How to Become a South Dakota School Counselor
To become a school counselor in South Dakota, you need a master’s degree in school counseling, around 600 supervised internship hours, and a passing score on the Praxis School Counselor exam (5422) — though some candidates may qualify for an exam waiver depending on program approval. Confirm requirements with the South Dakota DOE before you apply. Most candidates complete the full process in typically six to seven years.
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Most people who want to become a school counselor in South Dakota already know they want to work with kids. What they don’t always know is exactly how to get there — what degree they need, how the internship works, whether they’ll need to take an exam, and how long the whole process takes. This page walks through each step, whether you’re starting from high school, already have a bachelor’s degree, or are coming in from another state.
I’m a High School Graduate…
If you’re starting from the beginning, the path to school counseling is a long one — but it’s well mapped. You don’t need to figure out your graduate school plans today. What you do need is a solid undergraduate foundation and some real experience working with young people before you apply to master’s programs.
Step 1: Earn your bachelor’s degree
You don’t need a specific undergraduate major to get into a school counseling master’s program. Psychology, education, social work, and sociology are all common choices, but programs will also consider candidates from other fields if they bring relevant experience. Focus on finishing a degree you’re genuinely interested in — graduate admissions committees want to see evidence that you can complete challenging coursework, not just a specific major.
While you’re in school, start building your experience with children and adolescents. Tutoring, after-school programs, camp counseling, youth mentorship — any hands-on work in an educational or youth development setting will strengthen your graduate school applications and help you confirm that this is the right career for you.
Step 2: Volunteer or work with young people
Volunteering gives you the direct experience graduate programs are looking for and helps you understand what it’s actually like to work in schools before you commit to a two-to-three-year graduate program. A few South Dakota organizations that can place you in relevant volunteer roles:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Black Hills (Rapid City, SD)
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Siouxland (Watertown, SD)
- Your local school district — contact schools near you about volunteering or paraprofessional opportunities
Step 3: Move on to your master’s degree
Once you have your bachelor’s degree and some experience under your belt, you’re ready to apply to master’s programs in school counseling. See the “I have already earned a college degree” section below for the full path from that point forward.
I have already earned a college degree…
This is where the real work begins. South Dakota requires a master’s degree and a supervised internship before you can sit for certification. Here’s what the process looks like step by step.
Step 1: Earn a master’s degree in school counseling
South Dakota requires a master’s degree in school counseling — or a related master’s in counseling combined with additional requirements. You have two main pathways:
Pathway A: Graduate from a school counseling preparation program. This is the most straightforward route. If your program is specifically designed to prepare school counselors and meets South Dakota’s approval standards, you may qualify for an exam waiver — but confirm this directly with the SD Department of Education before assuming your program qualifies. Some candidates may also qualify through CACREP accreditation, but again, verify with the SD DOE.
Pathway B: Hold a master’s in counseling (not specifically school counseling) plus additional requirements. Under this pathway, you’ll likely need to pass the Praxis exam AND complete a one-year mentored experience under a certified South Dakota school counselor. This route is less common and takes longer, but it’s an option if you already hold a general counseling master’s.
Not sure which programs in South Dakota are aligned with these pathways? Start with our list of school counseling master’s programs, or contact the SD Department of Education at (605) 773-3134 to ask about specific programs.
Step 2: Complete your supervised internship (approximately 600 clock hours)
Every candidate must complete a supervised school counseling internship as part of an approved graduate program — typically around 600 clock hours. This happens within your graduate program, supervised by both a university supervisor and an on-site school counselor.
The internship gives you real experience across the K-12 spectrum: individual student sessions, group work, classroom guidance lessons, college and career planning, crisis response, and coordination with teachers and families. Most students complete their internship in their final year of the master’s program. Talk to your program advisor early about how placements work — waitlists at popular school sites are common in smaller South Dakota districts.
Step 3: Complete required trainings
Suicide Awareness and Prevention training. South Dakota requires this as part of the certification application. Your graduate program may cover this requirement, but confirm with your advisor — you don’t want to discover a gap at the application stage.
SD Indian Studies coursework. As of July 2025, South Dakota requires coursework in South Dakota Indian Studies as part of new educator certifications, including school counselors (verify current requirement with the SD DOE). If your master’s program didn’t include this content, you may need to complete it before your application is approved. Contact the SD DOE for a current list of approved courses.
Step 4: Pass the Praxis School Counselor exam (if required)
Some candidates may qualify for a waiver — confirm eligibility with the SD DOE based on your specific program. If you’re required to take the exam, you’ll need to pass the Praxis School Counselor exam (test code 5422) with a passing score of 159 (verify current score requirement with ETS and the SD DOE, as requirements can change).
The Praxis 5422 covers eight content areas including counseling theories, individual and group counseling, assessment, research, and school counseling program development. Register through ETS at praxis.ets.org/. For full details on the exam — including prep resources and score reporting — see the South Dakota School Counselor Certification page.
Step 5: Clear your background check
South Dakota requires a state and federal criminal background check as part of the certification process, coordinated through the SD DOE. Background checks are submitted as part of your application. If you have any concerns about how your background might affect your application, contact the SD DOE directly before applying.
Step 6: Apply for your certification
Apply through the South Dakota Educator Certification Portal (verify the current URL on the SD DOE site before applying). You’ll submit:
- Official transcripts from your master’s program
- Proof of completed internship hours (signed documentation from your supervisor)
- Praxis score report (if required for your pathway)
- Suicide Awareness training completion certificate
- SD Indian Studies coursework documentation (if not covered in your program)
- Completed criminal background investigation
- Application fee: approximately $60 (verify current fee with the SD DOE)
South Dakota awards an Education Specialist Certificate (PreK-12) to certified school counselors. The certificate is valid for five years. For details on renewal requirements, see the South Dakota School Counselor Certification page.
