Bilingual School Counseling Programs in New York
We confirmed five bilingual school counseling programs in New York linked to CACREP-accredited programs: Brooklyn College, Hunter College, Lehman College, NYIT and St. John’s. They lead toward New York certification and the Bilingual Extension, which generally requires the Bilingual Education Assessment in your target language plus your base certificate’s exams. This is a confirmed shortlist, not a full statewide list.
Consider a school counselor in the Bronx named Daniela. A seventh grader’s mother comes in worried about his attendance. She speaks Spanish. So does Daniela, so the meeting happens in Spanish, with no phone interpreter in between. That kind of conversation is why some New York counselors add a bilingual credential to their certification.
New York has a formal route for it, called the Bilingual Extension. This guide covers how the extension works, which programs offer it, and what to ask before you apply. Programs below include the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT).
What the Bilingual Extension Is
The Bilingual Extension is a New York State credential that attaches to an eligible school counselor certificate. NYSED recognizes different certificate categories, including Initial, Professional, and qualifying older Provisional or Permanent certificates, so applicants don’t all follow the same path. The extension lets you offer counseling services in two languages. NYSED’s Office of Teaching Initiatives administers both credentials. CACREP accreditation is a separate review of counseling education programs.
Finishing a program doesn’t hand you the credential. You still have to meet NYSED’s requirements, including required assessments and proof of proficiency in the target language.
The language requirement
In New York, candidates for the Bilingual Extension generally must pass the Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) in the target language. The BEA is part of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). It covers the extension only. Candidates must also satisfy any exam requirements for their underlying New York State school counselor certificate. For the Initial certificate, that includes the School Counselor Content Specialty Test (CST).
NYIT names the BEA as a requirement for its bilingual program. Hunter’s bilingual concentration is built for candidates who are fluent in Spanish and English. Check exam availability with NYSED before you enroll. Brooklyn warns that you can’t earn New York bilingual certification if the exam isn’t offered in your second language.
The state’s own wording lives in Section 80-4.3 of the Commissioner’s regulations, as amended in NYSED’s school counselor Bilingual Extension amendment. For the wider process, see our New York school counselor certification guide.
Bilingual School Counseling Programs in New York
How this list was built. Every program here belongs to a School Counseling program accredited by CACREP, verified against the CACREP register on September 30, 2026. CACREP accredits the school counseling program, not the bilingual option itself. Programs are listed alphabetically, not ranked. Each program’s own website describes a bilingual option. This list covers the programs we have confirmed, not every New York program that may offer one. Any program whose CACREP status shows a teach-out, closure, show-cause or withdrawal is excluded, because a reader cannot reliably enroll in it. CACREP accreditation is not the same as state approval, so check the requirements of the New York State Education Department before you enroll.
| Institution | City | Degree | Bilingual Option | CACREP Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn College, City University of New York | Brooklyn | M.S.Ed. | Bilingual specialization, 66 credits instead of 60 | Accredited (Reaffirmation in Process), cycle ends March 31, 2027 |
| Hunter College | New York | M.S.Ed. | Bilingual concentration built into the degree, 66 credits listed | School Counseling M.S.Ed. accredited through March 31, 2028 |
| Lehman College, City University of New York | Bronx | M.S.Ed. | Bilingual extension, adds 6 credits to the 60-credit degree | Accredited (Reaffirmation in Process), cycle ends March 31, 2027 |
| New York Institute of Technology | Old Westbury and New York City (Manhattan) | M.S. | Bilingual extension option, 6 credits within the 60-credit degree | Accredited, through October 31, 2031 |
| St. John’s University | Queens | M.S.Ed. | School Counseling with Bilingual Extension | Accredited (Reaffirmation in Process), cycle ends March 31, 2027 |
Three of these programs are in a CACREP reaffirmation process. Brooklyn, Lehman and St. John’s each show a cycle end date of March 31, 2027. Check the CACREP register for their current status before you apply.
Hunter’s School Counseling M.S.Ed. is CACREP-accredited through March 31, 2028. CACREP doesn’t separately list the bilingual concentration, so confirm with Hunter whether it falls within the accredited program’s scope.
Credit counts come from each program’s own pages, and some pages disagree. Confirm every total with the program before you plan your schedule.
Program Profiles
Programs are listed alphabetically. Each profile starts with the student it fits best, then explains how the bilingual option works.
Brooklyn College (CUNY): M.S.Ed. in School Counseling
Best for: Multilingual students who want to train for New York City’s multicultural school communities and are ready to be interviewed in their second language
Location: Brooklyn, NY | Credits: 60 standard, 66 with the bilingual specialization
Format: On campus (all classes are face-to-face), with an optional bilingual specialization
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited through March 31, 2027 (Reaffirmation in Process)
Brooklyn puts the language check up front. Applicants to the bilingual specialization are interviewed in the language they present, so the program confirms your competency before you enroll. The specialization is designed as added training for multilingual students who will counsel English-language learners.
