Connecticut School Counselor Certification
Connecticut school counselors need the State Department of Education’s #068 endorsement. The standard in-state path is a master’s degree from a Connecticut-approved #068 program with an institutional recommendation, plus a 10-month supervised internship or 30 months of certified teaching. Connecticut doesn’t list a Praxis subject test for #068, and it now issues only Initial and Professional certificates.
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If you’re finishing a school counseling program in Connecticut this year, your first certificate costs nothing to issue and, under current state law, stays valid for ten years. Both changes are new since 2025, along with the end of the Provisional certificate. Here’s how the two-tier system works now, from your first application to the Professional certificate.
Initial Connecticut School Counselor Certification
The Initial Educator Certificate is Connecticut’s entry-level school counselor credential, endorsed as #068 (School Counselor). The Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification issues it, and nearly everyone starts with it, whether you’re a new graduate or a teacher changing roles.
Education Requirements
The standard in-state pathway is a master’s degree plus completion of a Connecticut-approved #068 school counseling program at a regionally accredited college or university. That program’s institutional recommendation is the piece people overlook. Your program’s certification officer submits it to the state once you’ve finished everything, which is why it matters that your program is approved for #068 before you enroll. If you prepared in another state, you may qualify through a different pathway (see the reciprocity section below).
Your coursework must include at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit in a planned school counseling program, covering each of these areas:
- Principles and philosophy of developmental guidance and counseling
- Psychological and sociological theory as related to children, youth and families
- Career development theory and practice
- Individual and group counseling procedures
- Organizational patterns and relationships of pupil personnel services to the total school program and community
- Pupil appraisal and evaluation techniques
- School-based consultation theory and practice
You’ll also need a special education course of at least 36 clock hours covering the growth and development of exceptional children, plus a progression of supervised lab and practicum experiences in school counseling. Many programs list the special education course as a prerequisite, so students often take it before they start. You can review the full list on the CSDE’s #068 certification requirements page.
Experience Requirement
Connecticut wants school counselors to have spent real time in schools before they’re certified. There are three ways to meet that. You can already hold a Connecticut Professional Educator Certificate. You can hold, or be eligible for, an Initial Educator Certificate and have 30 school months of successful teaching experience. Or you can complete a full-time supervised school counseling internship of 10 school months in a pre-K through grade 12 setting.
Most people coming straight out of a graduate program take the internship route. The state requirement is 10 full-time school months, but how your program schedules it, and where it falls in your course sequence, depends on the program. Ask early so you can plan your finances and work schedule around it.
Here’s how the teaching route plays out. Dana has taught fourth grade in New Britain for six years and holds a Professional teaching certificate. She already meets the experience requirement on day one. She still needs 30 credits of planned school counseling coursework and supervised practicum experience. She’ll also need the special education course if she didn’t take one for her teaching certificate, plus her program’s recommendation. Her path is shorter, but it isn’t a shortcut around the coursework.
If you’re still choosing a program, check that it’s approved for the #068 endorsement before you apply. For in-state candidates, that one detail decides whether your degree leads to a recommendation.
Testing: What Connecticut Does and Doesn’t Require
Connecticut doesn’t list a Praxis subject test for the #068 school counselor endorsement. The state’s guide to certification assessments lists tests for teaching areas like elementary education and secondary math, but not for school counseling. Many other states do require a Praxis School Counselor exam, so you’ll often see one on multistate requirement lists. Exam requirements vary by state, so check the rules for the specific state where you plan to be certified.
You may still run into a test earlier in the process. Connecticut dropped the Praxis Core basic skills test as a certification requirement in 2016. Some educator preparation programs still ask applicants to take Praxis Core or an approved alternative, such as the SAT, ACT or GRE. They use those scores for diagnostic purposes. Policies vary by program, and these are not certification exams. Testing rules can change, so confirm with your program and the Connecticut SDE before you register for anything.
How to Apply Through CECS
Applications go through the Connecticut Educator Certification System (CECS). Create an account, start a new application and select endorsement 068, School Counselor. You’ll list every college and university you attended and your employment history, including employer names, supervisor contacts and dates.
