Professional Licensure or Certification
Obtaining a School Counseling License or Certificate with a Master’s degree in Counselor Education
The Master of Education in Counselor Education at the University of Mississippi prepares students to become highly-skilled professionals who provide flexible, consumer-oriented therapy that addresses students’ academic, career, and social/emotional development needs. Our programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body that grants accreditation to graduate level programs in professional counseling.
School Counseling Licensure and Certification is often complicated and varies across the United States, and it is important to understand all educational and individual requirements for licensing. The University of Mississippi School of Education cannot guarantee licensure, certification, or endorsement in any state or territory beyond Mississippi. Our program has researched these requirements in every state and territory and will update this information annually. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with requirements for your state, and if you need assistance please reach out to the SAFE Office, by email safe@olemiss.edu, or phone (662) 915-7382.
Search Disclosures by State
| State/Territory | Does NOT Meet Curriculum Requirements | Meets Curriculum Requirements, Allows Direct Application |
Meets Curriculum Requirements, RECIPROCITY |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | Through the certificate reciprocity approach to certification, Alabama recognizes valid professional educator certificates issued by other states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories or the Department of Defense Education Activity as the basis to offer professional certification in Alabama. The certificate(s) presented must be at a degree level, in a teaching field or instructional support area and at a grade level in which Alabama offers comparable certification. | ||
| Alaska | Yes | Educational Requirements: A bachelor’s degree or higher and (Option 1) Completion of a teacher education program, or an alternate teacher preparation program accepted by the board or the commissioner with an endorsement in school counseling or (Option 2) Completion of a counseling program at a regionally accredited institution. Required Coursework: Completion of three semester hours in Alaska studies, three semester hours in multicultural education or cross-cultural communication and six semester hours or nine quarter hours of credit earned within the last five years. | ||
| American Samoa | Yes | |||
| Arizona | Yes | Reciprocity: Yes, A valid school counselor certificate from another state may substitute for all education and experience requirements. | ||
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes | ||
| California | Yes | Yes | Complete a professional preparation program of post baccalaureate degree study consisting of a minimum of 30 semester units specializing in school counseling, including a supervised field experience with school-age children. Programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) meet this requirement. | |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes | ||
| Connecticut | Yes | Reciprocity: Connecticut participates in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification Interstate Agreement. Under this agreement, to waive specific coursework requirements, Connecticut may accept completion of a state-approved educator preparation program at a regionally accredited college or university from another U.S. state, or a minimum of 30 months of successful full-time experience under the other state’s valid educator certificate (at least equivalent to a Connecticut initial educator certificate), appropriate to the subject area being requested. To be considered, the experience must be completed within 10 years of the date of application for Connecticut certification. The interstate agreement does not exempt candidates from degree, testing and/or experiential requirements applicable to the requested certification endorsement. Candidates who do not qualify for Connecticut certification under the terms of the interstate agreement must meet all of Connecticut’s requirements for the endorsement requested, including coursework. | ||
| Delaware | Yes (Each college should check required coursework in link 39 hours with clinical experience 700 hours) |
Licensure & Certification / Specialist (k12.de.us) See curriculum requirements for elementary couselor and secondary counselor |
||
| District of Columbia | Yes | Office of the State Superintendent of Education Official transcripts verifying a completed master’s degree or higher in counseling and successful completion at least 300 hours of supervised experience or have completed at least two years of full-time teaching experience. An applicant for an initial credential may not be deficient more than 12 semester hours of school counselor specific coursework. |
||
| Federated States of Micronesia | Yes | Federated States of Micronesia Department of Education - Teacher Certification | ||
| Florida | Yes | |||
| Georgia | Yes | |||
| Guam | ||||
| Hawaii | Yes | Hawaii State Department of Education Preparation programs, educator and non-educator, are required to obtain an AA with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) prior to the placement of candidates at HIDOE sites. Click the link below for a list of programs that have obtained an AA.Preparation programs, educator and non-educator, are required to obtain an AA with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) prior to the placement of candidates at HIDOE sites. Click the link below for a list of programs that have obtained an AA. The AA does not guarantee that candidates completing an educator program listed on this site will be approved for a Hawaii teacher, school counselor or school librarian license. Questions regarding whether a program meets requirements for a Hawaii license, including out-of-state, online and "alternative route" programs, should be directed to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, which issues individuals their Hawaii teacher, counselor and librarian license. |
