School Counselor / Pennsylvania
2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania data shows for School Counselors

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

Upfront cost is $185, with renewal running $129 on a 5-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 150-hour continuing-education requirement per 5-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
34/100
School Counselor · Pennsylvania

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
$185
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B+
$26/yr
$129 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 Pennsylvania

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in School Counseling
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$185
Renewal Fee
$129
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 Pennsylvania licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Pennsylvania licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Counselor in Pennsylvania? ▼
In Pennsylvania, the license path calls for, a passing score on State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent), and a $185 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a School Counselor in Pennsylvania? ▼
Certification as a school counselor in Pennsylvania means clearing the state's checklist plus 1 year of work experience, and a passing exam score. The Pennsylvania licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my School Counselor license to Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. Verify the specifics with the Pennsylvania licensing board.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for School Counselor licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for school counselor licensing in Pennsylvania. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for School Counselor in Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania ties continued school counselor licensure to 150 continuing-education hours, due every 5 years, alongside a $129 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this school counselor license

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

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

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