Iowa Links
How to Become an Iowa School Counselor
Where are you on your quest to become an Iowa School Counselor?
Explore the information below and learn how you can become a school counselor in Iowa. 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 Iowa Department of Education licensing department at 515-281-8323.
- 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 in Iowa, you’ll need to begin thinking about earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to get started on the path toward school counselor licensure.
You don’t need to worry about earning a degree in school counseling yet; just focus on earning an undergraduate degree that will prepare you for a future master’s degree.
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 that you enroll in a counseling program at this point, only that you work on earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Step Two:
Volunteering is a great way to learn more about a career in the social services and discover whether you enjoy working with children and young adults. Consider contacting the following organizations to learn more about volunteering opportunities near you.
- Iowa Mentoring Partnership
- Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Iowa
- Big Brothers of Cedar Rapids and East Central Iowa
- Iowa Schools and 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.
I have already earned a college degree…
The following are the steps necessary for earning your school counseling certification in Iowa:
Step One:
Fulfill educational requirements through one of the following avenues:
You may also earn a master’s in another field and then complete a school counseling program from an approved educational institution.
Step Two:
You will need to complete a supervised practicum of at least 500 clock hours. This is usually completed as part of your counseling graduate program.
Step Three:
Apply for a Professional Service License through the Iowa Board of Education Examiners.
Step Four:
Contact the Iowa Department of Education licensing department at 515-281-8323 to ensure you have met all requirements necessary for licensure.
I’m a certified counselor from another state…
As a school counselor from another state, you will find Iowa ready and willing to help you earn your Iowa school counselor certification. Learn more about applying for a Professional Service License through reciprocity here.
For more information, call the Iowa Department of Education at (515) 281-5294.