Pennsylvania School Counselor Certification

If you aspire to become a school counselor in the state of Pennsylvania, your educational journey will culminate in obtaining counselor certification.

Your certification verifies that you have the extensive knowledge and thorough training needed to take on the immense responsibilities of a school counselor.

This is one of the state of Pennsylvania’s strict requirements to become a guidance counselor, ensuring that schools can easily identify competent and qualified candidates for the job. Since every school has its own unique needs and expectations for school counselors, the credentialing process sets a baseline standard of skills and expertise that all professionals are expected to possess.

Understanding the Role of School Counselors

In order to understand the required qualifications for guidance counselors, it can be helpful to grasp the many responsibilities counselors can take in elementary, middle, and high schools.

School counselors in Pennsylvania serve more than 1.7 million students, working with all grade levels in communities all over the state. Because of the range of work opportunities for school counselors, it should not be considered a one-size-fits-all job; rather, your day-to-day work will be entirely shaped by the way your school is organized and the students it serves. 

This variety of work environments can be an engaging part of being a guidance counselor. At many institutions, school counselors are tasked with developing and implementing their own counseling programs, assessing their communities to understand students’ key areas of concern in order to design the most supportive plans possible. This can involve collaborating with a range of community members, including:

• Teachers and administrators
• Students
• Parents
• Business and Community Leaders
• Post-Secondary Education Representatives

For more information about how Pennsylvania counselors support each student’s ultimate personal, academic, and college/career success, view the school counselor assessment rubric.

Skip down the page to the certification pathway you’re interested in:

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

Other Paths Related to School Counseling

As mentioned above, the responsibilities of a school counselor can vary depending on where they work. However, there are also related – but slightly different – roles related to school counseling that involve more focused responsibilities, requiring slightly different training. These include school psychologists and school social workers.

When comparing the difference between the approaches of a school counseling vs. school psychology position, the distinction comes down to the key focus of their work. School counselors have the broadest responsibilities, taking a macro view of their schools. This work involves designing and implementing initiatives on campus to support school communities as a whole. School psychologists, meanwhile, are more strictly focused on individual student mental health, primarily serving to support individual students having behavioral, emotional, and learning challenges. While this can be part of a guidance counselor’s job as well, school psychologists are less likely to take on those larger, broader initiatives.

Comparing a school counselor vs. school social worker, meanwhile, the key distinction is in a focus on resources. School social workers are first and foremost specialists in the environmental challenges that may affect students’ emotional, academic, and overall well-being. They frequently work closely with students’ families to provide resources and advocate for students facing hardships such as poverty, abuse, and neglect. This can sometimes fit into the overall job description of a school counselor, but those with a social work background will have more extensive training in these critical issues.

As you consider your professional path, it’s worth giving serious thought to these different-but-related careers to determine which one is most suited to your skills and interests. In any of these roles you will play a deeply meaningful role in the lives of young people, providing support that can make all the difference in helping struggling students get back on track.

Initial Pennsylvania School Counselor Certification

The school counseling credential in Pennsylvania is an Education Specialist I certificate (Type Code 31) with an Elementary and Secondary School Counselor (Subject Code 1839) credential. Counselors who hold this certificate are qualified to serve students in prekindergarten through grade 12. This certificate is valid for six (6) years.

Step 1: Education Requirements

Master’s degree in school counseling from a department approved certificate program, such as the following programs:

Step 2: Criminal Background Check

In order to obtain a Pennsylvania counselor credential, you must complete a criminal background check, which includes:

• Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance – $13 processing fee
• Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check – $22 processing fee
• Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) – $23.85 processing fee

For detailed information, including links for each required background checking process, visit this webpage.

Step 3: Examination Requirements

To obtain a School Counselor certificate in Pennsylvania, you must earn a combined GPA and qualifying score on the Professional School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5421). For more information about this exam, or to register for a test date, visit the Praxis website.

Step 4: Application Materials Checklist

Your application materials include the following:

• Completed profile and application through the through the Pennsylvania Teacher Information Management System (TIMS)
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including transfer credits that led to earned degree
• Proof of qualifying score for the Professional School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5421) and GPA
• $200 or $260 initial application fee, depending upon where you completed your school counseling preparation program

Step 5: Know the Fees

Application fees vary based on where you completed your school counseling preparation program. The $200 or $260 feed is payable online via the TIMS portal with a VISA, MasterCard, or Discover card only.

You can also submit your application fee with a U.S. Money Order, payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the printable coversheet you receive at the end of the TIMS application process.

Step 6: Submit Your Application

The Pennsylvania application for school counseling credential is submitted online via the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS).

Additional Information

If you need assistance with your initial school counseling application, send an email to [email protected], or call the certification department at 717-787-3356.

Pennsylvania School Counselor Certification Renewal

The Education Specialist II Certificate is issued to an applicant who currently holds an Education Specialist I Certificate, and who meets the following criteria:

• Completion of a department-approved induction program. For more information, you can download the induction program guidelines here
• Completion of three (3) years of satisfactory service as an Education Specialist I Certificate, as verified by the chief school administrator of your district
• Twenty-four credit hours of collegiate study or its equivalent in credits as approved by the Department

Additional Assistance

For assistance with your renewal application, contact the certification department at 717-728-3224 or 717-787-3356. You can also email a specialist at [email protected].

Pennsylvania School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity

If you are an out-of-state applicant and your current and valid school counselor certificate meets certain requirements, you may be eligible to receive a Pennsylvania Education Specialist I certificate based on an interstate contract with the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification.

Your application materials for a reciprocity license must include the following:

• Completed profile and application through the through the Pennsylvania Teacher Information Management System (TIMS), located here
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including transfer credits that led to earned degree
• Proof of qualifying score for the Professional School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5421) and GPA. *Please note that all applicants must complete this qualifying examination and GPA requirement, even if they hold a current, valid out-of-state credential.
• Copy of your current, valid out-of-state credential
• $200 or $260 initial application fee, depending upon where you completed your school counseling preparation program

Additional Assistance

If you would like to speak with a certification specialist about your reciprocity application, contact the department of education at 717-728-3224 during normal business hours. You can also email the department at [email protected].

Pennsylvania School Counseling Certification Resources

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

• Pennsylvania School Counselor Association
• American School Counselor Association
• National Board of Certified Counselors

FAQs

What degree do I need to be a counselor in Pennsylvania?

School counselors in the state of Pennsylvania are required to hold master’s degrees in fields related to school counseling. There are actually several different degree pathways that are applicable, including a Master of School Counseling, a Master of Counseling Psychology with a concentration in School Counseling, and a Master of Educational Psychology. Different schools offer different degree options, but all of these are legitimate guidance counselor schooling options that can qualify students for guidance counselor credentials in Pennsylvania.

How long does it take to be a guidance counselor?

Typically, approximately two to three years. This encompasses a master’s program as well as your required field work hours prior to taking the Praxis II School Guidance and Counseling Exam.

How much do guidance counselors make an hour?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pennsylvania-based guidance counselors earn a mean hourly wage of $32.94. This amounts to a mean annual salary of $68,510 per year. It’s worth keeping in mind that with experience, guidance counselors can become qualified for higher-ranking positions, with higher salaries to match.

Can I take the Praxis II exam if I haven’t completed a master’s program in school counseling?
No. One must complete a full guidance counselor education in order to qualify for certification exams. This is one of the strictest requirements to become a guidance counselor in Pennsylvania, and will be taken seriously by test administrators all over the state.

2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2025.

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