West Virginia School Counselor Certification
To earn West Virginia school counselor certification, you’ll typically need a master’s degree in school counseling from a state-approved program, a score of 159 or higher on the Praxis School Counselor exam (5422), and an IdentoGo fingerprint background check. WVDE then issues a Professional Student Support Certificate, valid for three years.
West Virginia Links
West Virginia certifies school counselors through the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) under Policy 5202. The credential is called a Professional Student Support Certificate, a name you’ll see on every WVDE form. This page covers first-time certification, choosing the right form, renewal, and applying with an out-of-state credential.
Initial West Virginia School Counselor Certification
Step 1: Education Requirements
You’ll need a master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university. It must come from a state-approved program that leads to school counselor licensure. WVDE also accepts a post-master’s school counseling licensure program completed after a master’s in a counseling discipline. Your graduate GPA needs to be at least 3.0. If you completed a West Virginia program, your college’s certification official verifies your application before WVDE reviews it.
One detail matters if you’re studying online or out of state. The West Virginia Board of Education approves only programs at West Virginia institutions. Out-of-state graduates qualify when their program is state-approved for licensure in its home state. Confirm that approval with your program before you enroll.
West Virginia doesn’t set its own practicum or internship hour count for school counselors. Your program sets those requirements, so check the numbers with the school directly. You can start your search with an accredited school counseling master’s program.
Step 2: Pass the Praxis School Counselor Exam (5422)
West Virginia requires the Praxis School Counselor exam (5422) for the standard pathway. The state’s qualifying score is currently 159. WVDE doesn’t accept the Praxis Bridge option for this exam, so a near miss means retaking it.
Passing scores generally stay valid for ten years. An older score can still count if the state hasn’t changed the exam or passing score since you tested.
You won’t need the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT), because WVDE doesn’t require it for student support licensure. The Praxis Core is waived for anyone who holds a master’s degree. Testing outside West Virginia? Add the West Virginia Department of Education (code 8480) as a score recipient when you register. Registration details and current fees are on the ETS West Virginia requirements page.
Step 3: Background Check
Every first-time applicant completes a fingerprint background check through IdentoGo. It covers both West Virginia State Police and FBI records. WVDE won’t accept a background check completed outside its own process, even a recent one from another state.
After you submit your application, WVDE emails you a service code and fingerprinting instructions if one is needed. You can schedule at IdentoGo.com or by calling (855) 766-7746. The fingerprinting fee is currently $50.25, paid directly to IdentoGo.
First-time applicants also submit a notarized background check release (Form 7). WVDE checks the NASDTEC Clearinghouse too, which shows any discipline reported by other states. Full details are in WVDE’s first-time applicant requirements.
Step 4: Submit Your Application
Log in to the WVDE Certification Portal and click “create new application.” Choose Form 20S if you completed a West Virginia program. Review everything before you submit, since missing information slows processing.
Payment comes in the middle of the process, not at the end. Once your college or county approves the application, you’ll get an email asking you to pay. Paying is what sends it to the Office of Certification for review. The Form 20S fee is currently $35. Fees are paid online only and aren’t refundable.
WVDE says processing can take several weeks, depending on when in the year your application arrives. Step-by-step instructions are on the WVDE certification application process page. Questions go to the Office of Certification at (304) 558-7010.
Which Certification Form Do You Need?
WVDE uses a different form for each applicant situation. Picking the right one up front saves you a resubmission.
| Your Situation | Form | What You Receive |
|---|---|---|
| Completed a West Virginia school counseling program | Form 20S | Professional Student Support Certificate, valid three years |
| Completed a state-approved program in another state | Form 20SA | Professional Student Support Certificate, valid three years |
| Hold a valid out-of-state school counselor certificate | Form 20SR | Professional Student Support Certificate, valid three years |
| Hired by a county before finishing your program | Form 1S | First-Class/Full-Time Permit, valid one year |
| Renewing or advancing your certificate | Form 4S | Renewed, five-year, or permanent certificate |
Working on a Permit While You Finish Your Program
Dana is a social worker in Parkersburg, halfway through an online school counseling master’s. Her county posts a counselor opening, and no certified candidates apply. That’s the situation the First-Class/Full-Time Permit (Form 1S) was built for.
The permit currently requires a county job offer for a position no certified candidate applied for. You’ll also need a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.5 GPA. For school counseling, you must be enrolled in a program with at least 30% (21 hours) completed. The permit is valid for one year and can be renewed up to four times. Each renewal requires six hours of coursework in your program.
There’s no shortcut beyond that. WVDE’s testing directory lists school counseling as ineligible for the Alternative Teaching Certificate and WVDE alternative certification programs. You’ll still finish the master’s.
