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School Counselor — SC/NCC
School counselor certification requires a master's degree in school counseling, supervised practicum and internship hours, and passing the Praxis or state-specific examination. All 51 jurisdictions require some form of certification — requirements for CACREP accreditation, exams, and continuing education vary by state.
51
Total States
51
Require Credential
26
Require Praxis
57.6 hrs
Avg CE Hours
School counselor certification involves completing a master's degree, supervised field experience, passing required examinations, and meeting state-specific requirements.
A master's degree in school counseling is universally required. Many states require or prefer graduation from a CACREP-accredited program. Programs include 100 hours of practicum and 300-700 hours of school-based internship.
The Praxis School Counselor exam (5421) is required in 35+ states. Some states (CA, FL, IL, MA, MI, MN, NY, TX, WA) use their own state-specific examinations. Passing scores typically range from 152 to 160.
The National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential from NBCC is recognized in 40+ states. Continuing education requirements range from 6 to 100 hours per renewal cycle, covering counseling theory, ethics, and student development.
Side-by-side fees, hours, exams, and timelines across all 50 states. Sort by cost, hours, or any column.
Compare All StatesFind out if your license transfers to another state and what extra steps are needed.
Check ReciprocityBrowse approved programs by state — compare costs, requirements, and timelines.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | Credential Req. | Praxis Req. | CACREP Req. | CE Hours | Total Fees | Confidence | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | Yes | No | 50 | $60 | high | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Yes | No | No | 6 | $200 | high | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Yes | No | No | 60 | $60 | high | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Yes | Yes | No | 36 | $75 | high | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | No | No | 0 | $202.50 | high | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6 | $90 | high | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Yes | No | No | 90 | $200 | high | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Yes | Yes | No | 90 | $100 | high | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Yes | Yes | No | 120 | $50 | high | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Yes | No | No | 6 | $75 | high | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Yes | No | No | 10 | $20 | high | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Yes | Yes | No | 6 | $50 | high | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Yes | No | No | 6 | $75 | high | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Yes | No | No | 120 | $150 | high | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | Yes | No | No | 90 | $70 | high | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Yes | No | No | 6 | $40 | high | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | Yes | Yes | No | 120 | $60 | high | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | Yes | Yes | No | 42 | $85 | high | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 150 | $50 | high | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Yes | Yes | No | 6 | $100 | high | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Yes | No | No | 6 | $10 | high | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Yes | No | No | 150 | $100 | high | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Yes | No | No | 150 | $160 | high | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Yes | No | No | 125 | $90.25 | high | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Yes | Yes | No | 5 | $0 | high | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | Yes | No | No | 40 | $100 | high | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Yes | Yes | No | 60 | $36 | high | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | Yes | Yes | No | 6 | $55 | high | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | Yes | No | 90 | $180 | high | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Yes | No | No | 75 | $130 | high | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | No | No | 0 | $95 | high | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Yes | Yes | No | 6 | $150 | high | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | Yes | No | No | 100 | $50 | high | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Yes | Yes | No | 8 | $70 | high | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Yes | Yes | No | 6 | $35 | high | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | Yes | No | No | 18 | $200 | high | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Yes | No | No | 0 | $50 | high | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | No | Yes | 75 | $192 | high | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Yes | Yes | No | 6 | $200 | high | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Yes | Yes | No | 20 | $100 | high | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Yes | Yes | No | 120 | $105 | high | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | Yes | Yes | No | 6 | $60 | high | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Yes | Yes | No | 30 | $0 | high | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Yes | No | No | 200 | $77 | high | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Yes | Yes | No | 100 | $75 | high | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Yes | Yes | No | 45 | $200 | high | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | Yes | No | No | 180 | $100 | high | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Yes | No | No | 100 | $39 | high | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Yes | Yes | No | 6 | $25 | high | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Yes | Yes | No | 6 | $125 | high | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | Yes | No | No | 5 | $75 | high | March 2026 |
School counselors often work alongside other licensed professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.
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