School Counseling Concentration

The Counselor Education Program offers two concentrations: Community College and Higher Education Counseling and School Counseling.

Certification as a school counselor by the State of Texas requires two years of teaching experience.  The individual must work as the instructor of record for two years full-time to meet this requirement.

Teaching experience is NOT required for admission to, or completion of, the School Counseling program.  Some students work as teachers while completing the program, for example, and others complete this requirement after finishing the program.  Some graduates of our program may not plan to gain teaching experience at all because they plan to work in settings that do not require teaching experience, such as some private schools or some states.

It is recommended that applicants clearly indicate in their Statement of Purpose the type of setting in which they plan to work. If experience as a teacher will be necessary and the applicant does not have teaching experience, the Statement of Purpose should clearly indicate how the applicant plans to acquire that experience.

Applicants seeking further clarification of the state requirements for teaching experience for school counselors are encouraged to consult the Texas State Board for Educator Certification website at  www.sbec.state.tx.us.   Follow the link “Certification Rules” and you will eventually end up at the Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 239, Subchapter A, which details state requirements for certifying school counselors.  Another resource is the Texas Education Agency Information and Support number at 1-888-863-5880.