South Carolina Initial School Counselor Certification

Initial South Carolina School Counselor Certification Requirements

The Initial School Counselor Certificate is a standard educator credential under the umbrella of Service Fields that is valid for three (3) school years, granted to individuals who have completed an approved undergraduate or graduate educator preparation program. It is primarily issued to novice educators or those lacking recent school counseling experience. If, after three (3) years, an educator does not fulfill the criteria to advance to a renewable Professional certificate, they must either reapply for a new Initial certificate or qualify for an annual extension upon the employer’s request.

Education or Degree Requirements

To become an Initial School Counselor in South Carolina, you need:

• Bachelor’s Degree: Earned from a regionally accredited institution.
• Master’s Degree: In School Counseling or a related field from a program approved by the South Carolina Board of Education. Find Master’s degree programs in School Counseling or find and filter only school counseling programs located in South Carolina.
• Advanced School Counseling Program: Completion of a program specifically designed for School Counselors that meets the standards set by the South Carolina Board of Education.

Tips:

• Choose Accredited Programs: Ensure that both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from regionally accredited institutions to avoid issues with certification approval.
• Stay Organized: Keep detailed records of your coursework, practicum, and internships as these will be necessary for your application.

Experience Requirements

There are no explicit experience requirements listed for Initial Certification in School Counseling, beyond the completion of the required education and field experiences included in your advanced School Counseling Program.

Tips:

• Field Experience: Make the most of your practicum and internship opportunities during your master’s program. These experiences will prepare you for the role and provide valuable references.
• Networking: Connect with School Counselors and professionals during your field experiences to build a professional network that can offer support and guidance.

Testing Requirements

According to Section 59-26-30 of the South Carolina Code Annotated (see S.C. Code of Laws), the South Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) adopts nationally recognized educator assessments for certification and sets the qualifying scores required for each assessment.

The Praxis® School Counselor (5422) test is designed to evaluate the professional knowledge and competencies of entry-level School Counselors. The test assesses whether these individuals possess the necessary standards-relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities for competent professional practice in School Counseling.

This assessment follows the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies, which outline the essential mindsets and behaviors required to meet the profession’s demands and address the needs of students from pre-K through 12th grade.

Key Details about the Praxis® School Counselor Test:

• Test Code: 5422
• Cost: $130.00
• Qualifying Score: 159

Test Content Overview: The test covers several domains relevant to the practice of School Counseling, such as:

• Professionalism and ethical practice.
• Developmental, learning, and psychological principles.
• Counseling and consultation.
• Collaboration and coordination.
• Assessment and evaluation.
• School counseling program management.

The Educational Testing Service (ETS), the organization that administers the Praxis® tests, offers free resources to help candidates prepare for the School Counselor test. These resources include a detailed overview of the test content, sample questions, and study tips.

Background Checks

A background check is required for certification in South Carolina to ensure the safety and suitability of educators for working with students. Applicants must complete a criminal background check with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This involves submitting fingerprints for review, which can be done via electronic live scan or manual card scan.

To meet the requirements, applicants must follow these steps:

• Submit an online application for educator certification.
• Complete the fingerprinting process through the state-authorized vendor, providing a valid government-issued photo ID (see fingerprinting process overview).
• Verify that the SCDE has received both Federal and State background reports within four (4) weeks using the My SC Educator Portal.
• If reports are not received within four (4) weeks, notify the SCDE with the date of fingerprinting, receipt copy, and Tracking Control Number (TCN) provided by the vendor.
• If fingerprint submission is rejected, repeat the process as instructed by the state-authorized vendor. If rejected twice, contact the Office of Educator Services for further instructions.

The processing fee is $51.50.

Application Process

There are several steps for the South Carolina educator certification application process (see How to Apply Overview). Here’s a breakdown of the steps:

• Visit the My SC Educator Portal to create a user account and submit your application. This step must be completed before proceeding with other steps.
• You must pay the nonrefundable application fee online after submitting your application through the Educator Portal.
• Once your application is submitted, specific instructions for completing the fingerprinting process will be available through the Educator Portal (see fingerprinting process overview).
• Upload official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities where you completed degree programs, undergraduate or graduate coursework, or educator preparation programs.
• Provide proof of passing the Praxis School Counselor Exam.

Fees Associated with Application Submission:

• Fingerprinting and Criminal History Review Process fee: $51.50.
• Praxis School Counselor Exam fee: $130.
• Non-refundable application fee: $105.

If you need assistance with your application, contact the Educator Services Call Center at (803)-896-0325 during their operating hours or via email at certification@ed.sc.gov.