Louisiana School Counselor Certification
To get Louisiana school counselor certification, you’ll need a CACREP-accredited counseling master’s, a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour school internship, and a passing Praxis School Counselor (5422) score. You apply through the Louisiana Educator Portal. The Ancillary School Counselor (K-12) certificate is issued once a Louisiana school system hires you, and it’s valid for five years.
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A national credential that can come with a Louisiana supplement Louisiana law (R.S. 17:421.8) provides a $5,000 annual supplement for school counselors who hold both a Louisiana counseling credential and the National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential from the National Board for Certified Counselors. Under a 2013 change to the law (Act 319), districts may pay the supplement to counselors who earned the NCSC on or after July 1, 2013, but they aren’t required to. If you’re thinking about pursuing the NCSC, ask the districts you’re applying to whether they pay it.
Initial Louisiana School Counselor Certification
If you’re new to the field, you’ll apply for the Ancillary School Counselor (K-12) certificate, the credential older job postings sometimes call guidance counselor certification. It’s valid for five years and authorizes you to provide counseling services to students in kindergarten through 12th grade.Step 1: Education Requirements
Louisiana requires a graduate degree in counseling from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). If your degree is in another counseling concentration, such as clinical mental health, you’ll also need six credit hours of school counseling coursework from a CACREP-accredited program. That accreditation requirement is firm, so confirm a program’s CACREP status before you enroll, not after you graduate. Our guide to school counseling master’s programs covers what to look for. You’ll also need to complete:- A practicum in counseling from a CACREP-accredited program, including at least 100 contact hours
- An internship in counseling from a CACREP-accredited program, including at least 600 contact hours in a school setting
Step 2: Complete a Criminal Background Check
Louisiana requires a fingerprint-based criminal background check, processed through the Louisiana State Police. You’ll need to complete it before you can start your application in the Louisiana Educator Certification (LEC) system, so don’t leave it until the end. For current instructions, follow the LEC Applicant Guide available through the LDOE certification portal.Step 3: Examination Requirements
You’ll need to pass the Praxis School Counselor exam (test code 5422). Bulletin 746, Louisiana’s certification rulebook, sets the qualifying score at 159. Score requirements can change, so check the current Louisiana Praxis requirements on the Teach Louisiana website before you register. You can register and find prep materials on the Praxis School Counselor exam page from ETS. If you test outside Louisiana, or your Praxis profile address isn’t in Louisiana, your scores won’t be sent to the state automatically. Add the Louisiana Department of Education (code 7330) as a score recipient when you register.Step 4: Application Fee
License Application Fee: $50 Fees are paid by Visa, MasterCard, or bank debit card through the online portal. Fees can change, so confirm the current fee on the Teach Louisiana website.Step 5: Organize Your Application Materials
Request the certificate using the Ancillary Teaching packet, submitted as a single PDF through LEC. Your application includes:- A completed profile and application in the Louisiana Educator Certification (LEC) system, accessed through the Louisiana Educator Portal (LEP) with your MyLa account
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, including transfer credits that led to your degree
- Proof of a passing score on the Praxis School Counselor exam
- A copy of your Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license, if you have one
Step 6: Submit Your Application
Applications are submitted online through LEC, which is part of the Louisiana Educator Portal. Sign in with your MyLa account to get started. If you aren’t working for a Louisiana school system yet, the state may issue an eligibility letter instead of the certificate itself. The letter confirms you qualify, and you can include it with job applications. Once a Louisiana school system hires you, the district requests the Ancillary School Counselor certificate on your behalf. Here’s how that plays out. Jasmine finishes her CACREP program in May and passes the Praxis in June. She applies, receives an eligibility letter, and attaches it to her job applications. When a parish school district hires her in August, the district requests her certificate. If you have questions about your application, contact a certification specialist through the Teacher Certification Help Portal or call the Department of Education toll-free at 877-453-2721.Louisiana School Counselor Certification Renewal
