Michigan School Counselor License and Certification Requirements
To earn a Michigan School Counselor License (SCL), you’ll need a master’s degree from an approved school counselor program, a 600-hour internship with at least 300 hours in a school, and a passing score on the MTTC School Counselor (051) test. The SCL is valid for five years and is issued through MOECS.
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A career changer with a psychology degree and a middle school teacher with ten years in the classroom can both become Michigan school counselors, but they won’t end up with the same credential. Michigan recognizes four school counselor credentials, and the one you need depends on whether you already teach, where you trained and how far along you are. Here’s how each one works, what the MTTC requires and how to keep your license current.
Skip down the page to the pathway you’re interested in:
Initial Michigan School Counselor License
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) accepts four credentials for school counselor roles. Two are full, renewable credentials. The other two are bridges that let you work while you finish a program or pass the exam.
| Credential | Who it’s for | Valid for | Renewable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Counselor License (SCL) | Graduates of an approved school counselor master’s program. No teaching certificate needed. | 5 years | Yes, unlimited renewals |
| Teaching certificate with School Counselor (NT) endorsement | Certified Michigan teachers who complete an approved school counselor program | 5 years | Yes, renews with the teaching certificate |
| Preliminary School Counselor License (PSCL) | Candidates enrolled in an approved Michigan program | 3 years | No |
| Temporary School Counselor License (TSCL) | Qualifying out-of-state applicants who haven’t yet passed the Michigan exam, subject to MDE evaluation | 1 year | No |
One common mix-up: the SCL isn’t the same as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license. The LPC is issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for clinical counseling, and MDE doesn’t accept it as one of the four credentials for a school counselor assignment.
Step 1: Complete an Approved Master’s Program
The SCL requires at least 30 graduate semester hours in an approved school counselor program that results in a master’s degree. That 30-hour figure is the state’s floor for counselor coursework, not the size of a typical degree. CACREP-accredited programs, for example, run 60 semester hours.
Your program must also include an internship of at least 600 clock hours, completed in a school district under the supervision of a credentialed school counselor or a school counselor educator. At least 300 of those hours must be in a school setting.
Program choice matters more here than in many states. When you finish, your program’s certification officer reviews your record and recommends you to MDE for licensure. A program without state approval can’t make that recommendation, so check MDE’s list of approved school counselor programs before you enroll.
While you’re still in your program, you may qualify for the PSCL. To qualify for a Preliminary School Counselor License, candidates must complete at least 30 semester credit hours in an approved Michigan school counselor preparation program, pass the required MTTC School Counselor examination, and receive a recommendation from their preparation institution. Once it’s issued, a Michigan district can hire you as a school counselor while you complete your program, including during your internship. It’s valid for three years and can’t be renewed.
Learn more about the requirements to become licensed as a school counselor in Michigan.
Step 2: Pass the MTTC School Counselor (051) Test
Every in-state SCL applicant has to pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) School Counselor test, code 051. It’s computer-based, and you’ll need a scaled score of 220 or higher to pass. Some older program materials call it the Guidance Counselor test. It’s the same exam.
Many programs ask you to send your scores when you register, since they use them in their recommendation. Test format, fees and dates change, so check the MTTC website for current details before you register.
Step 3: Get Your Program’s Recommendation
After you finish your coursework and internship and pass the MTTC, your program’s certification office reviews your file and recommends you for the SCL in MOECS. You can’t skip this step or apply around it. If you’re unsure where you stand, your program’s certification officer is the person to ask, not MDE.
Step 4: Complete a Background Check
Michigan schools require a fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Michigan State Police. Your district usually handles this when you’re hired, so they’ll tell you when and where to get fingerprinted. Learn more about the Michigan criminal background check procedure here.
Step 5: Apply Through MOECS
Once your program has recommended you, apply for the SCL through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS). Plan to provide:
- Official transcripts and other supporting documents requested by MDE or identified in your MOECS application instructions
- Your passing MTTC School Counselor (051) score
- The application fee, which is $160 (confirm the current amount in MOECS before you pay)
Questions? Contact MDE’s educator certification team at 833-633-5788.
School Counselor Endorsement for Michigan Teachers
If you already hold a Michigan teaching certificate, you don’t need a separate license. You can complete an approved school counselor program and add the School Counselor (NT) endorsement to your certificate instead.
Take Ms. Alvarez, a seventh-grade science teacher in Kalamazoo who wants to move into counseling. With the NT endorsement, she holds a full school counseling credential and can still be assigned as a teacher of record. Her district could split her time between a science section and the counseling office, something a counselor with only the SCL couldn’t do.
The program, internship, and MTTC 051 requirements match the SCL route. The difference shows up at renewal. Endorsements aren’t renewed on their own. Renew the teaching certificate, and the endorsement stays on it as long as you meet the school counselor professional development requirements below.
Michigan School Counselor License Renewal
The SCL and a teaching certificate with the NT endorsement are both valid for five years with unlimited renewals. You can apply through MOECS any time after January 1 of the year your credential expires.