West Virginia School Counselor Certification Renewal
Your first Professional Student Support Certificate is valid for three years. When it’s time to renew or advance, you’ll use Form 4S. Renewal applications open January 1 of the year your certificate expires. If you work in a West Virginia public school, Form 4S also needs a recommendation from your county superintendent.
To move up to the five-year certificate, you’ll need two years of full-time experience. At least one year must be in a West Virginia public school or accredited private school. You’ll also need six credit hours of college or WVLearns coursework related to public education. Each course needs a 3.0 GPA, and none can be more than five years old. You’re exempt from the coursework if you hold a Master’s +30 or are 60 or older.
Not there on experience yet? WVDE also offers a three-year renewal with six credit hours, and a one-year renewal with three.
A permanent certificate generally requires a five-year certificate, a master’s degree, and five years of full-time experience. WVDE lists every route on the Form 4S page, so check them before you apply.
One requirement sits outside certification entirely. It comes from the state’s school counselor law, W. Va. Code §18-5-18b. Counselors serving pre-K through 12th grade must participate in the School Counselors Conference at least once every two years. It’s a job requirement, not a renewal condition, but it’s worth planning for.
West Virginia School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity
Marcus has spent five years as a high school counselor in Ohio and just accepted a job in Morgantown. His path depends on one question. Does he already hold a valid out-of-state certificate, or did he only finish an out-of-state program?
If you completed a state-approved program in another state, you’ll apply with Form 20SA. If you hold a valid, renewable, and transferable out-of-state school counselor certificate, you’ll apply with Form 20SR. Both routes currently cost $100. An approved application on either form leads to a Professional Student Support Certificate valid for three years. Neither is automatic, because WVDE reviews each application individually.
The paperwork is the same for both. You’ll submit an online application and have official transcripts sent directly from your institution. Haven’t worked for a West Virginia county school system in the past 12 months? You’ll also need Form 4B (Character Reference). Plan on a notarized Form 7 and a new IdentoGo background check as well.
Experienced out-of-state counselors may not need to retake an exam. WVDE’s Licensure Testing Directory lists exemptions from content assessments, and the School Counselor exam is one of them. Qualifying conditions include a valid and equivalent out-of-state license. Three years of experience in the last seven on an out-of-state certificate also qualifies. WVDE decides eligibility on each application, so confirm with the Office of Certification before you register.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does West Virginia school counselor certification cost?
The application fee is currently $35 for Form 20S and $100 for Forms 20SA and 20SR. Fingerprinting through IdentoGo currently costs $50.25. You’ll also pay the Praxis registration fee set by ETS. WVDE fees aren’t refundable, so confirm you’re using the right form first.
Do I need the Praxis Core or PLT in addition to the School Counselor exam?
No. WVDE doesn’t require the PLT for student support licensure. The Praxis Core is waived if you hold a master’s degree. On the standard pathway, you’ll need the Praxis School Counselor exam (5422), with a qualifying score of 159. Some experienced out-of-state applicants may qualify for an exemption that WVDE approves.
Does West Virginia issue a permit for school counselors still completing their program?
Yes, through the First-Class/Full-Time Permit (Form 1S). A county has to offer you a position no certified candidate applied for. You’ll currently need at least 30% (21 hours) of your program completed. The permit lasts one year and renews up to four times, with six hours of program coursework for each renewal.
What happens when my first certificate expires?
You’ll apply on Form 4S. Advancing to the five-year certificate requires two years of full-time experience, with one in West Virginia. You’ll also need six credit hours of approved coursework. Holding a Master’s +30 or being 60 or older removes the coursework requirement. Renewal applications open January 1 of the year your certificate expires.
Can I get certified in West Virginia with an out-of-state school counseling certificate?
Often, yes. Use Form 20SR if you hold a valid, renewable, transferable certificate. Use Form 20SA if you completed an out-of-state program. Both currently cost $100, and WVDE reviews each application individually. An approved application leads to a three-year Professional Student Support Certificate.
- The credential name: West Virginia issues a Professional Student Support Certificate, valid for three years at first.
- Praxis 5422 on the standard pathway: The qualifying score is currently 159, the PLT isn’t required, and the Praxis Core is waived with a master’s degree.
- Background checks are state-specific: Only IdentoGo fingerprinting counts, currently $50.25, plus a notarized Form 7.
- Out-of-state applicants can earn three years: Approved Form 20SA and 20SR applications lead to the full three-year certificate.
- A permit can bridge the gap: Form 1S lets a county hire you once 30% of your program is complete.
West Virginia approves only its own in-state programs. If you’re in an online or out-of-state program, confirm it’s approved for licensure in its home state before you enroll.
