California School Counselor Certification Reciprocity

School Counselor Certification

by School Counselor Certification Staff

Updated: September 6th, 2024

California School Counselor Certification Through Reciprocity

You aren’t doomed if you completed your coursework or are a resident of another state. There is one pathway to gain a California School Counselor Certification through reciprocity and it includes seeking a preliminary credential for up to five years.

Education Requirements

To qualify for a school counselor credential through reciprocity, applicants must have a bachelor’s or higher from a regionally accredited college or university. After this, a master’s degree is also required. The graduate degree must include a minimum of 30-semester units specializing in school counseling.

Submit to a Criminal Background Check

Like California residents, out-of-state applicants must also submit to a criminal background check through the Live Scan fingerprint process. You can find the submission form here. You can fill it out digitally and print the PDF. For applicants applying for an out-of-state school counselor credential, a fee of $49.00 is needed. The application requires two fingerprint cards.

You can find more information about the Live Scan fingerprint process in this document.

Complete the Application Form

Once you’ve filled out the requirements for the California school counselor credential, you’ll need to fill out the application form. The online form is easiest.

On the form, you’ll need to fill out all required fields (*). This includes information like your full legal name, any previous names, and full Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).

After your personal information is filled out, you’ll need to choose the one category most appropriate to the purpose of the application. Only one selection is necessary.

Another section of the application form includes professional fitness questions. Once completed, this will lead applicants to the Child Abuse and Neglect Mandated Reporting. You need to hit ‘I Accept’. This is a requirement. If you do not click accept or fill it on a printed form, this can lead to a delay or denial of the school counselor credential. This requirement has been active since January 1, 2015.

Pay Fees

To send applications, either through mail or online, applicants need to pay a $100.00 fee. The fee can be paid by check or money order, made payable to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing or CTC. Paying by using cash is not allowed. Also, if a check does not clear the bank, applicants may need to pay a service charge of $20. It’s important to note that application fees are nonrefundable, so double-check your application before submitting.

Processing Time

Applications can take months to process. They are processed in the date order in which they are received. The maximum time it takes to process an application is 50 business days after the Commission receives the completed application. You should only contact the Commission after 50 business days regarding the status of your application. You can also review the status of your credential application online using the Educator Login.

While it is processed, Commission staff may need additional documents or more information. If requested, applicants will need to submit additional information attached to the Commission’s letter and resubmit all items by postal mail. This needs to be done within 60 days of the date on the Commission’s letter. If not, you may need to restart the process and pay the fee again.