Hawaii School Counselor Certification
Hawaii school counselor certification is a license from the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB). Most applicants complete a state-approved school counseling program, pass the Praxis School Counselor exam (5422) and clear a Professional Fitness check. New counselors usually start on a three-year Provisional License, then qualify for a five-year Standard License with school experience.
Hawaii Links
Hawaii licenses school counselors through the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, not the Department of Education, and all applications go through HTSB’s online portal. It’s also one of the few states that charges no licensing fee. Act 116, signed in 2019, covers licensing, applications and renewals for public school counselors with state funding. Here’s how each stage works.
HTSB sets its own School Counselor Performance Standards. They draw on national frameworks like the ASCA model, but the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board defines and administers them.
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Initial Hawaii School Counselor Certification
Every counselor in a Hawaii public or charter school needs an HTSB license or permit before starting work. Hawaii has three license levels, and the one you get depends on your school experience.
| License | Who Qualifies | Valid For |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional | Completed a state-approved program, with less than 3 years of qualifying experience in the last 5 | 3 years, not renewable |
| Standard | 3 or more years of qualifying experience in the last 5 | 5 years, renewable |
| Advanced | 5 years of qualifying experience in the last 8 | 10 years, renewable |
“Qualifying experience” has a specific meaning here. HTSB counts only full-time work in a contracted P-12 position in Hawaii, another U.S. state or a U.S. territory. Counseling in private practice, a clinic or another non-school setting doesn’t count toward these thresholds, however many years you have.
Most new counselors start with the Provisional License. It can’t be renewed. When it expires, you can apply for a new one starting July 1. You can also convert to a Standard License once you meet the experience requirement.
Your license also carries a grade span. HTSB’s approved programs currently prepare school counselors for P-6, K-6, 6-12, K-12 and P-12. Check HTSB’s matrix of license fields and grade levels for the full current list before you apply.
Step 1: Complete a State-Approved Preparation Program
If you’re new to the profession, the usual route is a state-approved school counseling preparation program. HTSB calls these SATEPs. In Hawaii, both approved programs are master’s degrees with licensure. UH Mānoa also offers an added-field route for people who already hold a Hawaii license. Each program sets its own practicum and internship requirements, so confirm the hours with the program directly.
Already licensed in another state? Your route usually runs through HTSB’s reciprocity review, covered below, rather than a new degree.
Here’s what surprises many people planning to train locally. HTSB approves two in-state school counseling programs, at Chaminade University and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. But Hawaii has no CACREP-accredited school counseling program. State approval and CACREP accreditation aren’t the same thing. HTSB looks for state approval. CACREP accreditation can matter later if you pursue a mental health counseling license or move to a state that weighs it. The Hawaii school counselor overview explains what that means for choosing where to study.
Many Hawaii applicants train online through a program based in another state. That route works, but it can change your testing. If you finish an out-of-state program and don’t get licensed in that state first, HTSB’s New Business Item 21-13 policy may require additional tests. Read that policy, or ask HTSB, before you commit to a program.
To check a program’s status, see HTSB’s list of state-approved programs.
Step 2: Clear the Professional Fitness Check
HTSB requires every applicant to clear its Professional Fitness check before a license is issued. Expect to verify your identity as part of the application, typically with a valid government-issued photo ID such as a U.S. passport or a state driver’s license. HTSB has not accepted school IDs for this. The current checklist for your license type lists exactly what’s required.
Step 3: Pass the Praxis School Counselor Exam
Hawaii generally requires the Praxis School Counselor exam (test code 5422), and it currently requires a score of 159. Passing scores are set state by state and can change, so confirm the requirement on the Hawaii ETS page before you register. HTSB accepts only the tests listed there.
HTSB does recognize some alternatives. If you hold an out-of-state license, HTSB may ask you to verify content knowledge. Your home-state licensure tests can count (more on that in the reciprocity section). Current National Board certified educators with a valid, unrevoked out-of-state license are exempt from exams. And when ETS replaces a test, HTSB may accept scores from the previous version during an overlap period.
When you request score reports, give ETS the HTSB recipient code 8620 and your Social Security number. Without both, your scores won’t reach HTSB and your application will be delayed. HTSB accepts passing scores from the five years before you apply. Older scores get reviewed case by case. The details are on HTSB’s Praxis testing page.
If you’re in a Hawaii program, ask which tests it expects you to pass before your field placement.
Step 4: Gather Your Documents
You’ll upload most materials as PDF, Word or JPG files in the Documents tab of your HTSB account. Requirements vary by license type and route, so follow the current HTSB checklist for your situation.
Most applicants provide:
- Official transcripts from every college or university attended, sent by a method HTSB accepts, such as a third-party vendor or directly from the school
- Identity documents listed on the checklist, such as a government-issued photo ID
- Exam scores, sent to HTSB with code 8620, unless you qualify for an exemption
Depending on your route, you may also need:
- Program verification. A Hawaii program sends its recommendation to HTSB directly. Out-of-state program completers submit HTSB’s verification form for their program.
