Louisiana School Counselor Certification

If you’re planning on becoming a school counselor in Louisiana, you’ll need to pursue state certification in order to do so.

School counselors take on immense responsibilities in the lives of young people, and your certification will indicate that you have the training and expertise to handle these duties. 

School counselors in Louisiana assist over 700,000 students and their families with academic, career, social, and emotional development. Currently, there are more than 2,000 school counselors across the state; a number expected to grow exponentially over the next decade.

This article will provide an overview of how to become a school counselor in Louisiana, breaking down the education and certification process so that any who wish to enter this field can do so with ease. If you’ve been hoping to acquire guidance counselor credentials but aren’t sure where to get started, this will tell you everything you need to know about how to meet Louisiana’s qualifications for guidance counselor certification.

To learn more about how you can contribute to student success as a Louisiana School Counselor, download the Louisiana School Counseling Model guide.

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 Louisiana School Counselor Certification

If you are new to the school counseling profession, you will start your career by pursuing your initial school counselor certification, which asserts that you have been thoroughly trained to meet the high demands of the job. 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:
• 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

Your guidance counselor education will be geared toward preparing you for your credentialing exams. These will cover the material included in your guidance counselor classes, touching on topics including protocols for student counseling and interventions, ethical questions in the field of school counseling, and more. Though your guidance counselor schooling will have given you the knowledge you need to succeed on this test, it’s highly encouraged to study, as you will not be able to take the next steps in your career until you have passed your exams.

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.

Louisiana School Counselor Certification Renewal

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 School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity

If you already hold guidance counselor credentials in a state outside of Louisiana, it may be possible for you to obtain Louisiana state certification without too much difficulty. 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.

Louisiana School Counseling Certification Resources

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

• Louisiana Counseling Association
• American School Counselor Association
• National Board of Certified Counselors

FAQs

What degree do I need to become a counselor in K-12 schools in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, you can qualify for your school counselor certification exams by enrolling in a Master of School Counseling Program or by enrolling in a separate master’s program while taking six or more guidance counseling classes as either a specialization track or additional certificate path. This gives you more leeway in your guidance counselor education options than is offered in many other states.

Do I need to complete a field internship in order to meet requirements to become a guidance counselor in Louisiana?

Yes. You will need to complete 100 practicum hours in your master’s program, as well as a 600-hour field internship directly involved in school counseling. This will allow you to build skills and experience to ensure that you are thoroughly prepared for the work that is ahead of you as a school counselor.

How long does it take to be a guidance counselor in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, school counselors must complete a master’s program, which typically takes 2.5 to three years to complete on a full time schedule, as well as a 600-hour (15 weeks, full time) field internship on a K-12 campus. After this, they will be eligible to sit for their guidance counselor credential exams.

If I already hold a school counselor certificate in another state, what do I need to be a guidance counselor in Louisiana?

Though Louisiana does not have a formal license reciprocity program, those who hold Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credentials will be able to submit them for consideration alongside their application for their initial school counselor consideration. This is the advised first step for out-of-state school counselors who are relocating to Louisiana.

Back to the top