Every state issues the school counselor credential through its Department of Education, not through a clinical licensing board. That means state DOE approval is what gets you certified, not CACREP accreditation. The universal baseline is a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, supervised fieldwork in a school setting, a certification exam, and a background check. Requirements vary by state.
You’ve found a program you like. The location works, the format fits your schedule, and the tuition is manageable. Now the question that actually determines whether it’s the right choice: will it get you certified as a school counselor in your state?
That’s not a question CACREP answers. It’s a question your state’s Department of Education answers. And the two are often confused in ways that send prospective school counselors down the wrong research path before they’ve even applied. Check your state’s school counselor certification requirements alongside this guide for the full picture.
This page maps what your master’s program actually needs to include to qualify you for school counselor certification in your state. We’ve also included a plain-English explanation of where CACREP fits into school counseling specifically, and why it’s a secondary consideration for most people pursuing this credential.
How State Certification Actually Works
Every state issues the school counselor credential through its Department of Education, not through a clinical licensing board. That’s the first thing to understand, and it changes the entire program-selection framework.
The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential, the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) credential, and similar clinical titles are issued by state LPC or health licensing boards. Those boards have their own program requirements, their own exams, and increasingly their own CACREP preferences. School counseling is a completely separate track, with its own certificate, its own qualifying criteria, and its own approvals process run by state education agencies.
What that means practically: a program’s CACREP accreditation status doesn’t tell your state DOE anything about whether the program meets its requirements. Your state DOE has its own framework for evaluating programs. That framework is what determines whether you can sit for your state’s certification exam and get hired in a public school.
Those state frameworks vary, but they share a common structure. Most evaluate programs on three things: whether the institution holds regional accreditation, whether the counselor education unit holds program-level accreditation (through CAEP or NCATE, which evaluates educator preparation programs broadly and is distinct from CACREP), and whether the program’s coursework maps to the state’s competency framework for school counselors. Many state competency frameworks are influenced by the ASCA National Model, though states may adapt or supplement it with their own standards. A program designed for school counselors and aligned with ASCA will typically satisfy state DOE requirements, but confirming state-specific alignment directly is still worth doing.
What Every State Requires
Before you get to state-by-state variation, there’s a baseline that holds everywhere. Every state requires all of the following for school counselor certification:
- A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in school counseling or a closely related field. “Closely related” varies by state. Some states accept counseling psychology or educational psychology; others require the degree to be specifically in school counseling. If you’re researching degree options, our overview of school counseling master’s programs covers the degree types and what to look for.
- Supervised fieldwork. A practicum and an internship completed in a school setting. The hour requirements vary (more on that in the state table below), but no state skips this requirement. The fieldwork has to happen in person, at schools local to you, regardless of whether your coursework is online.
- A certification exam. Most states require a passing score on the Praxis School Counselor Assessment (ETS test code 5422). Some states use their own exam or have additional requirements alongside Praxis. A handful have no exam requirement at all.
- A background check. Universal, and typically completed as part of the application process with your state DOE.
- Program approval in your state. This is the piece most prospective students miss. It’s not enough that your program is well-regarded nationally. It needs to be specifically approved by (or designed to meet the requirements of) your state’s DOE. Some states maintain explicit approved-program lists. Others conduct transcript reviews and rely on the institution to certify that graduates meet state standards. Either way, you need to confirm this before you enroll.
None of these requirements hinge on CACREP accreditation. A CACREP-accredited program almost certainly meets all of them, but so does any well-designed state-approved school counseling program.
State-by-State Program Requirements at a Glance
The table below gives you a starting framework for each state. The program approval mechanism column tells you what your state’s DOE primarily evaluates. The fieldwork hours column reflects state-level minimums where specified. Your program may require more. The exam column lists the primary certification exam.
Requirements are subject to change and should always be verified directly with the relevant state agency and your target program before enrolling. This table reflects requirements as researched in early 2026. Cells marked “verify” indicate items that could not be confirmed from current official sources in our research pass and require direct verification before publishing or relying on them.
