New Jersey School Counselor Certification

With rising youth anxiety, depression, and post-pandemic recovery needs, the importance of school counselors has never been more apparent.

In New Jersey, school counselors serve nearly 1.5 million students located across the state. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommends a ratio of 250 students per counselor, but New Jersey averages closer to 344:1. This statistic indicates a clear need for more certified professionals, demonstrating a meaningful opportunity for ambitious mental health professionals to make a difference in their communities.

School counselors are a vital part of any pedagogical environment. Most frequently employed in K-12 public schools, school counselors can do anything from offer therapy in both one-on-one and group contexts; support students socially, emotionally, or academically in the classroom; uplift students by offering motivational career counseling; and advocate on behalf of students to administrators, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders.

Qualified school counselors are also trained in relevant issues in their state, with the ability to
develop comprehensive school counseling programs for campuses that address mandates in No Child Left Behind and/or the Every Student Succeeds Act, the NJ Administrative Code, and other important policies related to student achievement.

Becoming a Certified School Counselor in New Jersey: An Overview

Due to the sensitivity of the roles involved, working in mental health fields in any capacity – whether it’s being a therapist, a social worker, or a school counselor – generally requires some form of professional credential.

In school counseling, professionals are generally expected to have a professional certification – that means that they’ve completed a number of key items from a designated checklist in order to be gainfully employed as an experienced, trustworthy professional in this field.

Broadly speaking, certificates for school counselors awarded by the New Jersey Department of Education enable professionals to be employed in this role serving preschool through 12^th grades.

In this article, we’ll go into some detail about what’s required to become a certified school counselor in New Jersey. We’ll also talk about unique components of certification in the Garden State, including reciprocity agreements with other states, application fees, fieldwork requirements, and more.

In addition to these preliminary documents to submit for an initial counseling license in New Jersey, school counselors in the state are also encouraged to participate in continuing education opportunities in the field each school year.

For more information about applying to become a certified school counselor in New Jersey, visit the state Department of Education’s website on the topic, which includes details about testing requirements, FAQs, and more.

If you’re seeking additional support, the New Jersey Department of Education’s customer service department is available to answer your questions from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. by phone at (609) 292-2070. It’s also possible to submit questions online by creating an NJEdCert account.

Education and Expectations

The NJDOE specifies that applicants for certification as school counselors need to demonstrate some level of advanced education in the field in order to become credentialed. However, there are a few potential paths to achieving this same end.

One route is to take part in a graduate-level educational services program at a college or university based in New Jersey. This can be a master’s degree program, but can also be a post-master’s certification program, an option that may be particularly appealing to applicants who already have graduate school degrees in other, related fields.

Another option is to complete a master’s degree (and even pursue certification) at an out-of-state university or college. Because of New Jersey’s flexible reciprocity laws (as of spring 2025), it’s possible to become a certified school counselor outside of the state, get your credentials recognized in New Jersey, and begin practicing there without needing to get entirely re-certified.

Criminal Background Check

Applicants for the school counselor license must complete a criminal background check with the Office of Student Protection Unit. There are multiple types of Criminal History record check applications, depending on your employment history and other conditions.

Fees for the criminal background checking depending on which application you submit: new, archive, or transfer. For the latest information on criminal background checks in the state of New Jersey, please visit the Office of Student Protection Unit website.

Examination Requirements

As of January 2025, the state of New Jersey does not require applicants for certification as school counselors to pass exams (such as the Praxis exams). However, it’s important to note that requirements are subject to change. As such, it’s important to ensure that you are up to date on the latest information regarding application expectations and requirements, including relevant exams, before submitting your application.

Submitting Your Application

New Jersey school counselor license applications are only submitted online through the Teacher Certification System. The NJDOE has helpfully created a video to walk applicants through the online submission portal, which can be viewed here.

Applicants for a New Jersey school counselor license will include a $95 standard application fee, payable only through the online application portal, located here.

New Jersey School Counselor Certification Renewal

As of March 2025, standard counseling certificates in New Jersey have no expiration date, and therefore, renewal is not required. However, these expectations tend to vary from state to state and are subject to change. For best results, prospective applicants for certification are encouraged to confirm current expectations for certification expiry and/or renewal. Helpful resources include, but are not limited to:

• New Jersey Department of Education website
• The New Jersey Educator Certification (NJEdCert) system
• The New Jersey Department of Education customer service hotline: (609) 292-2070.

Continuing Education Expectations

Although New Jersey’s Standard Educational Services Certificate for school counselors does not expire, professionals in this field are strongly encouraged to pursue ongoing learning each year in order to most effectively respond to evolving student needs and stay informed of updating educational mandates.

Still, this form of continued learning can take many forms, from annual school counseling conferences, completing online workshops, and participating in district in-service trainings, to enrolling in postgraduate courses.

One helpful place to find such events and courses is through membership in organizations like the New Jersey School Counselor Association (NJSCA), which offers opportunities for networking, advocacy, and professional development.

New Jersey School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity

The NJ school counseling certificate is categorized as an Educational Services Certificate, and is eligible for a reciprocity certificate.

If you hold a valid, current school counselor certificate issued by another state, and can demonstrate at least two years of teaching within three consecutive years of the previous four calendar years, theny you may be eligible for a reciprocity certificate in New Jersey.

This is particularly true of professionals certified in specific states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, who may be eligible to work in New Jersey without repeating the full certification process. However, these agreements often require proof of two years of teaching within the past four years and may still necessitate a criminal background check. Counselors coming from states without similar coursework or practicum requirements may be asked to complete additional training.

For more information, visit the New Jersey Department of Education website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between certification and licensure? Do I also need a license?

In educational contexts, the terms “certification” and “licensure” are sometimes used interchangeably, but in New Jersey, school counselors earn a Standard Educational Services Certificate – not a license.

This credential signifies that an individual has met the state’s rigorous academic, ethical, and practical requirements. These requirements are designed to align with national frameworks, including the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. Many New Jersey programs are also accredited by CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs), ensuring nationally recognized standards of excellence.

Counselors – generally speaking – are often licensed, but these credentials are typically required of counselors who practice in clinical settings, community agencies, or private practices, rather than schools. School counselors, by contrast, typically don’t need licenses unless they’re planning to offer individual counseling outside of a school environment. Rather, school counselors tend to be credentialed as trained educators with a counseling specialization.

After I’ve submitted my application, how long does the certification review process take?

According to the New Jersey Department of Education, the amount of time it can take for the state to review individual applications can vary, though they flag on the NJDOE website that “the summer months are our busiest times due to the high volume of applications we receive during that period.”

Help! I’ve been offered a counseling job, but haven’t gotten my credential yet. What should I do?

In this situation, the New Jersey Department of Education advises that the employing district – that is, the school district that has offered you the position – requests that the state expedite its review process. It is not possible to begin working without a certification.

It’s helpful to know, however, that taking part in a New Jersey educator preparation program may make the process move more quickly. The Department of Education explains on its website that these programs include the nomination of certification applications, meaning that the certificate is issued as soon as the candidate – that is, the prospective school counselor – accepts their nomination, which has been issued on behalf of the preparation program. In these instances, it’s critical that the applicant makes sure to pay the appropriate fees and fill out the requisite background information, as well as, of course, accepting the nomination.

What do I do if my application is denied?

If your application for certification as a school counselor is denied, you can appeal the rejection via the State Board of Examiners.

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