How to Become a School Counselor in Montana
To become a school counselor in Montana, you need a master’s degree in school counseling from a CACREP-accredited or OPI-approved program, 600 hours of supervised fieldwork in a K-12 school, a fingerprint background check, completion of a free online course on Indian Education for All, and a passing score on the Praxis School Counselor exam. The credential is the Class 6 School Counselor Specialist license.
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You want to work with students — helping a junior figure out her college options, noticing a seventh grader pulling away from friends before anyone else does, sitting with a high schooler who’s dealing with something no one in his family knows how to name. That’s what Montana school counselors do every day. Getting licensed to do it takes a master’s degree, 600 hours of supervised fieldwork, and a state credential called the Class 6 School Counselor Specialist license. Most people complete the path in 3 to 4 years after earning their bachelor’s degree.
Montana School Counselor Requirements at a Glance
Montana issues the Class 6 School Counselor Specialist license through the Office of Public Instruction. OPI sets requirements, and program approval is critical. Always verify your program meets OPI standards before enrolling. There are two accepted pathways to qualify, both requiring a master’s degree and a 600-hour school-based internship:
| Pathway | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Pathway 1 (CACREP) | Master’s degree from a CACREP-accredited school counseling program, including a 600-hour school-based internship |
| Pathway 2 (OPI-approved) | Master’s degree in school counseling from a regionally accredited university, including a 600-hour school-based internship, from an OPI-approved specialist program |
Montana State University, the University of Montana, MSU Billings, and MSU Northern all offer master’s programs in school counseling aligned with OPI licensure requirements. If you’re planning to work in Montana, confirm your program is approved before you enroll.
Step-by-Step: Earning Your Montana School Counselor License
Step 1: Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree
You don’t need a counseling degree at the undergraduate level. Any bachelor’s degree will get you into most graduate programs. That said, a background in psychology, social work, education, or a related field gives you a leg up in the application process and in the coursework itself. Use your undergrad years to get direct experience with young people: volunteer at schools, youth programs, or crisis lines. It’ll strengthen your grad school application and help you confirm this is the right direction.
Step 2: Complete a Master’s Degree in School Counseling
This is the core requirement. Your program needs to meet OPI’s standards, either through CACREP accreditation or as an OPI-approved specialist program. Most programs run roughly 48 to 60 credits, depending on the institution, and take two to three years full-time, or longer if you’re going part-time while working. The curriculum covers counseling theory, human development, group counseling, assessment, and school counseling program design. The 600-hour internship is built into the program and completed in an actual K-12 school setting.
If you already have a master’s degree in a different field, you may be able to complete a school counseling program separately. Contact OPI at (406) 444-3150 to confirm whether your existing degree qualifies before assuming a path forward.
Step 3: Complete the Indian Education for All Course
Montana requires completion of a free online course called “An Introduction to Indian Education for All in Montana,” available through the Teacher Learning Hub. It’s self-paced and free, but you can’t submit your license application without proof of completion. Build it into your plan before you finish your program. It’s easy to overlook, and it’s a required step.
Step 4: Complete Your Fingerprint Background Check
You’ll need to request a fingerprint packet from the Montana Office of Public Instruction and complete the background check process before your license is issued. Learn more about how to complete the fingerprinting process here. Your program will typically walk you through the timing. Many candidates complete this during their internship year.
Step 5: Apply Through Teach Montana (TMT)
All license applications go through the Teach Montana online portal. You’ll upload transcripts, background check documentation, proof of the Indian Education for All course, and your Praxis score. OPI reviews your materials and issues the Class 6 license once your application is complete and approved.
For full details on the Praxis exam, renewal timelines, and what happens after you’re licensed, see the Montana School Counselor Certification page.
Can You Work While Completing the Program?
It depends on where you are in the process. During the master’s coursework itself, part-time enrollment is common. MSU and MSU Billings both offer hybrid and online options designed for working adults. The 600-hour internship is a different matter. It has to happen in a school setting during school hours, which makes it difficult to maintain full-time employment at the same time.
