Kansas State Department of Education
Licensure Requirements for School Counselors
The
School Counseling program in the Department of Advanced Educational Programs
meets the requirements of the Kansas State Department of Education. Since state
licensing requirements vary from state to state, additional requirements for
these positions will depend on the requirements of your state department of
education. The following are the steps you need to take to receive your license
as a School Counselor in the state of Kansas.
Fort Hays State University will verify your graduate degree for the
Kansas State Department of Education after you have completed the Master’s of
Science in Counseling, emphasis in School Counseling and you have a total of 45 graduate hours.
Obtaining
a Conditional Counselor License:
- A
candidate completes the approved School Counseling program and provides
evidence of an earned master’s degree.
- Candidate
must pass the ETS Content Assessment for School Counselor, PRAXIS II Series
Subject Assessments/Specialty Area Test School Guidance and Counseling
(0420). Register for the School Counselor Praxis II
Content Test at www.ets.org/praxis. The Kansas State Department of
Education requires a minimum score of 600 on the ETS Content
Assessment for School Guidance and Counseling (0420).
- Candidate
secures a position as a School Counselor.
- Candidate
applies for a “Conditional School Counselor License”. This is KSDE
Form 1 “Application for Kansas Conditional License or Added
Endorsements” available only from the FHSU Licensure Office.
Return the completed form to FHSU Licensure Office, Rarick Hall 220, with
the $36 application fee.
Each applicant for a conditional school counselor license shall submit to
the state board the following:
- An
official transcript verifying the granting of a graduate degree
- Verification
from an accredited institution by the unit head or designee of completion
of a graduate level school counseling program
- Verification
of at least one year of recent accredited experience or at least eight
semester hours of recent credit
- Verification
of a minimum 3.25 GPA in graduate coursework
- Verification
of a current valid professional teaching license
- Verification
of successful completion of a school counseling assessment as determined by
the state board
- An
application for conditional school counselor endorsement
- The
license fee
- Verification
of two years of experience in a state-accredited school while holding a
professional teaching license
Obtaining
a Professional School Counselor License
Each applicant for a professional school counselor license shall submit
to the state board the following:
- Verification
of successful completion in a state-accredited school of the school
counselor performance assessment prescribed by the state board
- Verification
of at least one year of recent accredited experience or at least eight
semester hours of recent credit
- An
application for professional school counselor license
- The
endorsement fee
The candidate must apply for a ‘Professional School Counselor License.’
This is KSDE Form 19 ‘Application for Kansas Upgrade from Conditional School
Counselor License to Professional School Counselor License’ available from the
FHSU Licensure Office. Return the completed form to FHSU Licensure Office, Rarick
Hall 220, with a $36 application fee.
The Professional School Counselor License application is sent to KSDE by
FHSU Licensure Office. KSDE will mail the license directly to the candidate.
Allow KSDE 4-6 weeks for processing the application.
For questions related to
licensure, applicants are advised to contact the Licensure Specialist in the
College of Education and Technology, Rarick Hall 220, 785.628.4542.