South Carolina School Counselor Certification

Are you a South Carolinan who dreams of making an impact in your state? A career as a guidance counselor may be the perfect way to connect your day to day work with the causes that are most important to you.

By becoming a school counselor, you can devote your career to supporting young people in need, becoming an invaluable part of a local school community.

There are over 750,000 students in prekindergarten through grade 12 across 1,269 public schools in South Carolina. Children from minority families make up 48% of a student population that enjoys a 16:1 student to teacher ratio. Guidance counselors provide a variety of services to support all students’ optimum academic, social, and emotional development using a comprehensive counseling model that is based on the American School Counseling Association’s framework.

If you would like to learn more about the comprehensive framework for school counseling programs, visit the American School Counselor Association website.

This guide will show you how to become a school counselor with full certification in South Carolina. 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 South Carolina School Counselor Certification

For those who are just completing their guidance counselor schooling, your first move upon graduation will be to pursue your initial school counseling certification, which is designed for those who are just entering the field.

The initial school counseling certificate in South Carolina is valid for three (3) years and is non-renewable. Holders are credentialed to provide guidance counseling services to students in kindergarten through grade 12.

Step 1: Education Requirements

In order to meet South Carolina’s requirements to become a guidance counselor, one must hold a master’s degree in a subject related to school counseling. This can be a Master of School Counseling degree or a degree in a related field, such as Counseling Psychology or Educational Psychology with a concentration in School Counseling. Wherever you receive your guidance counselor education, it’s important that it be approved by the South Carolina Board of Education. This includes the following programs:

Step 2: Criminal Background Check

Once you have completed your master’s program, you will be qualified to take your guidance counselor credential exams. Applicants must complete a criminal background check with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and FBI. The processing fee is $51.50.

For detailed instructions, including options for submitting via electronic live scan or manual card scan, download this PDF.

Step 3: Examination Requirements

Your guidance counselor education will culminate in taking your credentialing exams. To obtain a school counseling credential in South Carolina, you must earn a minimum score of 156 on the Professional School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5421). The coursework included in your guidance counselor classes will have prepared you for the material on this test, but it is always recommended to take your time studying, as your credentials are a make-or-break factor in establishing your guidance counselor career. For more information about this exam, or to register for a test date, visit the Praxis website.

Step 4: Know the Fees

The non-refundable application fee is $105.

Step 5: Application Materials Checklist

Once you have passed your test, congratulations! You are ready to apply for your guidance counselor credentials. Your application materials include the following:

• Completed profile and application through the South Carolina application portal
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including transfer credits that led to earned degree
• Proof of passing score for the Professional School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5421)
• $105 initial application fee

Step 6: Submit Your Application

The South Carolina application for school counseling certification is submitted online via the Department of Education portal, located here.

Additional Information

If you need assistance with your application, contact the Educator Services Call Center at 803-896-0325.

South Carolina School Counselor Certification Renewal

The initial school counselor credential is a non-renewable credential that is valid for three (3) years. In order to advance the credential, your employment status and experience will be taken into consideration. Once you advance to the Professional Certificate, it will be valid for five (5) years, with an expiration date of June 30.

To renew the Professional Certificate, you must complete a minimum of 120 renewal credits during the five (5) year period of certificate validity. For more information, visit the renewal credit matrix, located here.

Additional Assistance

If you have questions about your renewal application, call the Educator Services department at 803-896-0325 during normal business hours Monday through Wednesday and each Friday, or between the hours of 1 PM and 4:30 PM EST on Thursdays.

You can also email a specialist at [email protected].

South Carolina School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity

South Carolina considers reciprocity certification for applicants whose school counseling credential is from another state. To be considered for initial certification based on your out-of-state education, experience, and credentials, you will submit the following:

• Completed profile and application through the South Carolina application portal
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including transfer credits that led to earned degree
• Copy of your current, valid out-of-state credential
• Proof of qualifying score for the Professional School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5421) or proof of passing score from examination required by your licensing state
• $105 initial application fee

Additional Assistance

If you need assistance with your application, you can email a specialist at [email protected].

You can also call the Educator Services help desk at 803-896-0325 during the following hours of operation.

South Carolina School Counseling Certification Resources

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

• Palmetto State School Counselor Association
• South Carolina School Counselor Association
• American School Counselor Association
• National Board of Certified Counselors

FAQs 

What degree do I need to be a counselor in K-12 schools in South Carolina?

In order to meet qualifications for guidance counselor jobs in South Carolina, you must hold a master’s degree in a subject related to school counseling. This can be a Master of School Counseling degree, a master’s in Counseling Psychology or Education with a specialization track in School Counseling, or another related field. In some cases, those who already hold unrelated master’s degrees are able to prepare for their credentialing exams through certificate courses. As a prospective student, what’s most important is that you find a guidance counselor schooling option that is explicitly designed to prepare you for certification.

How long does it take to be a school counselor in South Carolina?

If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, your only remaining step is to complete a master’s program, which typically takes 2.5 to three years when taken on a full-time schedule. After this, you will be qualified for your certificate exams.

How do I find school counselor jobs near me in South Carolina?

There are excellent opportunities to find school counselor jobs all over the state of South Carolina, as guidance counselors are employed in most K-12 schools, including public, private, and charter schools.

How much do guidance counselors make an hour in South Carolina?

A recent report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that school counselors in South Carolina earn a mean hourly wage of $27.38. This works out to a mean annual salary of $56,940. Those looking to improve their pay as guidance counselors are encouraged to dig deep and pursue additional areas of specialization, be it particular types of counseling methodologies or training to work with specific communities, as these qualifications can make you eligible for higher-paid roles in school communities. 

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