School Counselor Requirements: What Degree Do You Need Most?

School counselors can play an important role in helping students make decisions about their education and their futures. One study found that students who met with a school counselor were 23% more likely to enroll in college within three years of high school graduation.¹ While the study does not establish that counseling alone caused the difference, its findings point to a positive relationship between access to school counselors and college enrollment. School counselors also guide students toward other postsecondary opportunities, including career and technical education, apprenticeships and military service.²

School counseling work calls for specialized preparation. If you’re considering a career in school counseling, you’ll need to understand the graduate education, supervised field experience and certification requirements for the profession. Because each state sets its own standards, the path you choose should prepare you to qualify for the appropriate credential. This guide covers the degree, clinical training and certification you’ll need, with a closer look at what it takes to become a school counselor in Virginia.

What Degree Do You Need to Be a School Counselor?

For most aspiring school counselors, a bachelor’s degree is the starting point rather than the final educational requirement. Most states and the District of Columbia require school counselors to hold a master’s degree, typically in counseling or psychology.³ Each state determines what graduate coursework, supervised experience and other preparation qualify candidates for certification.

Your undergraduate background can provide useful preparation for graduate study in school counseling. A bachelor’s degree in education, psychology or another related field may give you a grounding in human development, learning and school environments.³ If you’re already a teacher, you can also draw on your firsthand understanding of students and school systems as you prepare for a new professional role.

As you consider graduate programs, pay close attention to how each one aligns with your state’s certification standards. A general counseling degree may not include the school counseling coursework or K-12 field placements you’ll need.⁴ Before enrolling, compare each program’s curriculum and clinical experiences with the criteria for earning a credential in the place where you intend to work.

Navigating School Counselor Education Requirements

Graduate education in school counseling prepares you for responsibilities that extend well beyond academic advising. Your coursework can help you understand how students’ developmental needs change across grade levels and how cultural and social factors can shape their experiences in school. You’ll also study the legal and ethical responsibilities involved in counseling minors and develop skills for working with families, teachers and other members of the school community.

Supervised clinical training gives you opportunities to put that knowledge into practice. Under the 2024 standards established by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), counseling students complete a practicum of at least 100 hours, including 40 hours of direct service. A subsequent internship requires at least 600 hours, including 240 hours of direct service.⁵

These experiences allow you to develop your counseling skills while receiving professional supervision. As you progress from practicum to internship, you can take on greater responsibility, encounter a wider range of situations and learn how to apply what you’ve studied when working directly with students.

Your choice of graduate program, therefore, involves more than selecting the right degree title. Look at the curriculum, accreditation and field experience together. The goal is to choose a program that develops your counseling expertise while helping you prepare for professional practice in your state.

Earning Your School Counselor Certification

A graduate degree is a major part of your preparation, but it is not the only step toward becoming a school counselor. Each state establishes its own credentialing process. According to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), states typically consider your graduate preparation and may require you to pass a comprehensive examination.⁴ Most states also require a criminal background check.³

As you plan your path, you can:

• Identify the state education agency responsible for school counselor credentials
• Learn what education and clinical experience your state expects
• Compare those criteria with the curricula of the graduate programs you’re considering
• Complete any required examinations, background screenings or supplemental training

Familiarize yourself with this process before you enroll in graduate school. Doing so can help you determine whether a program will provide the preparation you need and avoid discovering a gap after you have completed your degree. Once you’ve completed your education and the other steps your state specifies, you can submit your documentation and apply for your school counseling credential.

How to Become a School Counselor in Virginia

To become a school counselor in Virginia, you’ll need to meet standards established by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). They include graduate-level preparation for the school counselor endorsement, along with supervised training that prepares you to work with students across the preK-12 grade range.⁶

Your fieldwork must span different grade levels. Candidates completing an approved preparation program must have at least 100 clock hours of practicum and internship work in a preK-6 setting and another 100 hours involving students in grades 7-12.⁶ Virginia also requires school counselor licensure applicants to complete training in recognizing mental health disorders and behavioral distress, including depression, trauma, youth suicide and substance abuse.⁷

Once you have completed the applicable education, experience and training, you can apply for licensure through the Virginia Department of Education’s online system and submit the necessary documentation and fee.⁸ Because licensing standards can change, it’s important to review current VDOE guidance as you consider your options and again when you are ready to apply.

Build a Career Centered on Student Success

School counseling can give you a career focused on helping students address challenges, recognize possibilities and make decisions about their education and their futures. Reaching that goal starts with the specialized preparation required for professional practice.

William & Mary’s Online M.Ed. in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling combines online coursework with a supervised practicum and internship in K-12 settings. The CACREP-accredited program can be completed in as few as three years and includes two three-day on-campus residencies for additional applied learning.

Throughout the program, you'll examine school counseling through an emphasis on social justice, diversity and inclusion. You’ll develop an understanding of students’ academic, career and social emotional needs while learning how school systems, policies and cultural factors can affect their experiences and access to support.

If you’re a working educator, the online coursework can also allow you to pursue graduate preparation while remaining connected to the school communities you already know before beginning fieldwork. Your past experience can provide valuable context as you build the distinct knowledge and skills required of a professional school counselor.

Whether you’re aiming to start your career or make a change from an existing one, William & Mary can prepare you for a future in school counseling. Explore the admission requirements and contact us directly or schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor to discuss the program and your goals.