What's Here? - Table of Contents
Standard School Counselor Certification
The Standard School Counselor Certification in Kentucky is typically for individuals who have completed specific education and experience requirements in the field of school counseling. This certification allows individuals to work as school counselors in accredited public or private schools across all grade levels, from primary through grade twelve (12). The Standard Certificate is valid for five (5) years and can be renewed subsequently for five (5)-year periods(see Admin Code for the Standard Certification). Renewal requires fulfilling specific criteria, including professional experience, additional graduate credit, and adherence to the Effective Instructional Leadership Act hours.
Education or Degree Requirements
To qualify for the Standard School Counselor Certification, individuals must meet one of the following options (find school counselor schools in Kentucky):
- Option 1: Successful completion of an approved master’s level program in school counseling, additional three (3) to six (6) credit hours from an approved graduate level counseling or school counseling program, one (1) year of full-time employment as a provisionally certified school counselor, hold a valid Kentucky Professional teaching certificate and have a minimum of one (1) year of full-time classroom teaching experience.
- Option 2: Successful completion of an approved master’s level program in school counseling, an additional three (3) to six (6) credit hours from an approved graduate level counseling or school counseling program, and a minimum of two (2) years of successful employment as a Provisional full-time certified school counselor.
Experience Requirements
- Option 1: One (1) year of full-time employment as a provisionally certified school counselor in an accredited public or private school.
- Option 2: Two (2) years of full-time employment as a provisionally certified school counselor.
Background Checks
Background checks are crucial for ensuring safety and suitability in educational settings. The Kentucky Department of Education does not mandate a background check for school counselor certification unless requested by the legal department.
School districts typically oversee background checks. LPCC or LPCA applicants must submit both a Kentucky Criminal Background Check and a Federal Criminal Background Check. The Kentucky State Police and FBI conduct the KSP and FBI checks respectively. The KARES web portal can help applicants with pre-employment checks, verify licensure status, and submit fingerprint-based criminal background checks.
Application Process & Fee
The procedure for obtaining the Standard School Counselor Certification involves a series of steps facilitated through the Kentucky Educator Credentialing System (KECS). To initiate the process, candidates are required to establish an account on the EPSB Web Portal. Subsequently, applicants must complete the application via the KECS system, ensuring accurate and comprehensive submission.
As part of the documentation process, candidates are mandated to furnish necessary paperwork, which includes official transcripts. Finally, to fulfill the application requirements, individuals are required to remit the specified fees through the KECS Web Portal. This streamlined process underscores the importance of creating an account, completing the application diligently, providing requisite documentation, and ensuring the timely payment of fees.
- An application Fee of $85 is payable online through the KECS web portal.
For assistance, individuals can contact the Randa Solutions help desk at support@kecs.randasolutions.com. They can also reach out to the Kentucky Certification and Preparation office via phone at (502)-564-4606 or email at kdelicensure@education.ky.gov.