School Counselor / Massachusetts
2026 data Massachusetts board official source

Massachusetts School Counselor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Provides academic and social-emotional counseling to students.

What the Massachusetts data shows for School Counselors

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

Budget $203 to get started, plus $140 at each renewal 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.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: State-specific reciprocity varies.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
32/100
School Counselor · Massachusetts

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
$203
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B+
$28/yr
$140 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 Massachusetts

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in School Counseling
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$203
Renewal Fee
$140
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 Massachusetts licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Massachusetts licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Counselor in Massachusetts? ▼
Massachusetts's requirements cover, the State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent) exam, and an initial fee of $203. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a School Counselor in Massachusetts? ▼
Massachusetts licenses school counselors who complete its requirements (1 year of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Massachusetts licensing board.
Can I transfer my School Counselor license to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts. Verify the specifics with the Massachusetts licensing board.
Does Massachusetts require a background check for School Counselor licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the school counselor licensing process in Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts? ▼
Licensed school counselors in Massachusetts must complete 150 hours of continuing education every 5 years. The renewal fee is $140.

Related Guides

What to do with this school counselor license

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

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

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