School Counselor / Georgia
2026 data Georgia board official source

Georgia School Counselor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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Provides academic and social-emotional counseling to students.

What the Georgia data shows for School Counselors

Georgia's path to school counselor licensure runs through board-approved instruction, 1 year of supervised work experience, and a passing score on State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent), plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Georgia folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in School Counseling".

Budget $157 to get started, plus $111 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
36/100
School Counselor · Georgia

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
$157
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A-
$22/yr
$111 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 Georgia

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in School Counseling
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$157
Renewal Fee
$111
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 Georgia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Georgia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Counselor in Georgia? ▼
In Georgia, the license path calls for, a passing score on State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent), and a $157 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a School Counselor in Georgia? ▼
Georgia licenses school counselors who complete its requirements (1 year of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Georgia licensing board.
Can I transfer my School Counselor license to Georgia from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for school counselors: State-specific reciprocity varies. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Georgia licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Georgia require a background check for School Counselor licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for school counselor licensing in Georgia. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for School Counselor in Georgia? ▼
To stay licensed as a school counselor in Georgia, plan on 150 hours of continuing education per 5-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $111.

Related Guides

What to do with this school counselor license

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

  • See how Georgia'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 Georgia's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Georgia overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Georgia 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.