Delaware School Counselor Certification
To work as a school counselor in a Delaware public or charter school, you need a DDOE license plus an Elementary or Secondary School Counselor certificate. That means a master’s with the required coursework, 700 supervised clinical hours, a passing Praxis score (159 on the 5422 or 156 on the earlier 5421), and a three-part background check.
Delaware Links
Delaware is a small state with a distinctive certification structure. It issues two separate credentials: an Elementary School Counselor certificate required for grades K through 5 (Regulation 1522) and a Secondary School Counselor certificate required for grades 9 through 12 (Regulation 1545). Either one is valid in grades 6 through 8 at a middle-level school. If you want to work across every grade, you’ll need both. Seeking both certificates at the same time means splitting your clinical hours: 350 in an elementary setting and 350 in a secondary setting. Hours completed in grades 6 through 8 can’t count toward both.
Understanding the two-step process is worth it before you apply. The license authorizes you to work in Delaware public or charter schools. The certificate names your specialty: elementary counseling, secondary counseling, or both. You’ll apply for both at once through the DEEDS online portal. Make sure your master’s program aligns with Delaware’s requirements before you enroll. Delaware has no CACREP-accredited school counseling program, though the state approves in-state programs that lead to certification. Delaware residents can still enroll in CACREP-accredited programs in neighboring states or online. The Delaware school counselor overview explains your options.
One more distinction. This page covers the school counselor certificate issued by the Delaware Department of Education. If you’re seeking the clinical counseling license (LPCMH), that’s a separate credential issued by the Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals.
Initial Delaware School Counselor Certification
Delaware asks you to choose an elementary school counselor certificate, a secondary school counselor certificate, or both. Holding both covers students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Step 1: Education Requirements
Elementary School Counselor Certificate
- Earned a bachelor’s degree and at least a master’s degree. Request information from the following schools to learn more:
- Earned a master’s degree in elementary school counseling from a regionally accredited college or university, or a master’s degree in any content area from a regionally accredited college or university that includes the following graduate coursework (based on Delaware DOE regulations, so confirm against current guidelines before applying):
- Introduction to School Counseling & Theories (3 credits)
- Human Behavior and Child Development (3 credits)
- Ethical Issues in School Counseling (3 credits)
- College & Career Readiness K-12 (3 credits)
- Testing, Measurements, and Research in School Counseling (3 credits)
- The Counselor as Consultant (3 credits)
- Special Education Law & the School Counselor’s Role (3 credits)
- Group Counseling (3 credits)
- Individual Counseling Skills & Strategies (6 credits)
- Family Counseling (3 credits)
- Principles and Practices of a School Counseling Program (6 credits)
- Completed 700 hours of supervised school counseling clinical experience in an elementary school setting, under the direct supervision of a state department of education certified and practicing elementary school counselor, as part of a graduate degree program
Secondary School Counselor Certificate
- Earned a bachelor’s degree and at least a master’s degree. Request information from the following schools to learn more:
- Earned a master’s degree in secondary school counseling from a regionally accredited college or university, or a master’s degree in any content area from a regionally accredited college or university with the same graduate coursework listed above (confirm current requirements with the Delaware DOE)
- Completed 700 hours of supervised school counseling clinical experience in a secondary school setting, under the direct supervision of a state department of education certified and practicing secondary school counselor, as part of a graduate degree program
*If you’re seeking both certificates at the same time, you’ll split your clinical hours: 350 in an elementary setting (grades K-8) and 350 in a secondary setting (grades 6-12), each under a state department of education certified and practicing counselor at that level. Hours completed in grades 6 through 8 can’t be counted toward both settings. Already hold one certificate and want to add the other? You’ll need 350 additional clinical hours at the new level. The full rules are in Regulation 1522 and Regulation 1545.
For more on education requirements, visit the Delaware Department of Education specialist certification page.
Step 2: Submit a Criminal Background Check
You’ll complete a criminal background check through the Delaware State Police. It has three parts: a fingerprint-based state check through the State Bureau of Identification (SBI), a fingerprint-based federal check through the FBI, and a Child Protection Registry check through the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). IdentoGO, the Delaware State Police’s provider, handles fingerprinting at enrollment centers around the state. Book your appointment through IdentoGO, and you’ll see the fee when you schedule.
For questions about the background check, contact the Licensure & Certification office Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM, at 302-857-3388, or email [email protected].
Step 3: Satisfy Examination Requirements
Delaware accepts a passing score of 159 on Praxis 5422 or a qualifying score of 156 on the earlier Praxis 5421. ETS replaced the 5421 with the 5422 in September 2023, so new test takers will sit for the 5422. It has 120 selected-response questions in 120 minutes, and the fee is $130. See the ETS School Counselor (5422) test page for registration and current details. Use ETS reporting code R7065 when you send scores to Delaware.
Step 4: Organize the Application Materials
Your complete application includes:
- Names and addresses of every college and university you’ve attended
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended, including transfer credits that led to an earned degree
- Official Praxis School Counselor (5422) scores. For score reporting, visit ETS’s Praxis state requirements page.
- Employment experience forms, if they apply to you: Form E (Verification of Teaching Experience) and Form E/NT (Verification of Non-Teaching Experience), both on the DDOE licensure and certification forms page.
- The Verification of School Counseling Clinical Experience Form (Form C). You fill in the top section only, then send it to your program chair. Your college or university submits it to the DOE. The DOE won’t accept forms you submit yourself.