| State | Program Approval Mechanism | Fieldwork Hours (State Minimum) | Certification Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State DOE program approval (ALSDE) | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Alaska | State DOE coursework review (DEED) | Verify with current DEED source | Praxis 5422 |
| Arizona | State DOE program approval (ADE) | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Arkansas | State DOE program approval (ADE) | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| California | CTC program approval (PPS Credential) | 600 hours | No separate school-counselor exam listed in current CTC PPS leaflet; basic-skills requirement satisfied by degree for California-prepared applicants |
| Colorado | State DOE program approval (CDE) | 700 total hours (100 practicum + 600 internship) | Praxis 5422 |
| Connecticut | CSDE program approval / regionally accredited institution | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Delaware | DDOE program review (verify current approval pathway with DDOE) | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| D.C. | OSSE program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Florida | FDOE program approval | 600 hours | FTCE School Counseling PK–12 |
| Georgia | GaPSC program approval | 600 hours | GACE School Counseling |
| Hawaii | HIDOE program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Idaho | ISDE program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Illinois | ISBE program approval | 600 hours | Applicable Illinois content test(s) — verify current ISBE requirements |
| Indiana | IDOE / CAEP-accredited ed prep unit | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Iowa | BOEE program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Kansas | KSDE / KSBOE program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Kentucky | EPSB program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Louisiana | LDOE program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Maine | MaineDOE program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Maryland | MSDE program approval (multiple pathways including CACREP Option V) | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Massachusetts | DESE program approval | 600 hours | MTEL — verify current test name and code with DESE |
| Michigan | MDE program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Minnesota | PELSB program approval | 600 total clinical hours (min. 240 direct-service hours) | Verify current PELSB exam requirement |
| Mississippi | MDE program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Missouri | DESE program approval | 600 hours | MoGEA retired — verify current exam requirement with DESE |
| Montana | OPI program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Nebraska | NSCS program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Nevada | Nevada Department of Education (NDE) | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| New Hampshire | NHDOE program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| New Jersey | NJDOE program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| New Mexico | NMPED program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| New York | NYSED program approval (independent framework) | 600 hours | NYSTCE School Counselor CST (193) |
| North Carolina | NCDPI program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| North Dakota | ESPB program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Ohio | ODE program approval | 600 hours | OAE School Counselor (040) |
| Oklahoma | OSDE / OPTE program approval | 600 hours | School Counselor (139) |
| Oregon | TSPC program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Pennsylvania | PDE program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Rhode Island | RIDE program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| South Carolina | SCDE program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| South Dakota | SDDOE program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Tennessee | TDOE program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Texas | SBEC program approval (independent framework) | 160-hour practicum (SBEC minimum; total program hours vary, verify with SBEC) | TExES School Counselor (252) |
| Utah | USBE program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Vermont | AOE program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Virginia | VDOE program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Washington | OSPI program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| West Virginia | WVDE program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Wisconsin | DPI program approval | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
| Wyoming | PTSB program review | 600 hours | Praxis 5422 |
Note: California uses the PPS (Pupil Personnel Services) Credential framework administered by CTC, a distinct system with its own program approval requirements separate from both CACREP and standard state DOE frameworks. New York and Texas also operate substantially independent program approval systems. If you’re targeting any of these three states, treat their requirements as a standalone research task.
Several cells above require direct verification before publishing: Alaska fieldwork hours, Delaware approval pathway, Illinois exam requirement, Massachusetts exam name and code, Minnesota exam requirement, Missouri exam requirement, and Texas total program hours. Confirm these with the relevant state agency.
How to Confirm a Program Is Right for Your State
Finding a program you like is step one. Confirming it will actually get you certified is step two, and a lot of prospective students skip straight to enrolling.
Three questions to ask any program before you commit:
First: Is this program approved by my state’s Department of Education? If you’re enrolling in a program based in another state (including any online program), the program may be approved in its home state but not in yours. Some states accept graduates of out-of-state programs through a transcript review process. Others have a more formal endorsement review. Either way, you need to know before you enroll, not after you graduate.
Second: Does this program meet my state’s fieldwork hour requirements? Fieldwork minimums vary. Colorado requires 700 total hours, for example, while most states sit at 600. If you’re planning to practice in Colorado, make sure you understand how to become a Colorado school counselor and what its higher fieldwork bar means for your timeline. Confirm any program’s internship structure against your state’s minimum before you sign anything.
Third: Will graduates of this program be eligible to sit for the certification exam in my state? For most states that use the Praxis School Counselor Assessment, this is straightforward. For states with their own exams (Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas), confirm that the program specifically prepares graduates for that exam and that its graduates are eligible to sit for it.
If a program can’t answer these three questions directly and specifically for your state, that’s a signal worth paying attention to.
Online programs deserve a specific note here. Coursework in an online program can fully prepare you for school counseling, but your fieldwork hours cannot be completed online. You’ll need to secure placements at schools near you, complete those hours in person, and find a qualified on-site supervisor. Ask any online program specifically: how do you support students in my state in securing fieldwork placements? A strong program has a dedicated placement coordinator, an established site network, and a clear answer. A weaker one will give you a general assurance and leave the logistics to you. If you’re in Florida, where the LPC landscape adds an extra layer to the decision, see our guide on how to become a Florida school counselor for the full picture.
Where CACREP Fits In (and Where It Doesn’t)
CACREP (the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) is the national accrediting body for graduate counseling programs. It sets curriculum standards, minimum credit hour requirements (currently 60 semester hours for entry-level programs), fieldwork benchmarks (100 practicum hours, 600 internship hours), and faculty qualification standards. A program that earns CACREP accreditation has been through a rigorous third-party review and demonstrated that it meets those standards.
