School Counselor / Montana
2026 data Montana board official source

Montana 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 Montana data shows for School Counselors

Becoming a licensed school counselor in Montana means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent), and 1 year of supervised work experience, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Montana regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in School Counseling".

Upfront cost is $236, with renewal running $160 on a 5-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 150 hours of continuing education per 5-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
30/100
School Counselor · Montana

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
$236
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B
$32/yr
$160 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 Montana

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in School Counseling
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$236
Renewal Fee
$160
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 Montana licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Montana licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Counselor in Montana? ▼
Montana requires, passing an exam (State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)), and an initial fee of $236. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a School Counselor in Montana? ▼
Montana licenses school counselors who complete its requirements (1 year of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Montana licensing board.
Can I transfer my School Counselor license to Montana 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 Montana. Verify the specifics with the Montana licensing board.
Does Montana require a background check for School Counselor licensing? ▼
Yes, Montana 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 Montana? ▼
To stay licensed as a school counselor in Montana, plan on 150 hours of continuing education per 5-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $160.

Related Guides

What to do with this school counselor license

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

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

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