- Copies of all active and expired licenses and certificates, including teaching licenses and counseling certificates
For details on required documents, visit the DOE website.
Step 5: Know the Fees
Application Fee: $100
Delaware charges a one-time, nonrefundable $100 fee for your first educator license. Additional Standard Certificates don’t carry a separate application fee. If you’re hired by a Delaware public or charter school, you may be eligible for reimbursement. You’ll pay by credit card (debit cards aren’t accepted) through the DEEDS portal. Fees can change, so confirm the amount when you apply.
For more on the application fee, visit the DOE website.
Step 6: Submit Your Application
You’ll apply online through the Delaware Educator Data System (DEEDS). To create an account and apply, visit the DOE website.
Supporting documents, including official transcripts, go by mail to:
Delaware Department of EducationLicensure & Certification
Collette Education Resource Center
35 Commerce Way, Suite 1
Dover, DE 19904
Additional Information
If you need help with your Delaware school counselor application, contact the Department of Education Licensure and Certification office Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM, at 302-857-3388. You can also email a specialist at [email protected].
Delaware School Counselor Certification Renewal
Your employing school district or charter school manages license and certificate renewals.
Once you hold a Continuing License, it renews every five years. You’ll need 90 clock hours of professional development during that term, and at least 45 of them must relate directly to your work with students or staff. There’s no separate renewal fee. The DDOE Continuing License page has the current rules.
Additional Assistance
For more on renewing your Delaware school counselor certificate, visit the DOE website.
If you have questions about your renewal, email the Licensure and Certification office at [email protected] or call 302-857-3388.
Delaware School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity
The Delaware Department of Education reviews out-of-state applications on a case-by-case basis. It considers current, valid credentials from other U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico, but some don’t qualify, including conditional, intern, substitute, and private-school credentials.
Praxis scores may be waived for reciprocity applicants. You’ll still complete the DEEDS application, submit official transcripts, provide copies of your current out-of-state license, finish the three-part background check, and pay the $100 license fee. If you have at least four years of successful experience under an appropriate license, you may qualify for a Continuing License directly, documented on Form E/NT. Confirm your eligibility with the Delaware DOE before applying.
For the documentation checklist and online application steps, see the DDOE out-of-state applicant page.
Additional Assistance
If you have questions about your reciprocity application, email the Licensure and Certification office at [email protected] or call 302-857-3388.
Delaware School Counseling Certification Resources
For continuing education and professional development, see:
- Delaware School Counselor Association
- American School Counselor Association
- National Board for Certified Counselors
Frequently Asked Questions
What Praxis exam does Delaware require for school counselor certification?
Delaware accepts a passing score of 159 on Praxis 5422 or a qualifying score of 156 on the earlier Praxis 5421. ETS replaced the 5421 with the 5422 in September 2023, so if you’re testing now, you’ll take the 5422. It has 120 questions and 120 minutes, and it costs $130. Use ETS reporting code R7065 when you send scores to Delaware.
What does the Delaware background check involve?
It has three parts: a state fingerprint check through the State Bureau of Identification (SBI), a federal fingerprint check through the FBI, and a Child Protection Registry check through the DSCYF. You must complete all three before your certification is issued. IdentoGO handles fingerprinting for the Delaware State Police at enrollment centers statewide, and you’ll see the fee when you book.
How much does Delaware school counselor certification cost?
For a typical first-time applicant who takes the Praxis 5422, the two main fees are the $100 license fee and $130 for the exam. Fingerprinting and background check fees are added on top and are set by the provider when you book. Additional Standard Certificates don’t have a separate application fee, and a Delaware public or charter school may reimburse the $100. Reciprocity applicants whose Praxis requirement is waived skip the exam fee.
How do I renew my Delaware school counselor certification?
Once you hold a Continuing License, it renews every five years. You’ll need 90 clock hours of professional development during that term, with at least 45 tied directly to your work with students or staff. Renewal goes through the DEEDS portal. There’s no separate renewal fee, but confirm current requirements in DDOE’s Continuing License rules.
Can I transfer my school counselor license to Delaware from another state?
Delaware doesn’t offer automatic reciprocity. It reviews current, valid out-of-state credentials case by case, and conditional, intern, substitute, and private-school credentials don’t qualify. If your credential does, your Praxis scores may be waived. You’ll still complete the DEEDS application, submit transcripts, pass the three-part background check, and pay the $100 fee. With at least four years of successful experience under an appropriate license, you may qualify for a Continuing License directly.
- Two credentials, one application. Delaware issues an educator license and a Standard Certificate separately, but you apply for both together through DEEDS.
- Praxis 159 on the 5422, or 156 on the 5421. Those are Delaware’s own passing scores. New test takers will sit for the 5422.
- Grade level decides your certificate. Elementary covers K-5 and secondary covers 9-12, and either works in grades 6-8. Seeking both at once means 350 clinical hours at each level, and you can’t count grades 6-8 hours twice.
- Plan for $230 plus fingerprinting. A typical first-time applicant pays the $100 license fee and $130 for the Praxis. Additional certificates don’t require a separate application fee.
- Reciprocity is case by case. Delaware reviews current, valid out-of-state credentials individually and may waive Praxis scores if yours qualifies.
If you’re still choosing a master’s program, check that it covers Delaware’s required coursework and can place you for 700 supervised clinical hours before you enroll.
