Connecticut Initial School Counselor Certification

School Counselor Certification

by School Counselor Certification Staff

Updated: September 12th, 2024

Initial School Counselor Certification Requirements

The Initial Educator Certificate serves as a pathway for individuals who aspire to embark on a career as a school counselor in the State of Connecticut. To qualify for this certificate, applicants must fulfill specific criteria, including possessing a professional educator certificate or meeting the eligibility criteria for an Initial Educator Certificate. Additional requirements can be seen below.

The Initial Educator Certificate is valid for 3 years and holds the potential for renewal, a process open to eligible candidates who fulfill specific criteria. The renewal procedure offers flexibility, allowing applicants to utilize either the Connecticut Educator Certification System (CECS) online platform or opt for a traditional paper-based approach using the ED 183 application. No continuing education credits are required to renew an Initial School Counselor credential.

Education or Degree Requirements

To be eligible for the initial educator certificate as a school counselor in the State of Connecticut, the following education or degree requirements must be met:

  • Masters Degree – The applicant must hold a master’s degree.
  • Planned Program in School Counseling Services – As part of or in addition to the masters degree, a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit in a planned program in school counseling services must be completed at an institution approved for the preparation of school counselors.
  • Recommendation of the Preparing Institution – The preparing institution should provide a recommendation based on evidence of knowledge, skills, and understanding in specific areas related to school counseling.
  • Specific Coursework – The applicant should have completed coursework covering principles and philosophy of developmental guidance and counseling, psychological and sociological theory related to children, youth, and families, career development theory and practice, individual and group counseling procedures, organizational patterns and relationships of student personnel services, student appraisal and evaluation techniques, and school-based consultation theory and practice.
  • Special Education Course – Completion of a course of study in special education, comprised of not fewer than 36 clock hours, focusing on understanding the growth and development of exceptional children, methods for identifying, planning for, and working effectively with special-needs children in the regular classroom, including handicapped and gifted and talented children.

Experience Requirements

These requirements aim to ensure that candidates possess a well-rounded and practical understanding of the responsibilities.

  • Teaching Experience or School Internship – The candidate must have either 30 school months of successful teaching experience or have completed a full-time supervised school internship of 10 school months in a Pre-K through 12 school setting.

The following are some of the specific experiences a future school counselor will be exposed to during their teaching or internship time:

  • Counseling Students – Candidates will actively participate in counseling students, gaining valuable experience in understanding and addressing the diverse needs of learners.
  • Consulting with Parents and Staff – Interactions with parents and collaboration with fellow staff members are integral components of the internship, fostering effective communication and relationship-building skills.
  • Observations – Observation is a key aspect, allowing candidates to learn from experienced educators, refine their teaching techniques, and adapt to different classroom dynamics.
  • Substantial Participation in Classroom Instruction – Candidates will not only observe but actively contribute to classroom instruction, honing their teaching skills under the guidance of experienced mentors.
  • Involvement in Curriculum Development – Participation in curriculum development provides candidates with insight into the planning and structuring of educational content, enhancing their ability to design effective learning experiences.
  • Other Professional Activities – The internship encompasses various professional activities within a school setting, exposing candidates to the multifaceted nature of the education profession.

Testing Requirements

Connecticut requires all candidates to pass the appropriate Praxis Subject Assessments for their certification area. You will need to pass the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) and II tests to be certified in the content area. To learn more, call (860) 713-6969 (explore Connecticut’s page of the Praxis website).

By state law, each person formally admitted to a State Board of Education (SBE) approved teacher preparation program in Connecticut is required to take the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) tests in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics or one of the other State Board of Education approved equivalent assessments (SAT®, ACT®, GRE®) to meet the state competency examination requirements.

Background Checks

A background check is required for certification in Connecticut to ensure the safety and suitability of individuals pursuing educator certification programs.

To meet the background check requirements, applicants must undergo state and national criminal history background checks. As part of this process, fingerprinting is mandatory. The background check must be completed within sixty days from the start of the student teaching experience.

  • Obtain the necessary request/consent forms and other documents from the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) or other Regional Education Service Centers (RESCs).
  • Submit to fingerprinting at designated locations, ensuring the fingerprint cards contain complete and accurate information.

A fingerprint-based check will cost $15 for the fingerprint fee plus $75 for the criminal records check if you go via the State Police Bureau of Identification. If you obtain a criminal background check using the DDS CTSAFEHIRE system, the applicant must be fingerprinted for a fee of $15. However, you will not be charged the $75 cost.

You can get further information from the Criminal Justice Business Applications Unit at the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of State Police.

Their address:

Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
Division of State Police
1111 Country Club Road
Middletown, CT 06457

You can contact them by phone at (860) 685-8020 or by fax at (860) 685-8636.

Application Process

The Connecticut State Department of Education (CTSDE) encourages applicants to complete their application online and provide personal information, details of colleges/universities attended, and employment history.

Do not submit supporting documents online. Mail supporting documentation through the U.S. Postal Service to the Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification or deliver it in person to the Department of Education drop box.

  • Mail official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended with original signatures in sealed envelopes to the Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification, P. O. Box 150471, Hartford CT 06115-0471.
  • Electronic submission by the institution (not the applicant) is also accepted at teacher.etranscript@ct.gov.

The application fee is $200, and debit cards are not accepted through the online portal. Payment options include VISA, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards, certified checks, or money orders.  Certified checks or money orders (no personal checks) can be mailed to the Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification at P. O. Box 150471, Hartford CT 06115-0471.

  • For application inquiries, contact the Connecticut Department of Education via email. You can call 860-713-6969 (Monday through Thursday, 12 PM to 4 PM).
  • More information can be found on the CT SDE FAQ page.