When you apply, and when your recommendation is submitted, depends on your program. Many programs have you start the application near the end of your final semester. The certification officer submits the institutional recommendation once the program confirms you’ve completed all requirements, including the internship. Ask your program’s certification office for its timeline. Official transcripts must come directly from each institution, either electronically or by mail to:
Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification
P.O. Box 150471
Hartford, CT 06115-0471
As of October 1, 2025, there’s no fee for the first-time issuance of an Initial Educator Certificate, including special service certificates like school counseling. Fees can change, so check the CSDE’s current fee schedule before you apply.
Background Checks
Expect screening at two points. The certification application asks about your legal and professional history, and the state can deny or revoke a certificate for certain convictions or misconduct. Employment screening is separate. Connecticut districts fingerprint new hires and run state and national criminal history checks before you start work. Preparation programs typically require a background check before school-based field experiences, too. Exact requirements depend on your program and hiring district.
Have Questions?
Contact the Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification at [email protected] or 860-713-6969. Phone hours are limited and can change, so check the current schedule on the CSDE site before you call. Many common questions are answered in the CSDE certification FAQ.
Professional Connecticut School Counselor Certification
The Professional Educator Certificate is Connecticut’s advanced credential. Since July 1, 2025, it’s the only level above Initial. In general, you’ll document at least 50 school months of successful experience in Connecticut under an Initial and/or Provisional certificate. You’ll also meet any TEAM program requirements that apply to your endorsement. TEAM applies only where it’s required, and educators can be waived from it. For the #068 endorsement specifically, you also need at least 45 semester hours of graduate credit in counseling and related areas. Coursework from your initial program can count toward that total, so many counselors already meet it when they finish their master’s.
What counts as qualifying experience, and which pathway applies to you, can vary with your certification history and where you’ve worked. CSDE makes that determination when it reviews your application.
As of October 1, 2025, the total cost of a Professional Educator Certificate is $375. Once you’re eligible for the Professional certificate, Connecticut won’t issue you the lower Initial certificate instead.
| Detail | Initial Educator Certificate | Professional Educator Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | First-time Connecticut school counselors | Counselors with 50 school months of successful Connecticut service |
| Valid for | 10 years if issued on or after July 1, 2025. Limited one-year extensions for good cause. Renewal depends on eligibility. | Renewable, with no renewal fee |
| Cost (as of Oct. 1, 2025) | No fee for first-time issuance or renewal | $375 total |
| How you qualify | Master’s degree, approved #068 program (standard in-state path), experience route, institutional recommendation | 50 school months of Connecticut service, TEAM where required, 45 graduate credits in counseling |
If You Hold a Provisional Certificate
Connecticut stopped issuing and renewing Provisional certificates on July 1, 2025. If yours expires after that date, it stays valid until the printed expiration date. When it’s time to renew, you’ll move to the Professional certificate if you meet the requirements, or to the Initial certificate if you don’t yet. Your TEAM completion stays on file with the CSDE either way, so you won’t have to repeat it.
Connecticut School Counselor Certification Renewal
The Initial certificate isn’t designed to be renewed indefinitely. It’s the stage you work under while you build toward the Professional certificate. Under current state law, Initial certificates issued on or after July 1, 2025 are valid for ten years. Unexpired Initial certificates issued before that date were extended to ten years from their issue date. If you need more time, the Commissioner can grant up to three one-year extensions for good cause. Your superintendent or the team reviewing your performance makes that request. The CSDE summarized these changes in its February 2025 Cert Alert.
If you’re eligible for the Professional certificate when your Initial expires, CSDE won’t reissue the Initial instead. If you’re not yet eligible, renewal at the Initial level depends on your circumstances. CSDE reviews that eligibility when you apply. Initial renewals use CECS or the paper ED 183 form, and as of October 2025 they carry no fee.