For each renewal, Michigan requires 150 hours of qualifying education-related professional learning, or an approved equivalent, earned since your last credential was issued. Your options include:
- 150 State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) or District Provided Professional Development (DPPD) hours
- 6 semester credit hours from an accredited college or university
- A combination of the two (one semester credit counts as 25 hours)
Of those hours, 50 must address college and career preparation, including five hours on military career options. This is a Michigan requirement under MCL 380.1233, and the hours break down this way:
- 25 hours in college preparation and selection
- 25 hours in career consultation, including at least 5 hours exploring military career options
Those 50 hours count toward your 150, not on top of them. Here’s the catch: MOECS won’t let you submit a renewal until you log those 50 hours in your account. College credit and district PD only count toward the 50 if they’ve been approved through the SCECH process, so confirm a course qualifies before you sign up. MDE’s SCECH catalog has a School Counseling category that lists approved options.
The Michigan School Counselor License renewal evaluation fee is $160. Educators renewing a teaching certificate with the NT endorsement should check the fee applicable to their teaching certificate. Questions about renewal? Contact the educator certification support desk at 833-633-5788 or [email protected].
Michigan School Counselor License for Out-of-State Applicants
Michigan changed its out-of-state rules in 2023, so older guides may describe requirements that no longer apply. Under current rules, MDE’s Office of Educator Excellence will evaluate you for the SCL if you meet one of these:
- You completed a master’s degree or higher in a school counselor program, including an internship in a school setting, in another state, country or federally recognized Indian tribe
- You hold a master’s degree and a valid or expired school counselor license from another state, country or federally recognized Indian tribe
After evaluation, you’ll need to pass the MTTC School Counselor (051) test. Qualifying out-of-state applicants may substitute three years of successful, documented school counseling experience outside Michigan for the MTTC examination requirement, subject to MDE evaluation. Submit that documentation with your MOECS application.
Out-of-state applicants who meet Michigan’s qualifying education or credential requirements but have not passed the required Michigan examination may be eligible for a one-year, nonrenewable Temporary School Counselor License, subject to MDE evaluation. It lets a Michigan school hire you while you prepare, and you’ll need to pass the MTTC before it expires to move to the full SCL.
Approval isn’t automatic. MDE reviews each file individually. The out-of-state application fee has been $210, so confirm the current amount in MOECS. Apply through MOECS as an out-of-state candidate. Questions? Contact MDE at 833-633-5788 or [email protected].
Michigan School Counseling Certification Resources
For continuing education and career development opportunities, see the following:
- Michigan School Counselor Association
- Michigan School Counselor Association Facebook Page
- American School Counselor Association
- National Board of Certified Counselors
Frequently Asked Questions
What test do I need for a Michigan school counselor license?
You need to pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) School Counselor (051) test with a scaled score of 220 or higher. Qualifying out-of-state applicants may substitute three years of successful, documented school counseling experience outside Michigan for the exam, subject to MDE evaluation. Check the MTTC website for current test dates, fees, and format.
What’s the difference between the SCL, NT endorsement, PSCL and TSCL?
The School Counselor License (SCL) and the School Counselor (NT) endorsement on a teaching certificate are both full credentials, valid for five years with unlimited renewals. The Preliminary School Counselor License (PSCL) lets candidates in an approved Michigan program work as school counselors while they finish. It’s valid for three years and isn’t renewable. The Temporary School Counselor License (TSCL) gives qualifying out-of-state applicants one year to pass the MTTC.
Can a certified teacher become a school counselor in Michigan without a separate license?
Yes. If you hold a Michigan teaching certificate, you can complete an approved school counselor program, pass the MTTC 051, and add the School Counselor (NT) endorsement to your certificate. The endorsement is a full credential and lets your district assign you as both a teacher of record and a school counselor.
How do I renew my Michigan school counselor license?
Renew through MOECS any time after January 1 of your expiration year. Michigan requires 150 hours of qualifying education-related professional learning, or an approved equivalent, for renewal. Of those hours, 50 must address college and career preparation, including five hours on military career options. You must log those 50 hours in MOECS before the system lets you apply.
Can out-of-state school counselors skip the MTTC in Michigan?
Some can. Qualifying out-of-state applicants may substitute three years of successful, documented school counseling experience outside Michigan for the MTTC examination requirement, subject to MDE evaluation. Without that experience, you’ll need to pass the test. If you meet Michigan’s education or credential requirements but haven’t passed the exam yet, you may be eligible for a one-year, nonrenewable Temporary School Counselor License while you prepare.
- Four credentials, two of them full: The SCL and the NT endorsement are full, renewable credentials. The PSCL and TSCL are temporary bridges.
- Your program recommends you: An approved program’s certification officer recommends you to MDE, so check program approval before you enroll.
- One exam, with an out-of-state exception: In-state applicants must pass the MTTC School Counselor (051) test. Qualifying out-of-state applicants may substitute three years of documented school counseling experience, subject to MDE evaluation.
- Renewal requires 150 hours: 50 must cover college and career preparation, and you must log them in MOECS before you apply.
- Out-of-state rules changed in 2023: A master’s degree plus a valid or expired license from another state now qualifies you for evaluation.
In Michigan, your program’s recommendation is what gets you licensed. Start with programs on MDE’s approved list, and confirm they prepare you for the SCL or the NT endorsement before you enroll.
