School Counselor / Louisiana
2026 data Louisiana board official source

Louisiana 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 Louisiana data shows for School Counselors

Louisiana'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. Louisiana folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in School Counseling".

Upfront cost is $228, with renewal running $155 on a 5-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 150 hours of continuing education are due every 5-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

For school counselors, the reciprocity picture is: State-specific reciprocity varies.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
31/100
School Counselor · Louisiana

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
$228
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B
$31/yr
$155 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 Louisiana

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in School Counseling
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$228
Renewal Fee
$155
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 Louisiana licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Louisiana licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Counselor in Louisiana? ▼
Louisiana requires, passing an exam (State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)), and an initial fee of $228. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a School Counselor in Louisiana? ▼
Louisiana licenses school counselors who complete its requirements (1 year of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Louisiana licensing board.
Can I transfer my School Counselor license to Louisiana from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for school counselors nationally works like this: State-specific reciprocity varies. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Louisiana. Verify the specifics with the Louisiana licensing board.
Does Louisiana require a background check for School Counselor licensing? ▼
Yes, Louisiana requires a criminal background check as part of the school counselor licensing process. Disqualifying offenses and review criteria are determined by the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for School Counselor in Louisiana? ▼
Louisiana ties continued school counselor licensure to 150 continuing-education hours, due every 5 years, alongside a $155 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this school counselor license

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

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

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