If you’re interested in how to become a school counselor in Texas, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we will walk you through the process of becoming a certified school counselor in the great state of Texas. We’ll provide information on the necessary qualifications, how to get certified, and what career opportunities are available to school counselors in Texas. So whether you’re just starting out on your career journey, looking to get into social work, or you’re already a practicing school counselor, this guide has something for everyone!
Get A Master Degree in Counseling or Related Fields
The first step to becoming a licensed professional counselor in Texas is earning a master’s degree in counseling or a related field. The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors (TSBEC) requires that all certified school counselors have at least 60 semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) of graduate-level coursework in counseling or a related field of study.
A Masters degree in Counseling prepares you for how to become a school counselor in Texas by teaching you things like how to build relationships with students and how mental health issues affect children at various stages in their development.
You’ll also learn how different types of therapy are used to treat certain disorders, as well as methods that can be applied across multiple settings such as schools or hospitals. You will gain a strong foundation for how to become a counselor at a Texas school!
Complete The School Counselor Preparation Program and Certification Exam
The next step is to complete the school counselor certification exam and school counselor preparation program. These programs are offered by the Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA) and are designed to prepare you for certification as a school counselor in Texas.
The TSCA offers two different paths to becoming certified as a school counselor: the Standard Path and the Non-Standard Path. The Standard Path is for those who have already completed a master’s degree in counseling or a related field, while the Non-Standard Path is for those who do not yet have their master’s degree but still want to become certified as school counselors.
The Standard Path offers two options: Complete A Master in Counseling Degree Program at an Accredited Institution and Pass Texas State Board Exam OR Earn 60 Hours of Graduate Credit Through an Accredited Institution and Pass Texas State Board Exam.
The Non-Standard Path offers one option: Complete 60 Hours of Graduate Credit Through an Accredited Institution and Pass Texas State Board Exam.
There are many resources available to help you complete the school counselor certification exam, including how-to guides on how to study for the school counselor certification!
Have 2 Years of Counseling and Classroom Experience
Another requirement to become a school counselor is that you have at least two years of school counseling experience. This requirement can be satisfied either by working as an intern or volunteer counselor for one year, or by completing an internship while earning your master’s degree in counseling.
The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors (TSBEC) and the Texas Education Agency requires all certified school counselors to have at least two years of counseling experience in order to prepare them for working in an elementary, middle or high school.
Get hired as a school counselor by a district in Texas
The final step in the process is to get hired as a school counselor by a district in Texas.
The TSCA provides information on how to find employment and how much you can expect from different districts, including how many positions are available at each level of education (elementary, middle or high) as well as what kind of salary range might be expected for those positions.
As a counselor at a Texas public or private school you will work with students from all backgrounds and academic levels inside the school counseling program, so it’s important not to limit yourself when looking for positions!
The TSCA is also a great place to start if you want more information about how to become a school counselor in Texas. The association offers how-to guides on how two years of counseling experience, how much it costs per year and how many hours will be required each week (among other things) as well as how-to guides on finding employment opportunities through their website or at one of the many annual conferences they hold throughout Texas.