How to Become a School Counselor in Arkansas
To become a school counselor in Arkansas, you’ll need a master’s degree from an ADE-approved school counseling program, supervised fieldwork, and usually a passing Praxis School Counselor (5422) score. You’ll also need Arkansas State Police and FBI criminal history checks, plus an Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry check. Some Arkansas programs take about three years.
Arkansas Links
If you’ve decided school counseling is the right path, Arkansas has a clear licensure process. The steps vary depending on where you’re starting, and licensed teachers already meet part of the requirements.
Either way, you’re working toward an Arkansas standard educator license in Guidance and Counseling (K-12). The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), through its Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), issues it. One license covers elementary, middle and high school.
I’m a High School Graduate…
If you’re still in the early stages, you don’t need everything figured out yet. Focus on earning a bachelor’s degree, ideally in psychology, education, sociology or a related field. Master’s programs in school counseling accept applicants from a range of undergraduate backgrounds, so your major isn’t locked in.
What you can do now is get some exposure to the work. Many school districts welcome volunteers, and youth mentoring groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters chapters in Arkansas put you in regular contact with kids. That experience helps you figure out whether this career fits before you commit to graduate school.
Don’t stress about mapping out every step right now. The master’s program is where you get real professional training.
I have already earned a college degree…
Take Jordan, a 31-year-old case manager in Little Rock with a bachelor’s in social work and no teaching license. Jordan isn’t stuck. Arkansas no longer requires prior teaching experience, so Jordan can enroll in a program for people without a teaching license and follow the steps below. Here’s what that path looks like.
Step One: Earn a master’s degree in school counseling
ADE’s licensure guidance calls for a master’s degree in school counseling, or a master’s in education or another licensure area combined with an ADE-approved graduate program of study in school counseling.
Universities build their own programs on top of that requirement, so they don’t all look alike. Many Arkansas programs offer an Add-On track for licensed teachers and an Initial License track for everyone else, but track names, credit totals and course sequences vary. The Arkansas programs we reviewed run from 45 to 60 credit hours. If you don’t hold a teaching license, confirm that the program you choose accepts non-teachers into a licensure track.
Costs vary a lot by program and by whether you pay in-state rates. Compare the total program cost, not just the price per credit. Explore master’s programs in school counseling to compare your options.
Step Two: Complete your practicum
Your practicum comes first and focuses on individual and group counseling skills in a school setting. CACREP standards require at least 100 clock hours over a full academic term lasting at least eight weeks. Programs without CACREP accreditation set their own requirements, so check your program’s handbook.
Step Three: Complete your internship
After practicum comes the internship. CACREP accreditation standards call for at least 600 clock hours, including at least 240 hours of direct service. These are accreditation standards, not separate Arkansas licensure rules, so your program’s handbook is the final word on what you’ll need.
It’s a big commitment, often spread across one academic year, though schedules vary by program. Ask your advisor early how placements are arranged and when the hours need to happen.
Step Four: Pass the required licensure exam
For most applicants, that’s the Praxis School Counselor exam (test code 5422). ADE’s licensure assessment table lists a passing score of 146 for this license. You’ll register through ETS, and most programs ask you to list them as a score recipient.
There are exceptions. ADE notes that an earlier version of a licensure test may still be accepted, and current rules let certain endorsements be added to an existing license without a passing score report. Check with your preparation program about any additional assessment requirements.
Step Five: Complete your background checks
For first-time licensure, Arkansas requires Arkansas State Police and FBI criminal history checks, plus an Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry check. You’ll fill out an online consent form, pay the fee and get fingerprinted at an approved Live Scan location.
ADE asks applicants to allow about four weeks for the registry results. Your checks need to be current when you apply, so ask your program when to start them.
Step Six: Complete ADE’s required professional development
First-time applicants also complete ADE-required professional development, usually through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal. The required courses aren’t identical on every program’s checklist, but they commonly include the Arkansas educator code of ethics and child maltreatment training.
