Texas School Counselor Certification

Becoming a school counselor in Texas is a straightforward process, but it’s important to know every step of the process to ensure that your plans will fulfill state requirements.

School counselors are making a difference in the lives of students across the Lone Star State, taking on serious responsibilities in order to support young people in need.

The Texas credentialing process, as overseen by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), is designed to ensure that all who enter this critical line of work have the rigorous training needed to handle this challenging but deeply rewarding work. 

What are the requirements to become a guidance counselor in Texas, and what will this process look like? Your specific timeline will depend on your level of education and whether or not you already hold a school counseling credential (including in another state). Skip down to find information relevant to your situation:

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

Initial Texas School Counselor Certification

If you’re taking the first steps toward your school counselor career, the first and most significant round of certification you’ll pursue is your Initial School Counselor Certification. This is the level of certification available to school counseling students upon completion of their degrees. It is the only part of the certification process that will require you to pass a test, making it the most intensive phase of credentialing school counselors undergo over their careers.

Step 1: Education Requirements

In order to qualify to take your credentialing exam, your first step is to acquire a master’s degree from an accredited institution that is also approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. For more information about accreditation and the agencies approved by the Coordinating Board, check out their site listings and requirements for accreditation.

There are a few degree pathways that can prepare students for school counseling credentials. These include:

• Ed. of School Counseling
• A. of Counseling Psychology – School Counseling concentration
• A. of Educational Psychology – School Counseling concentration

Any of these degree types will prepare students for Texas certification exams. As you consider master’s programs, it’s always worth looking into each program carefully to confirm that it is indeed designed to prepare students for guidance counselor credentials. 

In addition to their master’s coursework, school counselors in training must also complete an additional school counseling preparatory program, (EPP). The overall goal of completing an EPP in Texas is to ensure that all school counseling applicants are qualified and experienced in meeting student needs within Texas schools and classrooms.

Step 2: Examination Requirements

Once you have completed your master’s degree and your EPP, you’re ready to take your credentialing exam. School counselors must take and pass the School Counselor: Early Childhood Grade 12 exam (TExES #252) with a score of 240 or higher. This test includes 100 questions that are offered in multiple-choice format and align with the School Counselor standards for testing.

Learn more about taking this exam here.

The TExES examination tests an applicant’s knowledge of how to help K-12 students develop behavioral skills, create comprehensive counseling programs, and work collaboratively with school staff, parents, and communities.

Step 3: Application Requirements

You must apply for certification and pay the certification fee through the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) with a personalized Texas Education Agency Login (TEAL) account. Learn more about setting up your TEAL account here.

Step 4: Fingerprinting/Background Check Requirements

You must complete a background check, which includes submitting your fingerprints and submitting them to the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). Your fingerprint records will be used in a nationwide background/criminal history check.

Once your initial certification fee is paid through your TEAL account, you will then be prompted to start the fingerprint process by paying for the background check. Once the background fee has been paid, you will receive an email from IdentoGo to schedule your fingerprinting appointment. Learn more about the fingerprinting process here.

Texas School Counselor Certification Renewal

Your Texas School Counseling certificate must be renewed every five years. This requires an additional 200 hours of continuing professional education (CPE). There is a requirement that at least 80% of your continued education be focused on your specific school counseling role. A smaller percentage of your continued learning can include college/career guidance, drop-out prevention, and financial aid/college application processes.

Look for an email in your educator portal six months before your initial certificate is about to expire. The email you receive will instruct you on how to renew your school counseling license. It is required in the state of Texas to apply for your renewal online as well as pay the renewal fee online.

Texas School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity

Texas does not automatically certify out-of-state school counselors through reciprocity. However, applicants who are already certified as school counselors in other states are allowed to proceed through a validation and approval process.

Your credentials, such as college transcripts, records of additional education prep, and copies of your certification will need to be submitted and reviewed for acceptance. If you don’t have a classroom educator certificate, you will need to show at least two full years of in-class experience that supports your current school counseling certification.

After your credentials have been reviewed, you will then be notified by email of any additional requirements or testing that will need to be completed in order to be granted a one-year school counseling certificate. This one-year certificate in not renewable.

It may be possible to obtain exemption from required out-of-state testing, but that will depend on the review of your credentials and the final determination of the Texas Education Agency.

FAQs

What degree do I need to be a counselor in K-12 schools in Texas?

There are a few different degree pathways that fit under the umbrella of guidance counselor education. Some schools offer a Master of School Counseling degree, which is certain to qualify you for your credentialing exams. Other schools offer concentration pathways in School Counseling or Guidance Counseling within larger degree pathways such as Counseling Psychology and Educational Psychology. The track you pick is likely to depend on the institution where you choose to study, as most schools don’t offer all of these pathways simultaneously.

How long does it take to be a guidance counselor in Texas?

Assuming you already hold an undergraduate degree, you will just need to complete your school counselor master’s program. When taken on a full-time schedule, these programs take 2.5 to three years to complete. Upon graduating from your degree program and passing your credentialing exam, you will be able to take on the full responsibilities of a school counselor in a K-12 school.

What does coursework look like in a guidance counselor degree program?

A school counseling degree will consist of two different types of work: guidance counselor classes discussing topics such as counseling and intervention methodologies, key issues in ethics, and child and adolescent psychology, among others, as well as a field internship that will introduce you to the ins and outs of the guidance counselor profession.

How often do I need to renew my guidance counselor credentials?

In Texas, guidance counselors must renew their credentials every five years. In order to qualify for certification renewal, school counselors must complete at least 200 hours of continuing education – see the section above for complete information about C.E. requirements.

Where can I find school counselor jobs near me?

There are school counselor positions in most K-12 schools in the state of Texas, including public, private, and charter schools. This means that no matter where you live in the state, you’re likely to find excellent opportunities. As mentioned above, the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas have among the top-ten highest employment rates for school counselors in the nation, making these excellent choices of cities for those considering relocating.

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