School Counselor / Texas
2026 data Texas board official source

Texas 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 Texas data shows for School Counselors

To practice as a school counselor in Texas, the state licensing board requires board-approved training, a passing score on State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent), and 1 year of supervised work experience. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Texas's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in School Counseling".

The initial price tag is $175, and renewal costs $122 every 5 years. 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
35/100
School Counselor · Texas

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
$175
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A-
$24/yr
$122 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 Texas

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in School Counseling
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$175
Renewal Fee
$122
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 Texas licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Texas licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Counselor in Texas? ▼
In Texas, the license path calls for, a passing score on State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent), and a $175 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a School Counselor in Texas? ▼
Certification as a school counselor in Texas means clearing the state's checklist plus 1 year of work experience, and a passing exam score. The Texas licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my School Counselor license to Texas 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 Texas licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Texas require a background check for School Counselor licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for school counselor licensing in Texas. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for School Counselor in Texas? ▼
Texas ties continued school counselor licensure to 150 continuing-education hours, due every 5 years, alongside a $122 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this school counselor license

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

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

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