Your program will give you the current list. Save every completion certificate, since you’ll need proof of completion for the application.
Step Seven: Submit your transcripts
ADE needs official transcripts as part of your application. Your program will tell you which ones to send and where. Some programs forward their own records for you and only ask for transcripts from degrees you earned elsewhere.
Step Eight: Apply for licensure
You’ll apply through the Arkansas Educator Licensure System (AELS), usually in your final semester. If you completed an Arkansas preparation program, the program reviews and recommends your application before it goes to ADE. The application pulls together your profile, transcripts, exam scores and background check results, along with a $75 license fee.
I’m a teacher in Arkansas and wish to become a school counselor…
If you already hold a valid Arkansas teaching license, you’re ahead. Many Arkansas universities offer an Add-On track built for working teachers, and it can be shorter than the Initial License track. At one Arkansas university, the Add-On track is 45 credit hours compared with 48 for the Initial track. In most programs, you’ll still complete practicum and internship.
What you’ll need:
- A master’s degree in school counseling, or a qualifying master’s plus an ADE-approved graduate program of study in school counseling
- The required licensure assessment, usually the Praxis School Counselor exam (5422) with a passing score of 146
- A current background check
Current ADE rules let some endorsements be added to a standard license without a passing score report, so ask your program whether that applies to you. You can also contact ADE’s Office of Educator Licensure at (501) 682-4342 or [email protected].
I’m a certified counselor from another state…
Arkansas reviews out-of-state educator licenses through its reciprocity process, and you’ll apply through AELS. For exam, transfer and renewal details, see our Arkansas school counselor certification page or ADE’s guidance on licensure by reciprocity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need teaching experience to become a school counselor in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas dropped its old requirement of two years of teaching experience. If you don’t hold a teaching license, you can enroll in a program track built for non-teachers, which includes supervised fieldwork in a school. Licensed Arkansas teachers can often take an Add-On track instead.
How long does it take to become a school counselor in Arkansas?
It depends on the program. Arkansas school counseling master’s programs run about 45 to 60 credit hours, and one CACREP-accredited program in the state lists about three years as its shortest timeline. Part-time study or extra time to pass the licensure exam can stretch that.
Can I keep working during my internship?
Some people do, but plan for a tight schedule. The internship happens in a school during school hours, and CACREP-accredited programs require at least 600 hours. Spread over a full school year, that’s roughly 15 to 20 hours a week. Ask programs how they find placements, whether you can intern where you already work, and how many semesters the hours can span.
Can I complete my master’s program online?
Partly, in most cases. Many programs deliver coursework online, but your practicum and internship take place in a real school. CACREP-accredited programs, whatever their format, must also hold live sessions where faculty observe and assess your counseling skills at least twice, including once before practicum. Those can happen in person or live online, and each program sets the format. Before you enroll, confirm the program is ADE-approved and accepts students with your background.
What if I earned my master’s degree in a field other than school counseling?
You may still qualify. ADE guidance allows a master’s in education or another licensure area, combined with an ADE-approved graduate program in school counseling. Length depends on the program and on how much of your earlier coursework counts.
- Program tracks vary: Many Arkansas programs offer an Add-On track for licensed teachers and an Initial License track for everyone else. Track names and credit totals differ by school.
- No teaching experience required: Arkansas dropped its old two-year teaching requirement, so career changers can enter through a non-teacher track.
- Plan for fieldwork: CACREP standards call for at least 100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours. Check your own program’s requirements.
- The Praxis is the usual exam: ADE lists the Praxis School Counselor (5422) with a passing score of 146. Exceptions can apply, so confirm with your program.
- Required professional development: First-time applicants complete ADE-required training, and your program will give you the current list.
Comparing programs? Start with ADE approval and the right track for your background, then ask how each program handles internship placement. Those three answers will narrow your list quickly.
