School Counselor / Washington
2026 data Washington board official source

Washington 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 Washington data shows for School Counselors

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

Upfront cost is $250, with renewal running $169 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.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
29/100
School Counselor · Washington

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
$250
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B
$34/yr
$169 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 Washington

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in School Counseling
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$250
Renewal Fee
$169
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 Washington licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Washington licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Counselor in Washington? ▼
Washington's requirements cover, the State School Counselor Exam (Praxis or equivalent) exam, and an initial fee of $250. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a School Counselor in Washington? ▼
Washington licenses school counselors who complete its requirements (1 year of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Washington licensing board.
Can I transfer my School Counselor license to Washington 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 Washington. Verify the specifics with the Washington licensing board.
Does Washington require a background check for School Counselor licensing? ▼
Yes, Washington 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 Washington? ▼
To stay licensed as a school counselor in Washington, plan on 150 hours of continuing education per 5-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $169.

Related Guides

What to do with this school counselor license

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

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

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