School Counselor / Virginia
2026 data Virginia board official source

Virginia 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.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Provides academic and social-emotional counseling to students.

What the Virginia data shows for School Counselors

To practice as a school counselor in Virginia, 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 Virginia's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in School Counseling".

The initial price tag is $142, and renewal costs $102 every 5 years. The license also carries an ongoing 150-hour continuing-education requirement per 5-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
38/100
School Counselor · Virginia

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
$142
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A
$20/yr
$102 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 Virginia

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in School Counseling
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$142
Renewal Fee
$102
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 Virginia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Virginia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Counselor in Virginia? ▼
Virginia requires, passing an exam (State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)), and an initial fee of $142. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a School Counselor in Virginia? ▼
Virginia licenses school counselors who complete its requirements (1 year of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Virginia licensing board.
Can I transfer my School Counselor license to Virginia 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 Virginia. Verify the specifics with the Virginia licensing board.
Does Virginia require a background check for School Counselor licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the school counselor licensing process in Virginia. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for School Counselor in Virginia? ▼
Licensed school counselors in Virginia must complete 150 hours of continuing education every 5 years. The renewal fee is $102.

Related Guides

What to do with this school counselor license

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

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

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