North Dakota Links
How to Become a North Dakota School Counselor
Where are you on your quest to become a North Dakota School Counselor?
Explore the information below and learn how you can become a school counselor in North Dakota. 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 North Dakota Department Education Standards and Practices Board at (701) 328-9641.
- 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…
If you are a high school graduate already looking into the North Dakota school counselor career, you are way ahead of the curve. Researching professional careers this early in your educational process shows strong character and focus on your part. Whether from Bismark or Fargo, you will find that great things happen when you demonstrate this kind of motivation and maturity. But don’t stop now!
The following are recommended steps that will help you learn how you can advance your education and work toward becoming a school counselor in North Dakota.
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 enroll in a counseling program at this point; just focus on earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Step Two:
Volunteering serves as a great way to find out if you are interested in a social service career working with children and young adults. The following are links to organizations who can place you in volunteering positions across the state of North Dakota:
- Big Brothers and Big Sisters – The Village Family Service Center
- List of North Dakota schools and school districts
- Find and contact schools near you to learn about volunteering opportunities.
Finally, your research is only as valuable as what you do with it. So, get out there! Learn whether a career as a North Dakota school counselor is right for you!
The following are the steps necessary for earning your school counseling certification in North Dakota:
Step One:
Fulfill educational requirements through one of the following avenues:
You may also choose to earn a master’s degree in education, counseling, or a related human services area (specific course requirements found here) and then complete the required coursework for the North Dakota school counselor licensure.
Step Two:
There are a few different routes to earning your school counselor license in North Dakota. You can view specific educational requirements, experience requirements and application procedures here.
Step Three:
If you have never held a North Dakota professional educator’s license, you will need to complete a criminal background check by submitting fingerprint cards to the North Dakota Education and Standards Board for screening.
Step Four:
You will need to apply online through the ND Teach portal.
I’m a certified counselor from another state…
North Dakota does not offer school counseling certification purely through reciprocity agreements; however, through evaluation of credentials and qualifications, you may be awarded a school counseling certification in North Dakota.
In addition, you will need to complete a criminal background check by completing and sending fingerprint cards to the North Dakota Education and Standards Board for screening.
Find more information about North Dakota school counselor/guidance counselor certification requirements here.