NC Licensure and Certification Requirement

NC Licensure and Certification Requirement

Praxis II: Subject Assessments:

A. School Guidance and Counseling: Code 5421.
You must have a minimum passing score of 156.
Register for the Praxis

Licensure

Students completing the M.A. program in school counseling will be eligible to apply for K-12 school counseling licensure in North Carolina. It is recommended that students apply for licensure during their final semester of course work.

Licensure information can be obtained by contacting:

1) The Teacher Education Advising and Licensure (TEAL)
office located on the first floor in the College of Education:

College of Education Building Suite 119
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28223
Phone 704.687.8725
Fax 704.687.3774

AND

2) North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Requirements

Requirements for licensure/certification vary from state to state. Students planning to seek employment in other states should contact the state board of education in the state(s) they are interested in working for information regarding specific licensure/certification requirements.

NORTH CAROLINA

Educational Requirements: Master’s degree from a state-approved university program in school counseling
Experience Requirements: None
Examination: Praxis II: School Guidance and Counseling (0420): Must have a passing score of 570.
Certification: K-12
Reciprocity: North Carolina has reciprocal contracts with these states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Note: Certain requirements specific to North Carolina, such as the Praxis II Series testing requirement, are not covered by reciprocity and must be met before a clear North Carolina license can be issued.
Background Check: Yes, required at the district level.
http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=242

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Licensure Section
6365 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-6365

DPI’s Licensure Section is available to answer your questions.
If you have a question or need more information:
Phone 1-800-577-7994 (callers within North Carolina)
or 1-919-807-3310 (callers outside North Carolina)

NCC

The National Certified Counselor (NCC)
Benefits of Becoming an NCC:
National Certification can be a continuing source of career enhancement and pride for you as a counseling professional.

Advantages:

  • Generates client referrals through CounselorFind, NBCC’s referral service linking potential clients to nearby NCCs.
  • Ensures portability of your nationally recognized counseling credential should you relocate.
  • Keeps NCCs in touch with current professional credentialing issues and events through The National Certified Counselor, NBCC’s newsletter.
  • Advances professional accountability and visibility.
  • Ensures a national standard developed by counselors, not legislators.
  • Furnishes NBCC backing for counselors’ right to use assessment instruments, through support of the national Fair Access Coalition on Testing (FACT).

NCSC

The National Certified School Counselor (NCSC)
The NCSC is a specialty credential which recognizes counselors who possess a minimum of a master’s degree in counseling with course work in school counseling and who have passed a challenging national application and examination process. NCSCs have a strong commitment to the school counseling profession and to providing high quality services to students, parents, teachers and communities.

Advantages:

  • Identification as master’s level counseling practitioners who work in school settings
  • Recognition by other mental health professionals as experts on the mental health needs of today’s school children and adolescents
  • Demonstration of an ongoing commitment to high quality school counseling services through continuing education
  • Salary increments in an increasing number of states and school systems across the country

NBPTS

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)

NBPTS offers 24 certificates that cover a variety of subject areas and student developmental levels, and are applicable to more than 95 percent of America’s teachers including the School Counseling: Early Childhood through Young Adulthood. NBPTS also administers National Board Certification, a voluntary assessment program that certifies educators who meet those standards.