The program trains counselors for New York City’s multicultural school communities. The degree leads to New York State Initial certification as a school counselor. Classes meet in person, so plan for regular travel to the Brooklyn campus. Brooklyn also describes the program as competitive.
Fieldwork is where the bilingual track asks the most of you. Every internship must take place in a bilingual setting, under a bilingual school counselor who holds the bilingual extension. That keeps your hours in the language you’ll practice, but it can narrow your list of possible sites.
Good to know: CACREP’s record describes a 12-credit bilingual specialization, while Brooklyn’s bulletin lists 66 credits for the degree with the specialization. Ask how the credits map before you plan your schedule.
Hunter College (CUNY): M.S.Ed. in School Counseling with Bilingual Concentration
Best for: Spanish-English bilingual applicants who want a bilingual concentration built into the degree and can apply for a fall start
Location: New York, NY | Credits: 66 (program overview)
Format: On campus, part-time or full-time, with afternoon and evening courses
Accreditation: School Counseling M.S.Ed. CACREP-accredited through March 31, 2028
Hunter is the one program here built around a bilingual concentration from day one. It prepares graduates who are fluent in Spanish and English. It leads to the School Counseling PreK-12 certificate and the Bilingual Extension for Pupil Personnel Services.
The admissions process tests your language directly. You’ll complete an on-site writing sample and an interview in English and Spanish, and you’ll submit a statement of purpose translated into Spanish. Applications are accepted for fall only. For Fall 2027 admission, Hunter lists a February 1, 2027 deadline. Hunter calls admission highly competitive.
Fieldwork totals at least 700 hours over three semesters: a 100-hour practicum, then a 600-hour internship across two semesters. Placements cover elementary or middle school and high school. You’ll identify sites with the fieldwork coordinator, who keeps a list of pre-approved sites. Courses meet in the afternoon and evening, which helps if you’re working.
Good to know: Hunter’s program overview lists 66 credits, while its student program page says “at least 60.” Confirm the total with the program. Also confirm whether the bilingual concentration is included within the accredited program’s scope. Fingerprint clearance is required before fieldwork, and graduates take the School Counselor Content Specialty Test (CST) for certification.
Lehman College (CUNY): M.S.Ed. in Counselor Education, School Counseling
Best for: Working adults in the Bronx and lower Hudson Valley who want a part-time, year-round program with an optional bilingual extension
Location: Bronx, NY | Credits: 60, plus the bilingual extension
Format: On campus, part-time and year-round, about 3 years
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited through March 31, 2027 (Reaffirmation in Process)
Lehman treats the bilingual option as an extension to the degree rather than a separate program. The curriculum includes a course on bilingual counseling in schools and families. Candidates in the extension also take EBS 760, The Bilingual Child with Mild to Moderate Learning and Behavior Problems.
The program runs part-time and year-round over about three years, a pace that suits counselors-in-training who can’t leave a job. Lehman describes its program as the first in New York City accredited by both CACREP and CAEP, the educator-preparation accreditor.
Applicants submit two letters of recommendation evaluating their potential as a school counselor, from college faculty, K-12 school personnel or a supervisor. The curriculum also includes a College Access Counseling course developed with a CUNY grant. That’s relevant if you want to focus on college and career readiness.
Good to know: Lehman’s program page lists 6 additional credits for the bilingual extension, but some older Lehman materials list 3. Confirm the current figure with the department.
New York Institute of Technology: M.S. in School Counseling
Best for: Students who want to earn the bilingual extension alongside the degree, in a cohort with summer and fall starts
Location: Old Westbury and New York City (Manhattan), NY | Credits: 60, including 6 credits of bilingual-extension coursework | Length: 2 years full-time or 3 years part-time
Format: On campus, cohort model
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited through October 31, 2031
NYIT lets you complete the Bilingual Extension simultaneously with your school counseling degree. NYIT’s catalog lists the program with the extension at 60 credits, including six credits of bilingual coursework and a bilingual field practicum. They prepare you to work with bilingual students, English-language learners and their families.
The program follows a cohort model, and you can begin in the summer or fall. Part-time students take two courses a semester, including summer. Full-time students take three. That rhythm means you’ll finish in about three years part-time or two years full-time.
To apply, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree and a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, with conditional acceptance for applicants between 2.85 and 2.99. Faculty interview selected applicants. NYIT names the BEA as the language proof NYSED requires for certification. Its listed internship and employer partners include the New York City Department of Education.
Good to know: NYIT’s degree page describes the extension as six additional credits, while its catalog lists 60 total credits. Confirm the total, and confirm which campus offers the bilingual courses you need before you plan your commute.
