Louisiana School Counselor Certification

The initial Counselor K-12 license is valid for five (5) years, and allows holders to provide counseling services to students in kindergarten through grade 12.

Step 1: Education Requirements

• Master’s degree in school counseling from a CACREP accredited university or completion of Master’s degree in a counseling field other than school counseling and six credit hours of school counseling courses from a CACREP-accredited program. If you are interested in online programs, contact the following schools:

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  • Featured Universities with School Counseling Programs

  • #1

    Walden University

    MS in School Counseling - General Program. Click here to contact Walden University and request information about their programs.

  • #2

    Campbellsville University

    Online Master of Arts in Education in School Counseling Click here to contact Campbellsville University and request information about their programs.

  • #3

    University of West Alabama

    Master of Education: School Counseling & Education Specialist: School Counseling Click here to contact University of West Alabama and request information about their programs.

  • #4

    Grand Canyon University

    M. Ed in School Counseling (leads to initial Licensure) Click here to contact Grand Canyon University and request information about their programs.

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    Sacred Heart University

    Online Master of Arts in School Counseling Click here to contact Sacred Heart University and request information about their programs.

• You must also complete a practicum in counseling from a CACREP-accredited program, including at least 100 contact hours
• Completion of an internship in counseling from a CAREP-accredited program, including at least 600 contact hours in a school setting

Step 2: Submit to a Criminal Background Check

Upon your hire as a school counselor in Louisiana, your hiring school will assist you in completing a background check through the Louisiana State Police. Your check will include searches with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Sex Offender Registry, Louisiana Sex Offender Registry, and the Louisiana Child Abuse and Neglect Registry. Your new hire background check is valid for five (5) years, and will be renewed each time that you renew your school counselor license. For more information, contact a certification specialist on the LDOE website.

Step 3: Examination Requirements

Applicants for Louisiana school counselor license must pass the Professional School Counselor (ETS 5421) exam with a qualifying score of 156 or higher. For more information about this exam, or to register for a test date, visit the Praxis website.

Step 4: Know the Fees

License Application Fee: $50

Application fees are paid using Visa, MasterCard, or Bank Debit card only.

For more information about certification processing fees, go to this webpage.

Step 5: Organize Your Application Materials

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

• Completed registration and application through the Teach Live! link
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including transfer credits that led to earned degree
• Copy of Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license, if applicable
• Proof of scores from the ETS Professional School Counselor exam (ETS 5421)

Step 6: Submitting Your Application

Your application for Louisiana School Counselor license must be submitted online, using the Teach Live! link.

To access a reference guide for how to create your account, and detailed instructions of how to submit your application materials through the online portal, visit this link.

Additional Information

If you have questions about your Louisiana School Counselor license, you can contact a certification specialist by submitting an inquiry form or call the Department of Education toll free at 877-453-2721.

Initial school counseling licenses are valid for five (5) years in Louisiana, and must be renewed before their expiration. If you received your valid Louisiana school counseling endorsement after July 1, 2013, you may submit verification of your current licensed professional counselor (LPC) license to renew your school counseling endorsement.

If you are not a licensed LPC, you may renew your Louisiana school counseling endorsement by completing 150 hours of continuing learning units (CLUs) over the five (5) year duration of your current, valid license. Earned CLUs must follow the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) and CACREP model for standards-based continuing education.

Renewal applications are submitted online at the Louisiana Department of Education’s Teach Live! link. Visit Teach Live! for login information and to submit your application.

Additional Assistance

For more information about how to renew your Louisiana School Counselor license, you can contact a specialist tollfree at 877-453-2721.

Louisiana does not have reciprocity for out-of-state applicants, however, if you are a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), your license will be considered along with your application for initial school counselor certification.

To apply for a Louisiana School Counseling certificate as an out-of-state applicant, submit your application materials online.

Your application materials will include:

• Completed profile and application
• Official transcripts for all institutions attended
• Proof of scores from the ETS Professional School Counselor exam (ETS 5421)
• Copy of current, valid license(s), including LPC and any other counseling licenses or certifications issued by another state
• $50 application fee paid through the online licensing system, located at Application fees are paid using Visa, MasterCard, or Bank Debit card only

Additional Assistance

If you have questions about your out-of-state application, you can submit an inquiry form or call the Certification department at 877-453-2721.