Rhode Island School Counselor Certification

There are 150,000 students in Rhode Island who attend one of 304 schools across the state. School counselors in Rhode Island serve children in PreK-12 as leaders, advocates, and collaborators. They assist all students in three developmental domains—academic, social, and career—by designing comprehensive programming for every school campus.

Skip down the page to the certification pathway you’re interested in:

• Initial School Counseling Certification
• Certification Renewal
• Certification Through Reciprocity
• Additional Certification Resources

Initial Rhode Island School Counselor Certification

Rhode Island offers a School Counselor Certificate that validates an assignment in PreK-12. The initial certificate is valid for three (3) years.

Step 1: Education Requirements

• Earn an advanced degree from an approved school counseling preparation program or a state-approved out-of-state preparation program, such as the following programs:
  

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  Featured Programs:

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  • 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.

• Complete a 300-hour internship program

Step 2: Criminal Background Check

Rhode Island laws stipulate that employees who receive a “conditional offer of employment” must apply for national and state criminal records checks prior to or within one week of employment. There is no pre-application requirement for background checking.

Step 3: Examination Requirements

To obtain school counseling certification in Rhode Island, you must earn a score of 156 or greater on the School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5422). For more information about this exam, or to register for a test date, visit the Praxis website.

Step 4: Know the Fees

The initial full certification application fee is $100, payable online with a credit card or by mailing a check payable to General Treasurer- State of Rhode Island.

Step 5: Application Materials Checklist

Your application materials include the following:

• Download and complete the Expert Residency Preliminary Certification Application or apply online through the Rhode Island Department of Education online portal.
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including transfer credits that led to earned degree and degree conferral date
• Proof of passing score for the School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5422)
• $100 initial application fee

Step 6: Submit Your Application

The Rhode Island application for school counseling credential can be completed online through the Rhode Island Department of Education online portal.

You may also submit a paper application, application fee, and supporting documentation to the Department of Education.

Additional Information

If you have questions about your application for school counselor certification, contact the Office of Educator Excellence and Certification Services at 401-222-4600 or [email protected].

Rhode Island School Counselor Certification Renewal

The initial school counseling certificate is valid for three (3) years and can be renewed any time after January 1 of the expiration year. The renewal certificate is entitled “Full Certification 5 Year Professional” and is valid for five (5) years.

Your renewal application includes the following materials, and is submitted online or via mail – download the application here.

Renewal requirements include:

• Completed renewal application submitted online or via paper application
• $200 application renewal fee
• Completion of 20 Professional Learning Units (PLUs)

Additional Assistance

If you need additional information about renewing your Rhode Island school counseling certificate, contact the Office of Educator Excellence and Certification Services at 401-222-4600 or [email protected].

Rhode Island School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity

Rhode Island offers a reciprocity process for applicants who earned out-of-state credentials, including education and licensure. To apply for a Rhode Island school counseling certificate through reciprocity, you will submit application materials through the online portal.

Required application materials include:

• Completed application for initial certification
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including transfer credits that led to earned degree and degree conferral date
• Proof of passing score for the School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5422) or passing scores from equivalent exam
• Copy of current, valid school counseling credential
• $100 initial application fee

Additional Assistance

If you have questions about reciprocity, contact the Office of Educator Excellence and Certification Services at 401-222-4600 or [email protected].

Rhode Island School Counseling Certification Resources

The following websites can help you with continuing education and career development opportunities:

• Rhode Island School Counselor Association
• American School Counselor Association
• National Board for Certified Counselors

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