St. John’s University: M.S.Ed. in School Counseling
Best for: Evening students in Queens who want a Catholic, Vincentian university and a bilingual option, and who can start in the fall
Location: Queens, NY | Credits: 60
Format: On campus, with evening classes after 5 p.m. and some online course options
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited through March 31, 2027 (Reaffirmation in Process)
St. John’s prepares counselors for urban K-12 schools, and CACREP’s record lists a School Counseling with Bilingual Extension option alongside the standard program. The university describes itself as Catholic and Vincentian, which may matter if you’re looking for a faith-informed environment.
The 60-credit degree includes 16 graduate courses, three of them supervised field experiences. The Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) is the required exit exam, and St. John’s reports a 100 percent pass rate for its Counselor Education program in recent years. The published statement doesn’t give a reporting period or a rate for the bilingual program. Students must also buy student malpractice insurance, which is a St. John’s program requirement rather than a state licensing rule.
St. John’s says its Counselor Education programs offer evening classes after 5 p.m. That can make the program workable alongside a job, so ask how fieldwork fits around yours. Master’s admission is for fall only, and the GRE is no longer required. You’ll submit two letters of recommendation and a one- to two-page personal essay explaining why you chose counseling.
Good to know: St. John’s main program page doesn’t describe the bilingual option. The fullest descriptions are in CACREP’s record and older student handbooks. Ask admissions whether the extension is open to new students, which campus offers it, and how it’s sequenced.
Choosing Between Programs
Built-in track or add-on
Hunter builds the bilingual focus into its degree. At Brooklyn and Lehman, the bilingual option sits on top of the standard degree and adds credits. NYIT builds its six bilingual credits into the 60-credit degree. Ask each program when you’d need to commit to the bilingual option.
Fieldwork in a bilingual setting
This is where the extra effort shows up. New York’s registered school counselor bilingual-extension programs must include at least 50 clock hours of college-supervised field experience providing bilingual services. That’s a state minimum, separate from each university’s total fieldwork requirement.
Finding a placement and a qualified bilingual supervisor can narrow your options. Ask each program how it handles placements before you commit.
Which languages are supported
Hunter requires Spanish. The other programs refer to a target language without naming one in the pages we reviewed, and we couldn’t confirm which languages they support. If you’re not a Spanish speaker, ask admissions before you apply.
Already a School Counselor? Post-Master’s Options
You don’t have to start a new master’s degree. Hunter also offers a Bilingual Extension for Pupil Personnel Services advanced certificate. Practicing school counselors should verify current certification and employment eligibility requirements with Hunter before applying.
NYIT offers a 15-credit Advanced Certificate in Bilingual School Counseling for eligible applicants. You’ll need a counseling or school counseling master’s from a New York State-registered or CACREP-accredited program. You’ll also need New York initial or provisional school counselor certification, or an equivalent from another state. Applicants must also meet the program’s coursework and language-proficiency requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to speak Spanish to apply?
It depends on the language. Hunter’s bilingual concentration is built for candidates fluent in Spanish and English. For the other programs, ask admissions which languages they support.
How many extra credits does the bilingual option add?
At Lehman it adds 6 credits, per its program page. NYIT’s 60-credit degree includes 6 credits of bilingual-extension coursework. Brooklyn’s specialization is 66 credits, against 60 for its standard degree. Hunter’s bilingual concentration lists 66 credits. Confirm every total with the program, since pages don’t always agree.
Can I add the extension after I finish my degree?
Yes, in some cases. NYIT’s 15-credit advanced certificate is open to eligible counselors who meet its admission requirements. Hunter also offers an advanced certificate for practicing counselors, so check its current eligibility rules with the program.
Does a bilingual extension work outside New York?
The Bilingual Extension is a New York State credential and does not automatically authorize you to work as a bilingual school counselor in another state. Other states establish their own school counselor certification requirements and may recognize out-of-state qualifications through their own review processes. Contact the appropriate state education or educator certification agency before applying for positions outside New York. If you’re still choosing a program, compare school counseling master’s programs across the country.
- Five confirmed options: Brooklyn, Hunter, Lehman, NYIT and St. John’s each offer a bilingual option linked to a CACREP-accredited school counseling program.
- Two ways in: Hunter builds the bilingual focus into the degree. Others offer it as a specialization or extension.
- Language proof required: Candidates generally need to pass the BEA in the target language, plus any exams for their base certificate.
- Fieldwork is the hard part: Bilingual placements and supervisors can narrow your choices.
- Already certified? Hunter and NYIT offer post-master’s bilingual-extension pathways for applicants who meet their eligibility and New York certification requirements.
If you’re comparing programs, start with two questions: can you line up bilingual fieldwork, and can you pass the BEA? Then read our step-by-step guide to becoming a school counselor in New York.