Montana offers a Class 5B provisional license to candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree and are currently enrolled in a school counselor program. This allows you to work as a school counselor while you complete the specialist program. It’s valid for up to three years. If this sounds like your situation, contact OPI directly at (406) 444-3150 to confirm eligibility before applying.
Coming from Another State?
Montana recognizes out-of-state school counseling credentials, but it’s not an automatic transfer. OPI will evaluate your existing certification and transcripts to confirm that all Montana requirements are met. You’ll still need to apply for the Class 6 license through the Teach Montana portal and submit all required materials.
One specific scenario worth noting: if you hold an expired out-of-state license and haven’t completed 60 professional development (PD) units in the past five years, you may qualify for a Class 5C provisional license. That’s a three-year license that lets you work as a counselor in Montana while you complete the 60 PD units. Verify your specific situation with OPI before assuming which path applies to you.
What to Expect on the Job
Montana has roughly 140,000 public school students and about 860 school counselors statewide. The work covers grades K-12, which means a very different day depending on where you land. An elementary counselor might spend her morning leading small groups on social skills and her afternoon coordinating with a teacher regarding a student whose home situation has changed. A high school counselor might have 300 students on his caseload, splitting time between college applications, credit monitoring, and crisis check-ins.
Rural districts make up a significant part of Montana’s school landscape. Working in a rural school often means wearing more hats — counselor, advisor, and sometimes the only mental health resource in the building. It’s meaningful work, but it can also be isolating. The Montana School Counselor Association is a useful professional home regardless of where you end up working.
Salary and Job Outlook
Montana school counselors earn a median salary of $59,480 per year, according to May 2024 BLS data. The state projects annual job openings based largely on replacement demand through 2032 — check Montana labor market data for current projections. For a full breakdown, including percentile ranges and metro area salaries across Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, and more, see the Montana School Counselor page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching license to become a school counselor in Montana?
No. Montana’s Class 6 School Counselor Specialist license is a separate credential from a teaching license. You don’t need prior teaching experience or a teaching certification to become a school counselor in the state.
How long does it take to become a school counselor in Montana?
If you’re starting with a bachelor’s degree, the master’s program typically takes two to three years full-time, or three to four years part-time. Add time for the internship, background check processing, and application review, and most candidates are licensed within three to four years of entering a graduate program.
Can I complete a Montana school counselor program online?
Yes, partially. MSU offers a fully online master’s in school counseling with two residency weekends required in the three-year program. The 600-hour internship must still be completed in a K-12 school setting in person, but the coursework can be done remotely.
What if I already have a master’s degree in a different counseling field?
It depends on your program and whether it meets OPI’s Class 6 license standards. Contact the Montana OPI Educator Licensing Department at (406) 444-3150 to review your transcripts before assuming your existing degree qualifies.
Does Montana have a student-to-counselor ratio requirement?
Montana doesn’t set a mandatory ratio by law. The American School Counselor Association recommends a maximum of 250 students per counselor, but this is advisory only. In practice, caseloads in Montana vary — particularly in rural districts where one counselor may serve an entire K-12 building.
- Class 6 license required — The Montana Class 6 School Counselor Specialist license is your credential for working K-12 in public schools. It requires a master’s degree, 600-hour internship, Praxis exam, and the Indian Education for All course.
- Two pathways to qualify — CACREP-accredited programs and OPI-approved non-CACREP master’s programs both meet the requirement, as long as the 600-hour school-based internship is included.
- Program approval matters — Confirm your program is OPI-approved before enrolling. MSU, UM, MSU Billings, and MSU Northern all offer qualifying programs.
- Provisional license options exist — Class 5B (enrolled in a program) and Class 5C (expired out-of-state license) allow candidates to work while completing requirements. Contact OPI to confirm eligibility.
- Rural context is real — A significant portion of Montana’s schools are rural. That shapes the day-to-day role and makes professional connections through MSCA especially valuable.
Comparing master’s programs is the right first step. Look for programs that are OPI-approved, include the full 600-hour internship, and offer the scheduling format that fits your life.
