.aspx
and the candidate completes additional course work as required to meet the USBE Standards for Utah School Counselor Education Programs.

1.A.5 
Additional coursework for candidates in a closely related field, which shall be recognized as school psychologist or school social worker, shall be determined by an accredited school counselor education program that meets the Standards for Utah School Counselor Education Programs adopted by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) in January 2003.

1.A.6
All candidates for a Utah Counselor (K-12) License Area of Concentration must pass
the PRAXIS 0420 test with a score of 610 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.

  1.B.  Individuals with a master’s degree or higher in other school related areas such as education
  administration, instructional leadership, or academic content areas, as well as individuals with
  non-school related master’s degrees or higher will need to fill all  requirements of a school counselor
  education training program that meets the criteria in item 1.A.1 above.

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 a program, including
  online degree programs, 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
  Coordinator at USOE.

  2.C  All candidates for a Utah Counselor (K-12) License Area of Concentration must pass the
  PRAXIS 0420 test with a score of 610 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.

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, including
  online degree programs, that meets the equivalent to those standards (see directory at
  www.cacrep.org/) and meet the USBE Standards for Utah School Counselor Education Programs
  adopted in January 2003, which may require additional coursework, 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 0420 test with a score of 610 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.

Updated June 13, 2011