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Connecticut Links

How to Become a Connecticut School Counselor

Where are you on your quest to become a Connecticut School Counselor?

Explore the information below and learn how you can become a school counselor in Connecticut. Some of the information below may be subject to change. In order to make sure you have the most current information, contact your school counseling education program advisor or contact the Connecticut Department of Education licensing department at (860) 713-6969.

Featured Programs:
  • Top Picks

  • 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.

I’m a High School Graduate…

As a high school graduate, you are in a great position to begin your career in education. You will need to first earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college (preferably in a field related to counseling, psychology or education). As soon as you complete your bachelor’s degree, you will need to move into a Connecticut school counseling master’s programs.

We know this may seem a long way off, but all you need to worry about is taking the first step. The beauty of your situation is you will have many opportunities to test the waters of education and decide later whether you really want to be a school counselor in Connecticut.

Step One:

Gather information from schools offering associate degree programs or bachelor degree programs in psychology, counseling or any type of program you are currently interested in. It is not imperative you enroll in a counseling program at this point. The only necessity is that you begin earning your associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree.

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Step Two:

Volunteering is a great way to find out if you are interested in a social service type of career, like school counseling, that includes working with children or young adults. The following are links to organizations who can place you in volunteering positions across the state of Connecticut:

Finally, do not be afraid to get your feet wet. It is the only way to find out if a career in education is truly for you. So, don’t just sit there! Take that next step and get involved!

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I have already earned a college degree…

The following are the steps necessary for earning your school counseling certification in Connecticut:

Step One:

Fulfill educational requirements through one of the following avenues:

Step Two:

You will need to fulfill the experience requirements by successfully completing a practicum in school counseling. The practicum is typically something offered through your graduate degree program in school counseling.

Step Three:

You will need to complete a minimum of 30 clock hours of supervised, direct service work in individual and group counseling with early childhood (elementary) and secondary school students. This step is usually coordinated by your school counseling program college advisor.

You will also need one of the two experience requirements to be completed:

  • Complete 30 months of successful teaching experience while holding a valid teaching certification (this option is typically for teachers who are making a career change to become a Connecticut school counselor)
  • Complete a 10 month full-time, supervised school counseling internship (usually coordinated through your school counseling graduate degree program)

Step Four:

You must pass the content area assessment for your certification through the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) and II examinations.

For more information, call (860) 713-6969.

Step Five:

As a Connecticut school counselor, you will need to earn a Special Services Certification (#068) through the Bureau of Certification.

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I’m a teacher in Connecticut and wish to become a school counselor…

If you are already a teacher in Connecticut, you will not have to complete a ten-month internship. However, you must have been a teacher for at least 30 months prior to applying for a Special Services Certification.

The rest of the requirements for certification can typically be completed through your graduate program in school counseling. The following are links to information request forms for schools who offer master’s degree programs in school counseling:

If you’re unsure about whether you’ve met all requirements for Connecticut School Counseling Certification, you should contact a Connecticut Department of Education certification representative at (860) 713-6969.

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I’m a certified counselor from another state…

The Connecticut Department of Education has very specific requirements for educators coming from other states. You will need to eventually have all documentation such as your current certification, transcripts and referrals, sent to the CDE.

Connecticut has reciprocity with a large number of states. Check out the instructions for applying for certification from either a reciprocity state or other states.

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