Utah Links
How to Become a Utah School Counselor
Where are you on your quest to become a Utah School Counselor?
Explore the information below and learn how you can become a school counselor in Utah. 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 Utah State Board of Education’s Educator Licensing Department at (801) 538-7740.
- 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 researching the Utah school counselor career, you are in a great position to take advantage of many opportunities. Whether you are from St. George, Provo, Salt Lake City, or anywhere else across Utah, you will find many opportunities to learn more about careers in education. So, don’t stop here!
Below are recommended steps that will help you learn how to advance your current level of education as well as opportunities to help you learn more about whether a career as a Utah school counselor is right for you!
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. The only necessity is that you begin earning your associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree.
Step Two:
Volunteering is a great way to learn more about what it’s like to work in a social services career focused on children and young adults. The following are links to organizations who can place you in volunteering positions across the state of Utah:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
- List of Utah school districts and schools
- Find and contact schools near you to learn more about volunteering opportunities available to you.
I have already earned a college degree…
The following are the steps necessary for earning your school counseling certification in Utah:
Step One:
Fulfill educational requirements through one of the following avenues:
- Earn a master’s degree in school counseling
- Or find more school counseling programs in Utah here.
Step Two:
If you have not already completed two years of teaching experience prior to applying for your Utah school counselor certification, you will need to complete 600 hours of supervised field experience.
If you have already completed two years of teaching experience, you will only need to complete 400 hours of field experience.
Step Three:
Prior to applying for your certification, you will need to complete a criminal background check.
For more information about fingerprinting procedures and the background check process, click on the following USOE link.
Step Four:
In most cases, your school counseling preparation program university will assist you in the application process. You can also contact the Utah State Board of Education’s Educator Licensing Department at (801) 538-7740.
I’m a certified counselor from another state…
The Utah State Board of Education recognizes out-of-state school counselor certifications through reciprocity agreements. However, you will still need to complete a criminal history background check as well as have your current credentials evaluated.
Review the License Equivalency Review (LER) Application Checklist to learn more about applying as an out-of-state candidate.