Kansas Links
How to Become a Kansas School Counselor
Where are you on your quest to become a Kansas School Counselor?
Explore the information below and learn how you can become a school counselor in Kansas. 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 Kansas Department of Education licensing department at (785) 291-3678.
- 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…
Kansas high school graduates looking to become school counselors are far ahead of the curve. Now is the time to explore whether a career in school counseling is right for you as you begin acquiring the education that will prepare you for certification.
First thing’s first—you will need to earn your Kansas teaching certification. You can do this by completing a teacher education program. You can also earn your undergraduate education and worry about teacher certification later.
The following are recommended steps for post-secondary education:
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 you enroll in a counseling program at this point.
Step Two:
Volunteering is a great way to find out if you are interested in a career working with young children and adolescents. The following organizations can place you in volunteering positions across the state of Kansas:
- Kansas Mentors
- Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City
- Kansas School Directory
- Find schools near you. 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 Kansas:
Step One:
Earn a master’s degree from an accredited institution (find approved programs here)
Or find more school counseling programs in Kansas here.
You must maintain a 3.25 GPA in your program coursework. Contact your school counselor program to learn about requirements.
Step Two:
Take and pass the Praxis School Counselor (5422) exam. Learn more about taking the Praxis exam here.
Step Three:
Complete fingerprint requirements for licensure. Kansas now accepts Live Scan fingerprints. Learn more about completing the fingerprint background check here.
Step Four:
Apply for an Initial School Specialist license through the Kansas Licensure Application System (KLAS).
I’m a certified counselor from another state…
Kansas will evaluate your credentials (education, experience, and examinations) before recommending you for certification. Learn more about applying for a School Specialist license as an out-of-state candidate here.