CACREP is legitimately the dominant quality standard in clinical counseling. LPC, LMHC, and similar credentials are where its footprint is largest. Specific CACREP requirements for LPC licensure vary significantly by state and may change as state laws are updated, so always verify current requirements with your state’s LPC board if that credential is part of your plan. As of early 2026, Ohio and Kentucky have moved their LPC frameworks strongly toward CACREP, North Carolina effectively requires it for new applicants, and Florida accepts CACREP or certain equivalent accrediting bodies. The details differ across all four states and are subject to change.
For school counselors specifically, the picture is different. No state explicitly requires CACREP accreditation as a condition of the K-12 school counselor credential, though some states may prefer or streamline pathways for CACREP-accredited graduates. The research behind this page reviewed all 50 states and D.C., and that finding holds across all of them. Maryland is the one notable example. Its current licensure rules include an Option V pathway that specifically accepts a CACREP-accredited degree as a qualifying route alongside other options. But even Maryland doesn’t require it.
That doesn’t mean a CACREP program is a poor choice for aspiring school counselors. It means it’s not the primary credential filter.
CACREP matters for school counselors in three specific situations. The first is dual credentialing: if you want both K-12 school counselor certification and LPC eligibility, particularly in states where CACREP is effectively required or strongly preferred for LPC licensure, a CACREP-accredited degree may be essential for the LPC side. The second is certain VA employment pathways, where CACREP is often a preferred qualification for counselor roles, though equivalent qualifications may be accepted depending on the position. The third is interstate portability: a CACREP degree may reduce friction when you move states and need to apply for certification elsewhere, since many licensing boards recognize it as meeting educational requirements, though additional state requirements can still apply. If you’re evaluating specific accredited programs, our CACREP-accredited school counseling programs page shows current options.
If none of those three situations describe your goals, state alignment is the filter that matters. Start there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my master’s program need to be CACREP-accredited to become a school counselor?
No state explicitly requires CACREP accreditation for the K-12 school counselor credential, though some states may prefer or streamline pathways for CACREP-accredited graduates. What your program needs is state approval, meaning it’s either on your state DOE’s approved program list or designed to meet your state’s coursework and fieldwork requirements. CACREP accreditation is a useful secondary quality indicator and matters specifically if you want to pursue LPC credentials or certain VA employment, but it isn’t the certification filter for school counseling.
What’s the difference between state DOE approval and CACREP accreditation?
State DOE approval means a program has been reviewed against your state’s specific requirements for school counselor preparation, and its graduates are eligible for your state’s certificate. CACREP accreditation means a program has been reviewed against a national standard for counseling programs broadly. The two processes are independent. A program can have both, one, or neither. For K-12 school counseling, state approval is what determines whether you can get certified.
How do I know if a program is approved in my state?
Ask the program directly: is this program approved by your state DOE, and will graduates be eligible for certification in your state? You can also check your state DOE’s website. Most maintain an approved educator preparation program list, and many list specific approved school counseling programs. If you’re looking at an out-of-state or online program, ask specifically whether its graduates have completed the certification process in your state and what that process looked like.
Can I use an online program to get certified in my state?
Yes, in most cases, with one important caveat. Your coursework can be completed online, but your fieldwork cannot. Practicum and internship hours must be completed in person, at schools near you. If you’re enrolling in an online program based outside your state, confirm that the program actively supports placements in your state, that its graduates are eligible for certification there, and that it meets your state’s specific hour requirements.
What happens if I move states after completing my program?
In most cases you’ll go through a reciprocity or endorsement review with your new state’s DOE. The process typically involves submitting transcripts, verification of your current certificate, and sometimes a course-by-course review against the new state’s requirements. A CACREP degree may reduce friction in some states, but additional requirements can still apply. The Counseling Compact (active in AZ, MN, and OH as of early 2026, with 39 states and D.C. enacted) applies to LPC portability, not school counselor certification, so it doesn’t affect this process directly.
- State DOE approval is what gets you certified — every state issues the school counselor credential through its Department of Education. No state explicitly requires CACREP for the K-12 credential, though some may prefer or streamline pathways for CACREP graduates.
- The common floor holds everywhere — regional accreditation, a master’s in school counseling or a related field, supervised fieldwork in a school setting, a certification exam, and a background check. These five elements apply in all 50 states.
- Fieldwork hours vary — confirm before you enroll — 600 hours is the most common state minimum, but Colorado requires 700 total hours. Check your state’s specific requirement against your target program’s internship structure.
- Three states run their own frameworks — California (PPS Credential/CTC), New York (NYSED), and Texas (SBEC/TExES) operate independently of standard state DOE structures. Treat their requirements as a standalone research task.
- CACREP is a secondary filter for school counselors — it matters for dual LPC credentialing in states where CACREP is required or strongly preferred, certain VA employment pathways, and potentially smoother interstate portability. Requirements vary by state and may change — verify with your state’s LPC board if dual credentialing is part of your plan.
If you’re comparing programs, use your state’s requirements as the first filter, then look at format, cost, and fieldwork support.
Explore Master’s Programs in School Counseling