For questions, contact the SD Department of Education at (605) 773-3134 or email [email protected].
I’m a certified counselor from another state…
South Dakota evaluates out-of-state credentials individually rather than offering automatic reciprocity. That means your out-of-state certificate doesn’t transfer automatically — but it doesn’t mean you’re starting from scratch either.
Apply through the South Dakota Educator Certification Portal (verify the current URL on the SD DOE site). The state will review your existing credentials, transcripts, and experience to determine which requirements you’ve already met and what — if anything — remains. In many cases, out-of-state counselors with comparable training need only a few additional steps.
One requirement that applies regardless of your prior experience: SD Indian Studies coursework (3 credit hours, effective July 2025 — verify current requirement with the SD DOE). If you completed your training in another state, you’ll likely need to complete this before your SD certification is approved.
For questions about how your specific credentials will be evaluated, contact the SD Department of Education at (605) 773-3134 before you apply. They can give you a clearer picture of your individual situation without requiring you to submit a full application first.
How Long Does It Take?
The honest answer depends on where you’re starting from.
If you’re beginning with a high school diploma, you’re looking at typically six to seven years total: four years for a bachelor’s degree plus two to three years for a master’s program. Confirming your program meets South Dakota’s approval standards before you enroll is worth the extra step — it can affect whether an exam waiver applies to you.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree and are entering a master’s program, most candidates finish in two to three years, depending on whether they attend full-time or part-time. Some programs offer evening and online coursework specifically designed for working adults, which makes it possible to stay in your current job while completing the degree. The internship, however, requires in-person placement in a school — that’s not something you can do remotely.
If you’re coming from another state with a current certification, the timeline shrinks significantly. Depending on your existing credentials, you may be able to clear South Dakota’s requirements in a matter of months.
Job Outlook in South Dakota
Before you invest six or more years working toward this credential, it’s worth knowing what the job market looks like on the other side.
South Dakota projects about 70 school counselor job openings per year through 2032, with a 10% growth rate over that period (based on current labor projections; verify updates with the SD Department of Labor). The state currently employs fewer than 1,000 counselors (approximate, based on available data), and the median salary sits at $52,450 per year. That’s below the national median of $65,140, but South Dakota’s lower cost of living is worth factoring into that comparison. For a fuller picture of earnings across the state, including metro-level data for Sioux Falls and Rapid City, see the South Dakota school counselor overview page.
One thing worth knowing: about 38% of South Dakota schools currently meet the nationally recommended counselor-to-student ratio of 1:250 (based on ASCA or state data; verify latest figures). That shortage is an ongoing driver of hiring demand, particularly in rural districts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching license to become a school counselor in South Dakota?
No. South Dakota does not require you to hold a teaching license before pursuing school counselor certification. You need a master’s degree in school counseling and the other requirements outlined above, but prior teaching experience is not mandatory. Some candidates do have teaching backgrounds, which can be an advantage when building relationships in schools, but it’s not a requirement.
Can I complete a school counseling master’s program online while working full-time?
It depends on the program and your situation. Many master’s programs in school counseling offer hybrid or online coursework that makes it possible to keep a full-time job during the classroom portion of the degree. The piece that’s harder to work around is the supervised internship, which requires in-person placement in a school. Most students find they need to reduce their work hours — or take a leave of absence — during the internship semester. Talk to your program advisor early about how they structure the internship and what a realistic schedule looks like.
What does the supervised internship actually involve?
The internship is your hands-on training within a K-12 school setting, supervised by both a university faculty member and an on-site school counselor. You’ll work directly with students on academic planning, social-emotional concerns, and college and career readiness. You’ll also observe and participate in the administrative side of the role — communicating with teachers, parents, and administrators, and learning how a school counseling program is managed. The specific breakdown of hours varies by program, but most require a mix of direct service hours and indirect service hours.
What’s the difference between a CACREP and a non-CACREP program, and does it matter for South Dakota certification?
CACREP is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs — the primary accreditation body for graduate counseling programs. Whether your program is CACREP-accredited may affect your eligibility for an exam waiver in South Dakota, but the state’s requirements involve more than just CACREP status — the DOE evaluates programs individually. Before enrolling, ask your program directly whether its graduates have qualified for South Dakota certification without the Praxis exam, and confirm with the SD DOE.
How long is the South Dakota school counselor certification valid?
The Education Specialist Certificate (PreK-12) is valid for five years. Renewal requires completing continuing education hours. For specific renewal requirements — including the number of CE hours and whether the Suicide Awareness training is required at renewal — see the South Dakota School Counselor Certification page.
- A master’s degree is required — You can’t become a certified school counselor in South Dakota without completing a graduate program in school counseling or a closely related field.
- Program approval affects your exam requirement — Some candidates may qualify for a Praxis waiver based on their program; confirm with the SD DOE before enrolling.
- The internship is a core part of every program — All candidates complete a supervised internship in a school setting as part of their graduate program.
- New requirements took effect in July 2025 — SD Indian Studies coursework now applies to new educator certifications; verify current requirements with the SD DOE.
- The job market is growing — South Dakota projects about 70 annual openings through 2032, with demand driven in part by an ongoing counselor shortage in rural districts.
Ready to find a master’s program aligned with South Dakota’s certification requirements?
