New York School Counselor Certification
New York school counselors now earn an Initial certificate, then a Professional certificate after three years of experience. You’ll need a master’s degree with at least 48 graduate semester hours, a 100-hour practicum, a 600-hour internship, and a passing score on the School Counselor Content Specialty Test (CST). The Initial certificate is valid for five years.
New York Links
New York transitioned to a new certification framework in February 2023. If you started a New York State-registered school counselor program before that date, you may still be working through the old Provisional/Permanent pathway. If you’re starting fresh — or switching from an out-of-state credential — the Initial and Professional certificates are the path forward. This page covers both.
How to Get Your Initial New York School Counselor Certification
Step 1: Complete a Master’s Program
New York requires a master’s degree in school counseling or a closely related field. To qualify for the Initial certificate, you’ll need at least 48 semester hours of graduate school counselor coursework covering eight core competencies — including human development, group and individual counseling, career development, and school counseling program design. Note that many registered programs are designed to exceed 48 credits, and some applicants may qualify through an approved program pathway rather than the individual evaluation route described here.
Your program must include two supervised field experiences:
A 100-hour practicum in a K-12 school setting, with at least 40 of those hours in direct student service — group counseling, individual counseling, or school counseling core curriculum delivery.
A 600-hour college-supervised internship in a K-12 school setting, with at least 240 of those hours in direct student service. Before the internship begins, your college and the school district must sign a written agreement. You’ll be supervised daily by a certified school counselor on site.
Most full-time students complete a master’s in school counseling in about two to three years, including fieldwork.
Step 2: Pass the School Counselor Content Specialty Test (CST)
The exam required for Initial certification is the School Counselor Content Specialty Test (CST), administered through the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). It’s a computer-based exam with 90 selected-response questions and one constructed-response item. The passing score is 520. Test format and question counts may change — check NYSTCE for the most current structure before you register.
The CST became operational in 2024 for most new applicants. Exam fees are subject to change, so confirm current costs on the NYSTCE website before scheduling.
Step 3: Complete Required Workshops
Before applying, you’ll need to finish three state-mandated workshops:
- Child Abuse Identification — required for all applicants
- Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) — nine clock hours covering discrimination and harassment prevention
- School Violence Prevention and Intervention — covers identifying and responding to signs of student distress
Step 4: Clear a Criminal Background Check
All applicants must submit fingerprints through IDEMIA (formerly MorphoTrust) for review by the New York State Education Department. Approved locations are available across the U.S. Contact IDEMIA to schedule your appointment and confirm current fees before you go.
Step 5: Apply Through TEACH
Once you’ve met the above requirements, submit your application through the TEACH Online Services System at highered.nysed.gov/tcert. Supporting documents — official transcripts, workshop completion records, and any experience verification — must be submitted electronically or through approved reporting institutions via the TEACH system.
Note that if you plan to work in New York City schools specifically, you’ll also need to meet additional NYC Department of Education employment and hiring requirements beyond your state certification.
Provisional and Permanent Certificates (Legacy Pathway)
If you enrolled in a New York State registered school counselor education program before February 2, 2023, you may have been working toward the Provisional certificate. New applications for the Provisional are no longer accepted as of February 2, 2024. If you hold a valid Provisional certificate, you can still work toward converting it to a Permanent certificate while it remains valid — but the timeline and requirements are specific to your situation.
If your Provisional has expired or you’re unsure of your status, contact NYSED at 518-474-3901 or email [email protected] to clarify your pathway.
Renewal and Professional Certification
The Initial certificate is valid for five years. To move to a Professional certificate — which is valid for life unless revoked or suspended, but requires completion of continuing teacher and leader education (CTLE) hours to remain in good standing — you’ll need to complete three years of school counseling experience at a public, charter, or private K-12 school.
Holders of the Professional certificate must complete 100 hours of CTLE every five years. Some certificate holders may qualify for an exemption — for example, those on inactive status — but most active school counselors in New York are subject to this requirement.
Apply for your Professional certificate through the TEACH system. Application fees vary by pathway — check the NYSED fee schedule before submitting.
Certification Through Reciprocity
If you’re moving to New York with an active school counselor credential from another state, NYSED offers an endorsement pathway. To qualify, you’ll generally need:
- A master’s degree in a relevant field (typically expected to be equivalent to a 3.0 GPA or higher)
- At least three years of school counselor experience in a public K-12 school in another U.S. state, verified by your employer, completed within five years of your application
- Completion of the Child Abuse Identification, DASA, and School Violence Prevention workshops
- A cleared criminal background check through IDEMIA (formerly MorphoTrust)
Reciprocity isn’t automatic, and the endorsement pathway has specific requirements that may differ depending on your situation and how your out-of-state credential compares to New York’s standards. If you have questions about your application, contact the NYSED certification office at 518-474-3901 or use the inquiry form on NYSED’s site.
Additional Certification Resources
- New York School Counselor Association (NYSSCA)
- American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
- National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
- NYSED School Counselor Certification Page
Frequently Asked Questions
What certificates does New York issue for school counselors?
New York currently issues Initial and Professional school counselor certificates. The Initial certificate is the entry-level credential, valid for five years. The Professional certificate follows after three years of school counseling experience and is valid for life unless revoked, though active holders must complete 100 hours of CTLE every five years. A legacy Provisional/Permanent pathway existed before February 2023, but new applications for the Provisional are no longer accepted.
What exam do I need to pass for New York school counselor certification?
The required exam is the School Counselor Content Specialty Test (CST), administered through the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). It’s a computer-based test with 90 selected-response questions and one constructed-response item — though the test format may change, so check NYSTCE for current details. A passing score is 520. The CST became operational in 2024.
How many hours of fieldwork are required?
You’ll need a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour supervised internship, both in K-12 school settings. At least 40 of the practicum hours and 240 of the internship hours must be direct student service — individual counseling, group counseling, or school counseling core curriculum delivery.
Does New York require continuing education for school counselors?
Yes. Holders of a Professional certificate must complete 100 hours of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) every five years, unless exempt (for example, those on inactive status). CTLE requirements are separate from the experience requirement to earn the Professional certificate in the first place.
Do I need to meet additional requirements to work in New York City?
Yes. School counselors working in New York City public schools must meet additional NYC Department of Education employment and hiring requirements in addition to their NYSED state certification. These are separate from state requirements, so check directly with the NYC DOE if you’re planning to work in the city.
- New certification framework — New York moved from Provisional/Permanent to Initial/Professional certificates in February 2023. New applicants follow the Initial/Professional pathway.
- Education requirements — The Initial certificate requires at least 48 semester hours of graduate coursework, a 100-hour practicum, and a 600-hour internship.
- Exam — You’ll need to pass the School Counselor CST through NYSTCE with a score of 520 or higher. Check NYSTCE for the most current test format and fees.
- Professional certificate — After three years of school counseling experience, you can apply for the Professional certificate. It’s valid for life but requires 100 hours of CTLE every five years.
- NYC counselors — State certification alone isn’t enough to work in New York City schools. You’ll also need to meet additional NYC DOE employment and hiring requirements.
If you’re still figuring out which master’s program puts you on the right path to New York certification, start with where you plan to practice — the program needs to be aligned with NYSED requirements before you enroll.
