School Counseling Credentials

The School Counselor Credential (SC03) authorizes an individual to serve students in prekindergarten through grade twelve.

To qualify, an applicant must hold a master's degree in counseling, education, or a related human service field, and must have completed graduate core counseling coursework from a state-approved school counseling program in the following content areas:

• Elementary school counseling
• Secondary school counseling
• Supervised school counseling internship, a minimum of 450 contact hours, with at least 150 contact hours at both the elementary and secondary level
• Counseling program management
• Counseling theories
• Assessment techniques
• Group counseling
• Career counseling and assessment
• Social and multicultural counseling
• Ethics and law
• Counseling techniques

If a school is unable to employ a credentialed counselor, it may employ a licensed teacher to serve as counselor while completing a state-approved school counseling graduate program under an approved Plan of Study.

To qualify for a School Counselor Plan of Study, an applicant must:

• Hold a current ESPB Professional Educators License.
• Have completed a minimum of three graduate courses in the school counseling curriculum, covering: counseling theory, counseling methods or techniques, program management, and ethics and law.
• Submit transcripts each year documenting a minimum of five semester hours of completed graduate core counseling coursework, continuing until the credential is obtained.

A Plan of Study is approved for one school year and may be extended each year, provided the individual completes at least five credits toward the graduate program. To extend, the individual submits a transcript showing that progress; a new application is not required each year.

Approved universities: UND, NDSU, University of Mary, MSU-Moorhead, Capella, Walden, Fort Hays State, St. Cloud State, and Creighton University.

The Provisional School Counselor Credential (SCP3) is available to individuals approved by the Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB). It is valid for one year and may be renewed in one-year terms for a maximum of seven years.

Your school counselor credential is renewed each time your educator's professional license is renewed. If you hold a lifetime North Dakota educator's professional license, you renew the credential every five years.

Renewal requirements are based on the length of your credential term. Shorter terms exist so your credential can stay in sync with your teaching license, and the coursework required scales to the length of the term. Find your term below and complete the matching requirement.

The required counseling coursework may be met with 30 clock-hours of continuing education in counseling, verified in writing by the workshop or conference sponsor, your employer, or a school district business manager.

Note: ND Teach has a transcript upload feature. Once transcripts are uploaded to an application, a to-do item may still appear asking for mailed copies of official transcripts. That item will be overridden by NDDPI staff when your documents are downloaded and viewed during processing.

Complete the School Counselor Credential or School Counselor Plan of Study application on ND Teach. To find the application, select Begin New Application, then Add or Renew Credential, then click the credential you are applying for.

1. Upload a copy of your transcripts to the application.
2. For a new credential, include documentation from a counselor educator verifying your school counseling internship, including the grade levels and number of contact hours, and the name and location of the school where the internship occurred.

Note: ND Teach has a transcript upload feature. Once transcripts are uploaded to an application, a to-do item may still appear asking for mailed copies of official transcripts. That item will be overridden by NDDPI staff when your documents are downloaded and viewed during processing.

The Basics

What is a school counseling credential?
The school counselor credential (SC03) is issued by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) after verifying that you have met all the education and licensure requirements in Chapter 67-11-05. You must hold this credential to be employed as a school counselor in North Dakota. An SC03 credential allows you to serve students in prekindergarten through grade twelve.

Do I need a teaching license to be a school counselor?
Yes. Your school counselor credential is valid only while you hold a North Dakota Educator's Professional License. The Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB), not NDDPI, issues that license. For questions about obtaining a teaching license, contact ESPB at (701) 328-9641.

How long is my credential valid?
Your counselor credential expires at the same time as your teaching license.

Getting Your Credential

How do I qualify for a school counselor credential (SC03)?
You must hold a master's degree in counseling, education, or a related human service field, and you must have completed graduate core counseling coursework from a state-approved program in each of these areas:

• Elementary school counseling
• Secondary school counseling
• Supervised school counseling internship (a minimum of 450 contact hours, with at least 150 contact hours at both the elementary and secondary level)
• Counseling program management
• Counseling theories
• Assessment techniques
• Group counseling
• Career counseling and assessment
• Social and multicultural counseling
• Ethics and law
• Counseling techniques

I don't have a teaching degree. Are there additional ESPB requirements?
Yes. If you do not have a teaching degree, ESPB will require the following before issuing your teaching license:

• Educational Psychology
• Instructional Planning, Methods, and Assessment
• Classroom Management
• Multicultural/Native American Studies
• A passing score on the Praxis II

What is a state-approved program?
North Dakota Century Code 67-11-05-03 requires that ESPB, together with NDDPI, oversee program approval at North Dakota colleges. The three state-approved school counseling programs in North Dakota are North Dakota State University, University of Mary, and University of North Dakota.

If Your School Can't Hire a Credentialed Counselor (Plan of Study)

What if a school is unable to employ a credentialed counselor?
The school may employ a licensed teacher to serve as the counselor under a Plan of Study approved by NDDPI, while that teacher completes the coursework needed for the full credential.

What is a Plan of Study?
A Plan of Study is an outline of the courses you will take to become a credentialed school counselor, and the order you will take them in. You create it with your university or college, then enter it in ND Teach. The outline lists course names, course numbers, credit hours, and the date you expect to complete each course. All courses must come from a state-approved school counseling program.

What coursework do I need before my initial Plan of Study can be approved?
You must have completed a minimum of three graduate classes from the required master's curriculum at a state-approved program, covering these areas:

• Ethics and law
• Counseling theory
• Counseling methods or techniques
• Program management

How often are Plans of Study reviewed?
Every year, until the credential is earned. Each year, you must submit official transcripts showing you have completed at least five semester hours of graduate core counseling coursework.

How do I renew my Plan of Study?
Log in to ND Teach and select "Renew Plan of Study." Provide official transcripts showing at least five semester hours of graduate core counseling coursework completed that year. You do not need to submit a new Plan of Study application each year.

Renewing Your Credential

How do I renew my school counselor credential?
Log in to ND Teach and apply for the credential renewal.

What are the requirements to renew?
Your teaching license and counselor credential renew at the same time, so what you need depends on your situation. Find yours below:

Standard five-year license and credential:
You need six credits to renew your five-year teaching license, with two of the six in counseling. Those two counseling credits also satisfy your credential's counseling requirement.

Lifetime teaching license:
You still renew your counselor credential every five years. Submit transcripts showing four semester hours completed, with two in counseling.

Two-year license and credential:
Renewal credits are calculated at one semester hour per year, so a two-year renewal requires two semester hours, with one in counseling. (ESPB does not require any credits to renew a two-year teaching license.)

Can I use continuing education instead of counseling credits?
Yes. For your NDDPI credential, the required counseling coursework can be met with continuing education in counseling, at a rate of 30 clock-hours for every two counseling semester hours (or 15 clock-hours for one). Attendance must be verified in writing by the workshop or conference sponsor, your employer, or a school district business manager. Please note: these clock-hours count toward your credential only. They do not count toward renewing your teaching license.

Are official transcripts required?
For an initial North Dakota license or an initial school counseling credential, official transcripts are required. For all renewals, unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

After You're Approved

How will I receive my credential?
Credentials are no longer printed and mailed. Once you are approved, you will receive an email with a congratulations letter and a PDF of your certificate. The letter lists your specific credential, its expiration date, and how to renew it. You can also print your credential anytime from your ND Teach account.