Illinois Links
How to Become an Illinois School Counselor
Where are you on your quest to become an Illinois School Counselor?
Explore the information below and learn how you can become a school counselor in Illinois. 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 the Illinois State Board of Education at (217) 782-4321 (Springfield office) or (312) 814-2220 (Chicago office).
- 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 an Illinois high school graduate, you are in a fantastic position to begin earning your associate’s or bachelor’s degree while also learning more about the career of an Illinois school counselor.
The following are recommended steps to prepare you for school counselor certification in Illinois:
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’s not necessary to earn a counseling degree at this point; just work on earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Step Two:
Volunteering is great way to find out if you are interested in a career in school counseling. The following organizations may help match you with volunteer opportunities that are focused on working with children and young adults:
- Heart of Illinois Big Brothers and Big Sisters
- BBBS organizations provide great opportunities to learn whether working with student age individuals is right for you. The following are more BBBS organizations across Illinois.
- BBBS of McHenry County Illinois
- BBBS Capital Region of Illinois
- BBBS of Central Illinois
- BBBS of Southwestern Illinois
- List of Illinois School Districts
- Use this link to find schools near you as well as each school’s contact information. Contact these schools to find out if there are any volunteer programs you may participate in.
Don’t be afraid to get out there and test the waters. Learn what it’s like to work with student-aged individuals in the classroom setting and beyond.
Secondly, remember to take the next step in your own education. To be eligible for an Illinois school counselor certification, you will need to have a master’s degree, so start earning your associate’s or bachelor’s degree as soon as possible.
I have already earned a college degree…
The following are the steps necessary for earning your school counseling certification in Illinois:
Step One:
Fulfill educational requirements through one of the following avenues:
- Earn a Master’s degree in School Counseling or a related field
- Or find more school counseling programs in Illinois here.
Step Two:
As part of your school counseling education, you will need to complete 100 clock hours of experience with school-aged individuals or groups in a supervised practicum setting.
You will also need to complete at least 600 clock hours in an internship setting. If you have been a teacher for at least two years, you may be eligible for a reduced internship experience requirement.
Step Three:
You will need to pass the ISBE examination for school counseling and any other required examination. You can find more information through the Illinois Licensure Testing System.
Step Four:
Review all the requirements for earning a PEL School Support Personnel Endorsement.
Good Luck! School counseling in Illinois is a highly rewarding career and as many school counselors are expected to retire over the next few years, you will find many job openings for Illinois school counselors.
So go ahead and get started!
I’m a certified counselor from another state…
Illinois recognizes school counseling certifications from other states. However, the following requirements must be met before an Illinois school counseling certification will be recommended.
- Currently possess a valide school counseling certification and have successfully complete 2 years of full-time work experience
- Or, hold a teaching certification
- Or, have completed a Master’s degree program with a practicum and internship experience that is similar to those offered and approved in Illinois
- And, pass the ISBE examination for school counselors
If you have questions, contact a certification representative at the Illinois State Board of Education at (217) 782-4321 (Springfield office) or (312) 814-2220 (Chicago office).