Professions / Education

Occupational licensing · Education · 51 state boards

School Counselor Licensing Requirements by State

School Counselor licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

School Counselor across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Childcare Center Director, Elementary School Teacher, School Librarian / Media Specialist.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Avg initial fee
$157
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

School Counselor: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100% · avg first fee $157. Same-lane boards: Childcare Center Director, Elementary School Teacher, School Librarian / Media Specialist.

Provides academic and social-emotional counseling to students.

School Counselor initial fees swing $35 (NH) to $296 (CA), a $261 spread across 51 boards ; Childcare Center Director often lands on a different fee band.

Board thresholds for School Counselor drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Childcare Center Director and Elementary School Teacher in education. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

School Counselor states

51

Bottom quartile, lowest

School Counselor first fee

$157

Above median

School Counselor renewal

$111

Below median

Board gates for School Counselor: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , CE on 51/51 (avg 150 hrs/cycle) . Stack that against Childcare Center Director / Elementary School Teacher before calling this license soft or hard.

Training-hour peers beyond education

Coverage band

Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for School Counselor

A $261 fee spread for the same credential

Initial licensing fees in New Hampshire ($ 35) and California ($ 296) bracket the field, a 8.5× spread for identical practice rights.

NH

New Hampshire

$35 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
5 years

CA

California

$296 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
5 years

School Counselor boards vs Childcare Center Director / Elementary School Teacher - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama - Yes $117 $86 5 yrs 150 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Alaska - Yes $74 $60 5 yrs 150 Also Surgical Technologist · Water Well Driller
Arizona - Yes $256 $172 5 yrs 150 Also Barber · Childcare Center Director
Arkansas - Yes $99 $75 5 yrs 150 Also Water Well Driller · Auctioneer
California - Yes $296 $198 5 yrs 150 Also Cosmetologist · Electrologist
Colorado - Yes $261 $175 5 yrs 150 Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
Connecticut - Yes $214 $146 5 yrs 150 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Delaware - Yes $182 $126 5 yrs 150 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
District of Columbia - Yes $187 $130 5 yrs 150 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Florida - Yes $200 $138 5 yrs 150 Also Respiratory Therapist · Sign Language Interpreter
Georgia - Yes $157 $111 5 yrs 150 Also Septic System Installer · Taxi/Ride-Share Driver
Hawaii - Yes $244 $165 5 yrs 150 Also Chauffeur / Limousine Driver · Dental Hygienist
Idaho - Yes $71 $57 5 yrs 150 Also Elevator Installer · General Contractor
Illinois - Yes $279 $187 5 yrs 150 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Indiana - Yes $150 $106 5 yrs 150 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Iowa - Yes $85 $66 5 yrs 150 Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
Kansas - Yes $82 $64 5 yrs 150 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Librarian / Media Specialist
Kentucky - Yes $107 $80 5 yrs 150 Also School Bus Driver · Substitute Teacher
Louisiana - Yes $228 $155 5 yrs 150 Also Radiologic Technologist · School Bus Driver
Maine - Yes $42 $39 5 yrs 150 Also Veterinary Technician · Athletic Trainer
Maryland - Yes $210 $144 5 yrs 150 Also Veterinarian · Athletic Agent
Massachusetts - Yes $203 $140 5 yrs 150 Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
Michigan - Yes $160 $113 5 yrs 150 Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
Minnesota - Yes $128 $93 5 yrs 150 Also Barber · Childcare Center Director
Mississippi - Yes $114 $84 5 yrs 150 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
Missouri - Yes $125 $91 5 yrs 150 Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
Montana - Yes $236 $160 5 yrs 150 Also Chauffeur / Limousine Driver · Dental Hygienist
Nebraska - Yes $78 $62 5 yrs 150 Also Commercial Truck Driver (CDL) · Electrician
Nevada - Yes $271 $182 5 yrs 150 Also General Contractor · Insurance Agent
New Hampshire - Yes $35 $35 5 yrs 150 Also Debt Collector · Elevator Installer
New Jersey - Yes $207 $142 5 yrs 150 Also Dental Hygienist · Esthetician
New Mexico - Yes $239 $162 5 yrs 150 Also Electrologist · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
New York - Yes $191 $132 5 yrs 150 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
North Carolina - Yes $153 $109 5 yrs 150 Also Chauffeur / Limousine Driver · Dental Hygienist
North Dakota - Yes $64 $53 5 yrs 150 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Ohio - Yes $171 $120 5 yrs 150 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Oklahoma - Yes $89 $68 5 yrs 150 Also HVAC Technician · Licensed Professional Counselor
Oregon - Yes $284 $190 5 yrs 150 Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Mortgage Loan Originator
Pennsylvania - Yes $185 $129 5 yrs 150 Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Mortgage Loan Originator
Rhode Island - Yes $232 $158 5 yrs 150 Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
South Carolina - Yes $92 $71 5 yrs 150 Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
South Dakota - Yes $56 $48 5 yrs 150 Also Armed Security Guard · Casino/Gaming Dealer
Tennessee - Yes $135 $97 5 yrs 150 Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
Texas - Yes $175 $122 5 yrs 150 Also Interior Designer · Marriage and Family Therapist
Utah - Yes $110 $82 5 yrs 150 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
Vermont - Yes $46 $42 5 yrs 150 Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Registered Nurse
Virginia - Yes $142 $102 5 yrs 150 Also Mobile Home Installer · Painter (Contractor)
Washington - Yes $250 $169 5 yrs 150 Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
West Virginia - Yes $110 $82 5 yrs 150 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Wisconsin - Yes $121 $89 5 yrs 150 Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Security Alarm Installer
Wyoming - Yes $49 $44 5 yrs 150 Also Tow Truck Operator · Armed Security Guard

What to do with this

School Counselor is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare School Counselor's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #82 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Initial fees for School Counselor range from $35 (NH) to $296 (CA) -- check whether your license transfers before assuming you'd need to pay again. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Compare states →Childcare Center Director →Strictest states →Reciprocity guide →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. School Counselor requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.