- A copy of your current out-of-state license, if you hold one
- Verification of qualifying P-12 experience, if you’re applying for a Standard or Advanced License
Step 5: Submit Your Application Through the HTSB Portal
Create an account and apply through the HTSB online portal. HTSB doesn’t take applications any other way. Processing can take up to six weeks, especially during peak season. You’ll get a notice in your account when the license is approved or when HTSB needs more from you.
If you’re finishing a Hawaii program, HTSB processes your application after it receives your program’s list of completers. There’s no application fee.
Hawaii School Counselor License Renewal
Only the Standard and Advanced licenses are eligible for renewal. The Standard License runs five years and the Advanced License runs ten. HTSB sends a reminder email when it’s time to renew, so keep your HTSB profile email current. HTSB asks you to update personal information within 30 days of any change.
Renewal typically includes:
- A renewal application submitted through your HTSB account (see HTSB’s license renewal page)
- The Verification of Experience for Renewal form
- Verification that you’ve met the Hawaii School Counselor Performance Standards
Both forms are on the HTSB Forms page. The current Checklist Guide for Standard License Renewal on HTSB’s site is the final word on what you’ll submit. HTSB randomly audits renewals for up to one year afterward, so keep your documentation. Renewal is free, like the initial license.
Questions about your renewal? Log in to your HTSB account and use the Contact HTSB tab to message the licensing team.
Hawaii School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity
Hawaii doesn’t accept out-of-state licenses directly. An HTSB licensing specialist reviews your documents and decides which Hawaii license, if any, matches what you hold. Reciprocity isn’t guaranteed.
Picture a counselor with four years in a Colorado middle school who takes a job on Maui. Her Colorado license won’t let her start work. She applies through the HTSB portal. Because those four years were full-time in a contracted school position, HTSB can review her for a Standard License rather than a Provisional one. If her experience had been in a community clinic instead, it wouldn’t count toward that threshold.
Testing works differently for her, too. As noted in Step 3, she may not need to retake Hawaii’s Praxis exam. If HTSB asks her to verify basic skills and content knowledge, she can use the licensure tests she passed for Colorado.
Your reciprocity application will include:
- A completed profile and application in the HTSB portal
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Your preparation program should include a supervised internship or practicum.
- A copy of your current, valid out-of-state license
- Licensing Agency Confirmation of Licensure (HTSB Form OS3009), completed by the state that issued your license
- Test scores, if HTSB asks for them. Home-state licensure tests can be used.
If you hold current National Board Certification and a valid, unrevoked out-of-state license, you’re exempt from HTSB’s exams. Not sure where you stand? Message HTSB through the Contact HTSB tab before you apply.
Hawaii School Counseling Certification Resources
The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board is at 650 Iwilei Road, Suite 268, Honolulu, HI 96817, and can be reached at (808) 784-5580. For professional development and continuing education:
- Hawaii School Counselor Association
- American School Counselor Association
- National Board for Certified Counselors
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a Provisional, Standard and Advanced Hawaii school counselor license?
The Provisional License is for counselors who’ve completed a state-approved program but have less than three years of qualifying experience. It lasts three years and can’t be renewed. The Standard License requires three or more years in the last five and renews every five years. The Advanced License requires five years in the last eight and lasts ten. HTSB counts only full-time experience in a contracted P-12 position, not private practice or clinical work.
Does Hawaii charge a fee for a school counselor license?
No. Act 116, signed into law in 2019, covers licensing, applications and renewals for Hawaii public school counselors with state funding. You’ll still pay ETS to take the Praxis exam, and you may pay to have transcripts sent.
What exam do I need to pass for Hawaii school counselor certification?
Hawaii generally requires the Praxis School Counselor exam (5422), and it currently requires a score of 159. Passing scores are state-specific, so confirm on the Hawaii ETS page before you register. HTSB recognizes some alternatives. Out-of-state license holders may use home-state tests, and current National Board certified educators with a valid out-of-state license are exempt. Send scores with code 8620 and your Social Security number.
How does Hawaii school counselor license renewal work?
The Standard License renews every five years and the Advanced License every ten. HTSB emails a reminder when renewal is due. You’ll typically submit a renewal application, a Verification of Experience form and a performance standards verification through your HTSB account. HTSB can audit renewals for up to a year.
Can I transfer my out-of-state school counselor license to Hawaii?
Not directly. You can’t use an out-of-state license to work in a Hawaii public or charter school. HTSB reviews your documents and decides which Hawaii license you qualify for, if any. You’ll need transcripts and a copy of your current license. If HTSB asks for test scores, your home-state licensure tests can count.
- HTSB issues the license. Apply only through the HTSB online portal. There’s no fee to apply or renew.
- Three license levels. Most new counselors start on a three-year Provisional License. A Standard License takes three years of full-time experience in a contracted P-12 position.
- Praxis 5422 for most applicants. Hawaii currently requires a 159. HTSB recognizes some alternative tests and exemptions, so check the Hawaii ETS page.
- Out-of-state paths take extra steps. Out-of-state licenses don’t transfer directly, and out-of-state program completers may need to take more tests.
- No CACREP program in Hawaii. HTSB approves two in-state programs, at Chaminade and UH Mānoa.
Hawaii doesn’t have a CACREP-accredited school counseling program, so many applicants compare online options. Before you enroll, check how HTSB will treat an out-of-state program.