Renewing a Professional certificate is simpler than most people expect. There’s no cost, and you don’t need to submit continuing education units or other supporting documents. Connecticut dropped the CEU requirement in 2012. Your district must offer at least 18 hours of professional development a year, which keeps your learning going but isn’t something you report to the state. Use CECS or the paper ED 179 form for professional renewals.
Applications are processed in the order received, so submit well before your expiration date. Learn more on the Connecticut SDE certificate renewal page.
Connecticut School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity
A school counselor certificate from another state doesn’t automatically transfer to Connecticut. Connecticut participates in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement. That gives out-of-state educators a pathway to apply, but CSDE still reviews each application individually. What you’ll need depends on the credential you hold, your preparation, your experience and the state that certified you. Some applicants may qualify for a waiver of certain requirements if their experience was completed within the 10 years before applying. Start with CSDE’s page for out-of-state educators.
Since Connecticut doesn’t list an exam for #068, testing usually isn’t the sticking point. Coursework is more often where gaps show up, so compare your transcript against the coursework areas and special education course listed above. For current costs, check the CSDE fee schedule, since Connecticut revised its certification fees in October 2025.
For reciprocity questions, contact the Bureau at [email protected] or 860-713-6969.
Connecticut School Counseling Certification Resources
For professional development and ongoing support, these organizations and resources are worth bookmarking:
- Connecticut School Counselor Association
- Connecticut State Department of Education: Comprehensive School Counseling
- American School Counselor Association
- National Board for Certified Counselors
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Connecticut school counselors need to pass the Praxis exam?
Connecticut doesn’t currently list a Praxis subject exam for the #068 school counselor endorsement. Some preparation programs ask applicants to take Praxis Core or an approved alternative, like the SAT, ACT or GRE, for diagnostic purposes, but that isn’t a certification exam. Requirements can change, so confirm with your program and the Connecticut SDE.
What happens to my Provisional certificate now that Connecticut eliminated it?
It stays valid through its printed expiration date. Connecticut stopped issuing and renewing Provisional certificates on July 1, 2025. When yours expires, you’ll move to the Professional certificate if you qualify, or to the Initial certificate if you don’t yet. Your TEAM completion stays on file.
What’s the difference between the Initial and Professional certificates in Connecticut?
The Initial certificate is your entry-level credential. It’s valid for ten years if issued on or after July 1, 2025, and as of October 2025 there’s no fee for first-time issuance. It’s meant as a stage toward the Professional certificate, not something you renew indefinitely. The Professional certificate generally requires 50 school months of successful Connecticut service, TEAM where required, and 45 graduate credits in counseling. It costs $375 and has no renewal fee.
Can I transfer my school counselor certification from another state to Connecticut?
Not automatically. Connecticut participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which gives you a pathway to apply, but CSDE reviews your existing credential, preparation, experience and state of certification. You may qualify for a waiver of some requirements if your experience was completed within the past 10 years. Start with CSDE’s page for out-of-state educators, or contact the Bureau to confirm what applies to you.
Do I need a background check to become a school counselor in Connecticut?
Yes. The certification application asks about your legal and professional history. The district that hires you will also fingerprint you and run state and national criminal history checks before you start. Preparation programs typically require their own background check before school-based field experiences.
- #068 endorsement: Connecticut school counselors hold the #068 endorsement, issued by the Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification.
- Two certificate levels: Since July 1, 2025, Connecticut issues only Initial and Professional certificates. Existing Provisional certificates stay valid until they expire.
- Your first certificate is free: As of October 2025, there’s no fee for issuing an Initial certificate for the first time. The Professional certificate costs $375.
- Approved program is the standard path: In-state candidates complete a Connecticut-approved #068 program with an institutional recommendation, plus a 10-month internship or 30 months of certified teaching. Out-of-state applicants may qualify through other pathways.
- No certification exam for #068: Connecticut doesn’t list a Praxis subject test for school counselors. Some programs use Praxis Core or an alternative for diagnostic purposes.
For in-state candidates, your certificate starts with your program’s recommendation, so the program you choose matters more than any other step on this page. If you’re still comparing options, confirm the program is approved for Connecticut’s #068 endorsement before you apply.
