Indiana School Counselor Certification

Indiana school guidance counselors help students succeed by promoting student engagement and learning, a positive school culture, and college and career readiness. They play a vital role in helping individual students who are struggling get back on track, while at the same time developing and implementing programs to better the school community as a whole.

Because school counselors take on such delicate responsibilities, one must hold up-to-date guidance counselor credentials in order to work in K-12 schools in Indiana as well as the rest of the country.

Your certification will demonstrate that you meet the qualifications for school counselor positions at schools of all types, all over the state. It is a shorthand for prospective employers to see that you have completed your guidance counselor education and are entering their school with the extensive skills and knowledge to thrive in this role.

So what are the requirements to be a guidance counselor in Indiana? In fact, what is expected of you will depend on your current level of education, your prior work experience, and if you already hold school counselor credentials outside of Indiana. Skip down the page to the certification pathway you’re interested in:

• Initial School Counseling Certification
• Certification Renewal
• Certification Through Reciprocity
• Additional Certification Resources

Initial Indiana School Counselor Certification

If you are just starting out as a school counselor, the first type of guidance counselor credentials you will pursue will be your Initial Counselor Certification. Applicants for an Indiana original school counselor license must submit a packet for consideration of an evaluation, which does not guarantee a license.

To be considered for an evaluation, you must meet all of the following requirements.

Step 1: Educational Requirements

The first step in the certification process is completing your school counselor education. You will need to pursue a master’s degree or higher in school counseling from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, with completed coursework in school service standards.

The most straightforward degree that meets guidance counselor education requirements is a Master of School Counseling degree. That said, not all schools offer this pathway. Some schools offer specialization pathways in School Counseling within larger majors like Counseling Psychology or Education. These are generally reliable avenues for guidance counselor schooling as well, but it’s very important to make sure you are enrolled in a program that will meet credentialing requirements, so it’s strongly advised to do your research during the application process.

There are a few additional requirements to become a guidance counselor that are not related to your professional training or master’s education. These include:

• Completion of CPR/Heimlich maneuver certification. For a list of approved providers, visit this webpage
• Completion of suicide prevention training. For a list of training opportunities, including approved online vendors, visit the Indiana DOE website

Step 2: Submit to a Criminal Background Check

Upon being hired, new Indiana school counselors will be required to obtain an expanded criminal history check and expanded child protection index check, and pay for all associated costs. The criminal history check must be completed no later than thirty (30) days after the hire date, and the child protection index check must be complete no more than sixty (60) days after the hire date.

Background checks may be updated every five (5) years.

For more information about criminal background checking and pre-employment reference checks, view this PDF.

Step 3: Examination Requirements

Upon completing your guidance counselor schooling, you now meet qualifications for guidance counselor credentials. Congratulations!

You must complete the Indiana Core Assessment for School Counselor, with a passing score of 220. This multiple-choice, computer-based exam takes approximately two hours to complete. The exam fee is $114, payable with a VISA or MasterCard credit card only.

Your guidance counselor education will prepare you for the material on this test, but you’re also urged to take time to study on your own or with your classmates. After all, without your guidance counselor credentials, you will not be eligible to work in Indiana’s K-12 schools. You don’t want your guidance counselor schooling to go to waste, nor do you want to have to take the test (and pay its fees) repeatedly, so do the work of preparing now so you can obtain your credentials and hit the ground running.

Approved testing sites are located nationwide, and offer year-round testing dates. For more information about this exam, to access study materials, and register for a test date, visit the Indiana CORE Assessment website.

Step 4: Organize Your Application Materials

Your complete application is submitted online and includes the following materials:

• Completed profile and application through the online LVIS system, located here
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including transfer credits that led to earned degree
• A copy of your CPR/Heimlich maneuver certification
• A copy of your suicide prevention training certificate
• $35 initial fee to determine eligibility for evaluation

When you submit your application materials, you will also select your recommending institution. A licensing advisor from that institution will process your Indiana school counselor license application. For a list of Licensing Advisors at colleges/universities across the state, visit this this webpage.

