How to Become a West Virginia School Counselor
To become a West Virginia school counselor, you’ll need a master’s in counseling and an accredited school counseling program. You’ll also need supervised fieldwork, a qualifying Praxis School Counselor (5422) score (currently 159), and a WVDE background check. Then you apply for the Professional Student Support Certificate. Expect six or more years after high school.
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If you’re starting from scratch, with no college degree yet, the path is long but straightforward. If you already have a bachelor’s or even a master’s in a related field, you’re closer than you might think.
West Virginia certifies school counselors through the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE), not the state counseling board. That distinction matters if you’re also thinking about becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. Here’s how the school path works.
I’m a High School Graduate…
There’s no direct path from high school into school counseling in West Virginia. You’ll spend your undergraduate years building a foundation, then apply to a graduate school counseling program.
Step One: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Your undergraduate major doesn’t have to be school counseling. West Virginia doesn’t require it. Psychology, education, sociology, and social work are all common starting points. Coursework in human development, child psychology, or education gives you a useful base for graduate study. It also helps you find out early whether this work fits you.
Step Two: Spend Time Around Students
Volunteering gives you a realistic picture of the work and can strengthen a graduate application. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State has offices in Huntington and Charleston. It serves Cabell, Wayne, Mason, Putnam, and Kanawha counties. You can also call your local school district and ask about tutoring or mentoring roles.
Most counselors will tell you that nothing clarifies a career decision faster than spending real time in a school. It’s worth doing before you commit two or more years to a graduate program.
I Have Already Earned a College Degree…
From here, West Virginia’s path to your first school counselor certificate comes down to four steps.
Step One: Complete a Master’s Degree and an Accredited School Counseling Program
West Virginia’s certification rule (Policy 5202) requires a master’s degree in counseling from an accredited institution. You also need to complete an accredited school counseling program. Programs go through state approval too, so confirm a program leads to West Virginia certification before you apply. Our guide to master’s programs in school counseling explains how to compare them.
In-state, Marshall University offers a 60-credit M.A. in Counseling with a School Counseling emphasis. CACREP lists the program as Accredited (Progress Report Required) through April 30, 2034. It’s delivered online, with live evening class sessions. It doesn’t require the GRE. Instead, you’ll submit a writing sample, a video personal statement, and two recommendations.
Marshall isn’t the only route, though. The WVDE’s list of state-approved programs shows which programs lead to West Virginia certification. You’ll find more on school counseling programs in West Virginia on our state overview page.
Cost is a fair question. Marshall’s published 2026-27 online rate is $548 per credit. For 60 credits, that comes to about $32,880 in tuition before program fees. Confirm the current cost with the university before you enroll.
Your program will include supervised fieldwork. West Virginia’s certification rule doesn’t set its own statewide hour total, so the hours come from your program. CACREP’s 2024 standards call for a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship. For school counseling, that internship happens in schools. Fieldwork is often the hardest part of the degree to schedule. Ask early how placements work, and read up on getting the most out of your school counseling internship. Most students finish a school counseling master’s in two to three years, depending on course load.
Step Two: Pass the Praxis School Counselor Test (5422)
For the standard initial pathway, West Virginia uses the Praxis School Counselor test (5422). WVDE’s licensure testing directory, effective October 1, 2025, sets the qualifying score at 159. Scores and testing policies can change, so confirm with WVDE before you register.
The same directory waives the Praxis Core basic skills tests in some cases. That covers candidates who hold a master’s degree or are enrolled in a state-approved master’s program. Some programs may require you to pass 5422 before your internship, so ask how yours handles timing. Registration, dates, and fees run through ETS.
Step Three: Complete a Background Check
WVDE only accepts background checks completed through its own process. A check done for another state or by an outside agency won’t count, even a recent one.
Here’s how it works. After you apply for certification, the Office of Certification emails you a service code. You use that code to schedule fingerprinting with IdentoGo, online or by phone at (855) 766-7746. WVDE lists the fee as $50.25. It can run higher if you’re fingerprinted outside West Virginia.
Can’t get to an IdentoGo location? You can request two hard fingerprint cards from WVDE through its online form. Complete them and mail them to IdentoGo with a Hard Card form and payment.
Your application packet also includes a notarized Form 7. Depending on your situation, you may also need a Form 4B character reference. WVDE’s first-time applicant page spells out who needs each one, along with current fees.
Step Four: Submit Your Application
Which form you file depends on where you trained. If you completed your program at a West Virginia college, apply with Form 20S. You’ll submit it through the WVDE Certification Portal. Did you finish an approved program at an out-of-state college without earning that state’s certificate? Then use Form 20SA. Either way, you’re applying for the Professional Student Support Certificate with a School Counselor (PreK-Adult) endorsement.