||
| Idaho | Yes | |||
| Illinois | Yes | |||
| Indiana | Yes | |||
| Iowa | Yes | Iowa has reciprocity with all states providing education licensure. This means any individual completing a program in your state which leads to education licensure will be granted a similar license in Iowa providing the institution can verify the candidate has completed all requirements for licensure within that state or the candidate can submit an education license issued from that state. | ||
| Kansas | Yes | |||
| Kentucky | Yes | |||
| Louisiana | Yes | |||
| Maine | Yes | |||
| Maryland | Yes | |||
| Massachusetts | Yes | |||
| Michigan | Yes | In order to be issued a Standard Teaching Certificate based on completion of an out-of-state program, Michigan does not impose additional educational requirements beyond what Mississippi State would require for its graduates to be recommended for teacher certification in Mississippi. Michigan honors the programs approved for teacher certification by other states for licensure and does not generally impose additional educational requirements for teacher certification beyond completion of a program approved by the educator preparation provider’s home state to lead to teacher licensure. For program completers with less than three years of successful teaching, passage of the appropriate Michigan Test(s) for Teacher Certification is required. Mississippi State program completers may be issued a nonrenewable one-year Temporary Teaching Certificate in order to complete testing requirements. | ||
| Minnesota | Yes | |||
| Mississippi | Yes | |||
| Missouri | Yes | |||
| Montana | Yes | |||
| Nebraska | Yes | |||
| Nevada | Yes | |||
| New Hampshire | Yes | |||
| New Jersey | Yes | |||
| New Mexico | Yes | New Mexico does not reciprocate school counseling licenses. Please see link for requirements | ||
| New York | Yes | There is a reciprocal process if the program is CACREP accredited. | ||
| North Carolina | Yes | Must have master's degree in school counseling from an accredited univeristy and pass the Professional School Counselor Praxis exam. Must submit all other official documents: Degree-dated transcripts; valid educator license from another state; Form V; experience request forms for previous work if applicable. | ||
| North Dakota | Yes | An applicant who completed a master's degree in school counseling outside of North Dakota and holds a current, valid school counseling license in another state can receive the Initial Other State Educator License (OSEL). The applicant applies online and submits a background check packet and official transcripts. Applicant must also submit a copy of their valid license for school counting in another state, and standardized test scores used by that state/college or evidence of licensure held prior to 2002. If applicant does not have tests scores, they would receive a OSEL testing plan and have two years to complete the required Praxis test. There is also a process for an applicant who completed a master's degree in counseling outside of North Dakota and does not hold a school counseling license in that state. | ||
| Northern Mariana Islands | Yes | School Counselors can receive the Basic I renewable license that is valid for two years. Must provide: Signed and Completed Certification Application Form; one (1) Passport Size Photo (For First-time Applicant Only); fingerprint Submission (valid for one (1) year); Police Clearance (valid for one (1) year); payment receipt of $40 (processing fee per certification); official College Transcript; bachelor's degree or higher; proof of Passing Praxis II. | ||
| Ohio | Yes | |||
| Oklahoma | Yes | |||
| Oregon | Yes | Oregon School Personnel Licences | ||
| Pennsylvania | Yes | One must present passing scores on PA required licesnure exams as well as verification of 2 years of experience teaching under the licesnure area along with the standard Mississippi Educator's license. Candidate must also have a 3.0 overall program GPA. There are no provisions for a temporary certificate unless a district chooses to request one on the candidates behalf. Must also have a 3.0 program GPA. Pennsylvania Department of Education | ||
| Puerto Rico | Yes | |||
| Republic of Palau | Yes | |||
| Republic of the Marshall Islands | Yes | |||
| Rhode Island | Yes | Must pass RI licensure but eligible for provisional license while meeting that requirement. Required Document Checklist. | ||
| South Carolina | Yes | Reciprocity is granted. South Carolina Department of Education | ||
| South Dakota | Yes | Requires one year of supervision by mentor school counselor in SD, Pass Praxis and have master's degree in school counseling - no provisional license. South Dakota Department of Education - School Counselor | ||
| Tennessee | Yes | Yes | ||
| Texas | Yes | |||
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Yes | |||
| Utah | Yes | |||
| Vermont | Yes | |||
| Virginia | Yes | |||
| Washington | Yes | |||
| West Virginia | Yes | |||
| Wisconsin | Yes | |||
| Wyoming | Yes |
Disclaimer: Although all state licensing boards have been reviewed by the University of Mississippi for program adherence to meet the educational requirements, it is up to each student to review the boards as well and be knowledgeable of all requirements. Some boards require additional tests, or unique state specifications. These requirements are noted here but are also privy to change without notice. (Updated: 11/25/2025)