Step 5: Know the Fees

Initial fee to determine eligibility for evaluation: $35 plus a processing fee
Upon successful evaluation, license issuance fee: $35 plus a processing fee

All fees are nonrefundable. An automated email will notify you when the license issuance fee is due. For additional information about the application fees, visit this webpage.

Step 6: Submit Your Application

Your application for Indiana School Counselor license must be submitted online, using the Licensing Verification and Information System (LVIS), located on the Indiana DOE website.

For detailed instructions about how to create an online profile, apply online, and submit all necessary supporting documentation through the portal, download the Licensing Advisor Manual.

Additional Information

If you need assistance with your School Counselor license application, please contact the licensing department at the Indiana Department of Education.

Phone: 317-232-9010
Email: licensinghelp@doe.in.gov

Indiana School Counselor Certification Renewal

The school counselor license is valid for two (2), five (5), or ten (10) years from the date of issue, depending on which license the Licensing Advisor grants, and must be renewed within 45 days of the license expiration date.

Your renewal application must include renewal through one of the following methods:

• Professional Growth Plan, download this document here for more information about renewing your license through a professional growth plan; or

• Professional development activities, and may include six (6) hours college coursework. For more information about renewing your license through coursework, visit this webpage.

  The licensing advisor at each Indiana college/university can advise you which courses qualify for the professional development renewal requirement. For a list of Licensing Advisors at colleges/universities across the state, visit this webpage.

If you would like to renew your Indiana School Counselor license online, visit the Indiana DOE website for all required materials and information for how to renew online.

Additional Assistance

For more information about how to renew your Indiana School Counselor license, you can contact a certification specialist via email at licensinghelp@doe.in.gov or call the Department of Education at 317-232-9010.

Indiana School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity

If you already hold credentials in another state, you will likely meet the state of Indiana’s requirements to become a guidance counselor. Although Indiana does not have a full reciprocity process, applicants who hold a current and valid school counselor license in another U.S. state can submit materials as an out-of-state applicant. The complete application packet, including all supporting documentation and fees, must be submitted online.

Out-of-state application materials include:

• Completed profile, application, and $35 initial payment through the online licensing system
• Copy of CPR/Heimlich maneuver certification
• Copy of suicide prevention training certificate
• Official transcripts for all institutions attended
• Copy of current, valid school counselor license
• Verification of out-of-state experience as a school counselor

For more details about these application materials, and instructions for how to complete an online profile, visit the IN DOE website.

Additional Assistance

If you have questions about your out-of-state application, contact the Indiana Department of Education at 317-232-901 to speak with a specialist.

Indiana School Counseling Certification Resources

For resources to assist you with continuing education and other career development opportunities, see the following websites:

• Indiana School Counselor Association
• Indiana State Board of Education
• American School Counselor Association
• National Board of Certified Counselors

FAQs

What degree do I need to be a guidance counselor in Indiana?

In order to qualify for guidance counselor credentials in Indiana, you must have completed a master’s program related to school counseling. This can be a Master of School Counseling degree or a degree in a larger topic like Counseling Psychology or Education, provided that you pursue a specialization pathway in School Counseling within such a program. You will be expected to have completed guidance counselor classes as well as a field internship (practicum) experience that has given you hands-on work experience in schools.

How do I find school counselor jobs near me in Indiana?

There are school counselor positions in K-12 schools all over the state of Indiana. You’re advised to begin investigating options near you while you are completing your field internship, which can provide a valuable opportunity for you to network and get the lay of the land before you enter the workforce.

How much do guidance counselors make an hour in Indiana?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, school counselors earn a mean hourly wage of $24.36. As a mean annual wage, this comes out to $55,830 a year. Though these numbers are lower than national averages, it’s worth noting that Indiana has a lower cost of living on average than many other states in the nation, meaning your salary can go further here than it would in many other places. That said, those looking to improve their wages are encouraged to pursue additional specializations, which can qualify them for higher pay down the line.

What are the requirements to be a guidance counselor if I already hold credentials in another state?

If you are relocating to Indiana after already having established a career as a certified school counselor, you will likely be able to “transfer” your credentials by submitting them to the Indiana Department of Education for approval. Though not an official license reciprocity agreement, this should be enough for any qualified individual with active guidance counselor credentials to maintain their certified status in the state.

Back to the top