Your first certificate is valid for three years. Moving up to a five-year certificate takes verified full-time experience and additional coursework. Our page on West Virginia certification requirements covers the details.
Can You Work While You Finish?
Sometimes. WVDE issues a First-Class/Full-Time Permit for Student Support (Form 1S). A county can request one when a counselor position is open and no certified candidate applied.
Picture Dana, a middle school teacher halfway through her counseling master’s. Her district posts a counselor opening and gets no certified applicants. The superintendent can recommend her for a permit. She starts the job while she finishes her degree.
To be eligible for the permit, you need:
- A bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.5 GPA
- Enrollment in an approved school counseling program, with at least 30 percent completed
- The county superintendent’s recommendation
The permit is valid for one year. It can be renewed up to four times, for a maximum of five years. Each renewal requires six semester hours of program coursework. A licensed school counselor has to supervise you directly. It’s a real option for career changers, but it depends on a district having an opening it can’t fill. Confirm current terms with WVDE before you count on it.
School Counselor Certification vs. the LPC in West Virginia
These are two different credentials from two different agencies, and people mix them up constantly.
School counselor certification comes from WVDE. It lets you work as a counselor in a West Virginia public school. The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential comes from the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling. It covers clinical counseling outside schools, like private practice or community mental health.
West Virginia’s LPC asks for more. The board requires a 60-semester-hour graduate counseling degree that meets its accreditation and coursework standards. A CACREP-accredited program is one accepted route, not the only one. Next comes a provisional license. You’ll hold it while completing 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience after your master’s degree. Other states set their own LPC rules, so these figures apply to West Virginia only.
If you want both doors open, ask programs directly. Marshall says its School Counseling emphasis graduates can apply for both the LPC-WV license and school certification. Being eligible to apply isn’t the same as qualifying right away. The LPC still requires the post-degree supervised hours.
I’m a Certified Counselor from Another State…
West Virginia has an application pathway for school counselors already certified in another state, but approval isn’t automatic. You’ll apply with Form 20SR. It requires a valid, renewable, and transferrable out-of-state certificate. You’ll still need to:
- Complete West Virginia’s own background check and fingerprinting (out-of-state checks aren’t accepted)
- Submit a Form 4B character reference, unless you already work in West Virginia public schools
- Have your credentials evaluated against West Virginia’s requirements
You’ll find testing and evaluation details for out-of-state applicants on our West Virginia certification page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a school counselor in West Virginia?
Starting from high school, expect six years or more. That’s about four years for a bachelor’s degree and two to three years for a master’s program with supervised fieldwork. Already have a bachelor’s? Then you’re looking at roughly two to three years, plus time to test and apply.
How many fieldwork hours will I need in West Virginia?
West Virginia’s certification rule doesn’t set its own statewide hour total, so your program’s requirements are what matter. CACREP-accredited programs follow CACREP’s standards: a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship. Non-CACREP programs may differ, so ask your advisor about hours and placement schedules before you enroll.
How do I choose the right school counseling program in West Virginia?
Start with whether the program leads to West Virginia school counselor certification. Then check accreditation. Look at delivery format, cost, and how internship placements work. If you might want an LPC later, ask whether the degree meets West Virginia’s LPC education requirements.
Can I work in a West Virginia school before I’m fully certified?
Possibly, through a First-Class/Full-Time Permit for Student Support. It’s available when a district has an open counselor position and no certified applicant. You’d need to be enrolled in an approved school counseling program with at least 30 percent completed. The permit lasts one year and can be renewed up to four times, for a maximum of five years.
Can I keep my current job while completing fieldwork?
It depends on your program and your schedule. School counseling internships happen in schools during the school day, which makes full-time work hard. Online programs with evening classes help with coursework, but not with the internship itself. Talk with your advisor before assuming you can do both.
- Plan for a long path: Expect six or more years from high school, including a counseling master’s and fieldwork.
- Know the test: The standard initial pathway currently requires a 159 on the Praxis School Counselor (5422) test.
- Use the right form: Form 20S, 20SA, or 20SR, depending on where you trained or hold a certificate.
- A permit can bridge the gap: Enrolled students may work on a permit when no certified candidate applies.
- School certification isn’t the LPC: WVDE certifies school counselors. West Virginia’s LPC requires 3,000 supervised hours after your master’s degree.
If you’re comparing master’s programs, start with whether the program leads to West Virginia certification. Then look at how its internship fits your life. Getting that choice right makes every step after it easier.
