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School Counselor Certification Reciprocity Process in South Dakota
In South Dakota, School Counselors seeking certification through reciprocity from another state have two (2) main avenues to achieve certification:
Avenue 1: Reciprocity Based on Completion of an Approved Educator Preparation Program
Eligibility Requirements:
- Hold a valid School Counselor certificate from another state (not temporary, emergency, substitute, or provisional).
- Completed a student teaching, internship, or field experience.
- No disciplinary actions or ethics violations in the licensing state.
- See overview for reciprocity based school counselor certification.
Certification Requirements:
- Complete an approved Suicide Awareness and Prevention training.
- Complete a three (3)-credit South Dakota Indian Studies course with a grade of C or higher.
Provisional Certificate:
- A one (1)-year provisional certificate may be granted to complete the South Dakota Indian Studies requirement, renewable once.
Adding Endorsements:
- Based on a review of the out-of-state certificate and equivalent South Dakota endorsements.
- No additional content or pedagogy requirements unless specified.
- Special education endorsements require passing state-designated content tests or having relevant teaching experience.
Application Process:
- Complete Profile and Application: Fill out the application through the South Dakota application portal.
- Official Transcripts: Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, including transfer credits.
- Exam Scores: Provide proof of a qualifying score on the School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5422).
- Training Proof: Submit proof of completion of Suicide Awareness and Prevention training.
- Indian Studies Course: Provide proof of completion of the approved three (3)-credit South Dakota Indian Studies course.
- There is no prerequisite for background checks before the application process.
- Fee: Pay the $60 initial application fee.
Avenue 2: Reciprocity Based on Completion of Educator Alternative Certification Program
Eligibility Requirements:
- Completion of an alternative certification program in another state.
- Verification of three (3) years of experience within the last five (5) years.
- A valid educator’s license from the issuing state.
- No disciplinary actions or ethics violations in the licensing state.
- See overview for alternative reciprocity certification.
Certification Requirements:
- Complete an approved Suicide Awareness and Prevention training.
- Complete a three (3)-credit South Dakota Indian Studies course with a grade of C or higher.
Provisional Certificate:
- A one (1)-year provisional certificate may be granted to complete the South Dakota Indian Studies requirement, renewable once.
Adding Endorsements:
- Based on a review of the out-of-state certificate and equivalent South Dakota endorsements.
- No additional content or pedagogy requirements unless specified.
- Special education endorsements require passing state-designated content tests or having relevant teaching experience.
Application Process:
- Complete Profile and Application: Fill out the application through the South Dakota application portal.
- Official Transcripts: Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, including transfer credits.
- Experience Verification: Verify three (3) years of teaching experience within the last five (5) years.
- There is no prerequisite for background checks before the application process.
- License Proof: Provide documentation of a valid educator’s license from the issuing state.
- Exam Scores: Provide proof of a qualifying score on the School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5422).
- Training Proof: Submit proof of completion of Suicide Awareness and Prevention training.
- Indian Studies Course: Provide proof of completion of the approved three (3)-credit South Dakota Indian Studies course.
- Fee: Pay the $60 initial application fee.
Related forms such as OSF 1 (Out-of-State University Sign-off Form) and OSF 2 (Out-of-State Educator Certification Verification) are required as part of the documentation.
For further assistance or questions regarding the application process, applicants can contact the South Dakota Department of Education Certification Office at (605)-773-3134 or via email at certification@state.sd.us.