School Counselor / North Carolina
2026 data North Carolina board official source

North Carolina School Counselor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

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Provides academic and social-emotional counseling to students.

What the North Carolina data shows for School Counselors

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

Upfront cost is $153, with renewal running $109 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.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
37/100
School Counselor · North Carolina

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
$153
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A-
$22/yr
$109 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 North Carolina

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in School Counseling
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$153
Renewal Fee
$109
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 North Carolina licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with North Carolina licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Counselor in North Carolina? ▼
North Carolina's requirements cover, the State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent) exam, and an initial fee of $153. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a School Counselor in North Carolina? ▼
Certification as a school counselor in North Carolina means clearing the state's checklist plus 1 year of work experience, and a passing exam score. The North Carolina licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my School Counselor license to North Carolina 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 North Carolina licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does North Carolina require a background check for School Counselor licensing? ▼
Yes, North Carolina 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 North Carolina? ▼
To stay licensed as a school counselor in North Carolina, plan on 150 hours of continuing education per 5-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $109.

Related Guides

What to do with this school counselor license

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

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

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