School Counselor / Ohio
2026 data Ohio board official source

Ohio 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 Ohio data shows for School Counselors

Ohio sets the entry bar for school counselors at board-approved training and a passing score on State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent), with 1 year of supervised work experience expected. A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Ohio's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in School Counseling".

Upfront cost is $171, with renewal running $120 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
35/100
School Counselor · Ohio

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
$171
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A-
$24/yr
$120 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 Ohio

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in School Counseling
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$171
Renewal Fee
$120
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 Ohio licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Ohio licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Counselor in Ohio? ▼
Ohio's requirements cover, the State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent) exam, and an initial fee of $171. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a School Counselor in Ohio? ▼
Ohio licenses school counselors who complete its requirements (1 year of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Ohio licensing board.
Can I transfer my School Counselor license to Ohio 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 Ohio licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Ohio require a background check for School Counselor licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for school counselor licensing in Ohio. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for School Counselor in Ohio? ▼
Licensed school counselors in Ohio must complete 150 hours of continuing education every 5 years. The renewal fee is $120.

Related Guides

What to do with this school counselor license

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

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

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