School Counselor / Florida
2026 data Florida board official source

Florida School Counselor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

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Provides academic and social-emotional counseling to students.

What the Florida data shows for School Counselors

To practice as a school counselor in Florida, the state licensing board requires board-approved training, a passing score on State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent), and 1 year of supervised work experience. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Florida's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in School Counseling".

Budget $200 to get started, plus $138 at each renewal on a 5-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 150-hour continuing-education requirement per 5-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

On reciprocity, school counselors should know: State-specific reciprocity varies.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
33/100
School Counselor · Florida

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$200
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B+
$28/yr
$138 every 5 years
Continuing Education F
30.0 hrs/yr
150 hours every 5 years
Experience Required F
1 year
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Florida

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in School Counseling
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$200
Renewal Fee
$138
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
150 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
1 year

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for School Counselor All Florida licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Florida licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Counselor in Florida? ▼
In Florida, the license path calls for, a passing score on State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent), and a $200 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a School Counselor in Florida? ▼
Florida licenses school counselors who complete its requirements (1 year of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Florida licensing board.
Can I transfer my School Counselor license to Florida from another state? ▼
For school counselors, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: State-specific reciprocity varies. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the Florida licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Florida require a background check for School Counselor licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the school counselor licensing process in Florida. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for School Counselor in Florida? ▼
Licensed school counselors in Florida must complete 150 hours of continuing education every 5 years. The renewal fee is $138.

Related Guides

What to do with this school counselor license

School Counselor in Florida, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a school counselor-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Florida's school counselor requirements compare to every other state before relocating. School Counselor in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state school counselor license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Florida's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Florida overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Florida licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.