South Dakota School Counselor Certification

In 2019, there were nearly 140,000 students in South Dakota. School counselors in the state serve children in PreK-12, by nurturing career, academic, and social/emotional development through comprehensive programming.

If you would like more information about the role of school counselors in South Dakota, including the professional evaluation process, visit the School Counseling section of the South Dakota Department of Education website.

Skip down the page to the certification pathway you’re interested in:

• Initial School Counseling Certification
• Certification Renewal
• Certification Through Reciprocity
• Additional Certification Resources

Initial South Dakota School Counselor Certification

The initial Education Specialist Certificate with School Counseling endorsement is valid for five (5) years. South Dakota offers two options for applicants, depending on education and experience.

Step 1: Education Requirements

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements to receive a school counselor endorsement.

1. Complete a master’s degree or higher school counseling preparation program for preschool through grade 12, such as the following programs:

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   OR,

2. Complete a master’s degree or higher in counseling, and
   • Pass the School Counselor (ETS Code 5422), and
   • Complete one year of supervision by a certified mentor school counselor

Step 2: Criminal Background Check

South Dakota laws stipulate that school districts will complete a criminal background investigation on all prospective employees by submitting fingerprint cards to the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. There is no pre-application requirement for background checking.

Step 3: Examination Requirements

The examination requirement is only for applicants who have not earned a master’s degree or higher from an approved school counseling preparation program. To obtain a School Counselor Certificate in South Dakota with a master’s degree or higher in counseling, you must take and pass the School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5422). For more information about this exam, or to register for a test date, visit the Praxis website.

Know the Fees

The application fee for an initial educator certificate is $60, payable online through the through the South Dakota Educator Certification Portal.

You can also mail a check or money order payable to the Department of Education to:

Step 4: Application Materials Checklist

Your application materials include the following:

• Completed profile and application through the through the South Dakota Educator Certification Portal.
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including transfer credits that led to earned degree
• Proof of qualifying score for the School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5422), if applicable
• Proof of completion of Suicide Awareness and Prevention training. For a list of approved training programs, visit this webpage
• $60 initial application fee

Step 5: Submit Your Application

The South Dakota application for school counseling certification is submitted online via the the South Dakota Educator Certification Portal.

Official transcripts must be sent by the university to [email protected] or mailed to:

Additional Information

If you need assistance with your initial application, contact the contact the South Dakota Department of Education at (605) 773-3134. You can also email a specialist at [email protected].

South Dakota School Counselor Certification Renewal

The school counselor credential is renewed every five (5) years and may be renewed any time after January 1 of the expiration year. To renew your school counselor certificate, you will complete the renewal application online through the the South Dakota Educator Certification Portal.

Required materials for your renewal application include:

• Proof of completion of Suicide Awareness and Prevention training. For a list of approved trainings, visit SD Department of Education website.
• Completion of six (6) education-related transcripted credits, specialized learning experience hours, or continuing education contact hours. For detailed information about each of these criterion, download this PDF
• $60 renewal application fee

Additional Assistance

For more information, you can call the South Dakota Department of Education at (605) 773-3134.

South Dakota School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity

South Dakota offers certification through reciprocity for applicants whose school counseling credential is from another state. In order to be considered for South Dakota initial certification via reciprocity, you must meet the following requirements:

• Completed profile and application through the the South Dakota Educator Certification Portal.

• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including transfer credits that led to earned degree
• Proof of qualifying score for the School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5422), if applicable
• Proof of completion of Suicide Awareness and Prevention training. For a list of approved trainings, visit this webpage
• Proof of completion of an approved 3-credit South Dakota Indian studies course. For a list of approved courses, view this webpage
• $60 initial application fee

For more information about the reciprocity requirements, view this PDF.

Additional Assistance

If you have questions about your reciprocity application, you can contact the South Dakota Department of Education at (605) 773-3134.

You can also email your inquiries to [email protected].

South Dakota School Counseling Certification Resources

For resources to assist you with continuing education and other career development opportunities, see the following websites:

• South Dakota School Counseling Association
• South Dakota Counseling Association
• American School Counselor Association
• National Board for Certified Counselors

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