The Ancillary School Counselor (K-12) certificate is valid for five years and can be renewed for additional five-year periods. Renewal happens at the request of your employing Louisiana school system and requires at least three effective evaluations during the certificate’s validity period, verified under Bulletin 746. Renewal applications are submitted through the Louisiana Educator Portal. For current renewal guidance, visit the Teach Louisiana website or call a specialist toll-free at 877-453-2721.Louisiana School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity
Louisiana doesn’t have a separate out-of-state route for school counselors. The state’s Out-of-State (OS) certificate, a three-year, nonrenewable credential that lets educators work while they meet Louisiana’s testing requirements, is built for teachers. Out-of-state school counselors apply for the same Ancillary School Counselor (K-12) certificate as everyone else and are evaluated against the same requirements. CACREP accreditation is the requirement that trips people up. Louisiana’s rules require a CACREP-accredited counseling program, so if yours isn’t, contact the certification office before you apply to ask how they’ll evaluate your coursework. If you hold a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential from another state, include it with your application. Out-of-state applicants submit online through the Louisiana Educator Portal and include:- A completed profile and application
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Passing Praxis School Counselor (5422) scores, sent to the Louisiana Department of Education (code 7330)
- Copies of current, valid licenses, including your LPC and any other counseling credentials issued by another state
- The $50 application fee, paid by Visa, MasterCard, or bank debit card
Louisiana School Counseling Certification Resources
These organizations offer continuing education, professional development, and career support:- Louisiana Counseling Association
- American School Counselor Association
- National Board for Certified Counselors
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Frequently Asked Questions
What exam do I need to pass for Louisiana school counselor certification?
Louisiana requires the Praxis School Counselor exam (5422), and Bulletin 746 lists a qualifying score of 159. Requirements can change, so check the current Louisiana Praxis requirements on the Teach Louisiana website before you register. If you test outside Louisiana, add the Louisiana Department of Education (code 7330) as a score recipient so your results reach the state.What does the background check process involve in Louisiana?
Louisiana requires a fingerprint-based criminal background check, processed through the Louisiana State Police. You’ll complete it before you start your certification application in the LEC system, not after you’re hired. Full instructions are in the LEC Applicant Guide on the Louisiana Educator Portal, and you can call the LDOE at 877-453-2721 with questions.How do I renew my Louisiana school counselor certification?
The Ancillary School Counselor (K-12) certificate renews every five years. Your employing Louisiana school system requests the renewal, and you’ll need at least three effective evaluations during the certificate’s validity period, consistent with Bulletin 746. Submit renewal through the Louisiana Educator Portal.If I’m already certified in another state, can I transfer my credential to Louisiana?
Not automatically. Louisiana’s Out-of-State certificate is designed for teachers, so out-of-state school counselors apply for the standard Ancillary School Counselor (K-12) certificate and must meet the same requirements, including a CACREP-accredited program and the Praxis. You can include an out-of-state LPC or other counseling licenses with your application. Call 877-453-2721 or use the Teacher Certification Help Portal for guidance on your situation.Can I apply for school counselor jobs before I have my Louisiana certificate?
Yes. If you meet the requirements but aren’t working for a Louisiana school system yet, the state may issue an eligibility letter confirming you qualify. You can include that letter with job applications. Once a district hires you, it will request your Ancillary School Counselor (K-12) certificate.Key Takeaways
- CACREP-accredited training: You’ll need a counseling master’s from a CACREP-accredited program, including a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour school internship.
- Praxis and background check: Bulletin 746 sets the Praxis School Counselor (5422) qualifying score at 159, and the fingerprint-based background check must be done before you start your LEC application.
- The certificate follows the job: Before you’re hired, you may receive an eligibility letter. The certificate is issued when a Louisiana school system requests it.
- Renewal is evaluation-based: Certificates renew every five years at your employer’s request, with at least three effective evaluations.
- Out-of-state counselors meet the same bar: There’s no separate counselor reciprocity route, so CACREP accreditation and the Praxis apply to everyone.
Louisiana requires a CACREP-accredited counseling program for school counselor certification, so accreditation is the first thing to check before you enroll. Compare Accredited School Counseling Programs
