Maine Links
How to Become a Maine School Counselor
Where are you on your quest to become a Maine School Counselor?
Explore the information below and learn how you can become a school counselor in Maine. Some of the information below may be subject to change. In order to make sure you have the most current information, contact your school counseling education program advisor or the Maine Department of Education Certification & Credentialing at (207) 624-6603.
- Top Picks
Featured Universities with School Counseling Programs
#1
Walden University
MS in School Counseling - General Program. Click here to contact Walden University and request information about their programs.
#2
Grand Canyon University
M. Ed in School Counseling (leads to initial Licensure) Click here to contact Grand Canyon University and request information about their programs.
#3
New York University (NYU)
NYU Steinhardt's accredited master of arts program in Counseling and Guidance: School and Bilingual School Counseling. Through this online program, you will gain the skills you need to become a professional Pre-K-12 school counselor, working with children and families in your community to foster academic achievement and success. Click here to contact New York University and request information about their programs.
#4
University of Denver
Earn a Master's degree in School Counseling online from the University of Denver. Learn from doctoral-level faculty in live classes and gain experience through mock counseling and in-field training. No GRE required. Click here to contact University of Denver and request information about their programs.
I’m a High School Graduate…
As a high school graduate researching the Maine school counselor career, you are in a fantastic position to learn whether a career in education is right for you. Now is also a great time to gain the right education and experience that will help you work toward a career in school counseling.
The following are recommended steps to take to begin working toward the qualifications necessary to become a Maine school counselor.
Step One:
Gather information from schools offering associate degree programs or bachelor degree programs in psychology, counseling, or any type of program you are currently interested in. It is not imperative you enroll in a counseling program at this point, only that you work toward earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Step Two:
Volunteering is a great way to explore what a career in the social services will look like. The following organizations can help you land a volunteering position that will allow you to work with children and young adults in Maine:
- Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southern Maine
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine
- List of Maine School Districts
- Use this link to find schools near you. Contact these schools to learn about possible volunteer opportunities.
I have already earned a college degree…
The following are the steps necessary for earning your school counseling certification in Maine:
Step One:
You will need to fulfill the following educational requirements:
You may also choose to earn a master’s in any other field and then complete a school counseling program from an approved educational institution.
Step Two:
In addition to earning a master’s degree in school counseling, you must also complete at least three semester hours in diversity-centered content related to today’s classroom (e.g., culturally responsive teaching, multicultural education, intercultural education, second language acquisition or world language teaching methods) and complete a course for teaching students with exceptionalities in the regular classroom.
Step Three:
You must apply online through the Maine Educator Information System (MEIS). View instructions here.
Step Four:
You must complete a background check, which includes fingerprinting. Learn more about completing the fingerprinting process here.
I’m a certified counselor from another state…
Maine recognizes school counseling certifications from other states. However, you will still need to fill out an application and have your credentials evaluated to ensure you have met all school counseling requirements.
You must also complete a criminal history background check, which includes completing the fingerprinting process.