Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

School Counselor Standard Certificate

Endorsement Code: 2702

The school counselor endorsement authorizes the holder to perform school counseling services such as study and assessment of individual students with respect to their academic status, abilities, interest and needs; counseling in collaboration with administrators, teachers, students, and parents regarding personal, social, educational, and vocational plans and programs; and developing cooperative relationships with community agencies in assisting children and families. The certificate holder is authorized to perform the services in preschool through grade 12.  

To be eligible for the School Counselor standard certificate, a candidate must complete one of the following options:

Hold a master’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university whose school counseling program meets the standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Complete a New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE)-approved graduate program in school counseling.

Degree Requirement

Hold a master’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university. 

Coursework Requirements

A minimum of 48 graduate semester-hour credits in the following areas:

  1. Counseling: a minimum of 18 semester-hour credits to include study in each of the following areas:
    • Career counseling
    • Counseling and interviewing techniques
    • Theory and procedures of individual and group counseling
  2. Testing and evaluation: a minimum of three semester-hour credits
  3. Psychology: a minimum of six semester hour credits that shall include study related to child and adolescent psychology, psychology of exceptional children, and psychology of learning.
  4. Sociological Foundations: a minimum of six semester-hour credits that shall include study in community agencies, organizations, and resources.
  5. Statistics or research methods: a minimum of three semester-hour credits
  6. Supervised school counselor practicum: a minimum of six semester-hour credits as a school counselor in a preschool through grade 12 school setting. A clinical setting will not be accepted. The practicum shall be supervised by a person holding a standard New Jersey or out-of-state school counselor certificate.
  7. Electives: 6 semester-hour credits in any of the following topics:
    • Counseling
    • Educational pedagogy
    • Psychology
    • Sociological foundations
    • Statistics or research methods
    • Testing and evaluation

To be eligible for the School Counselor emergency certificate, a candidate must complete the following requirements:

Degree Requirement

A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university. 

Coursework Requirements

A minimum of 15 graduate semester-hour credits from the areas listed below. At least six of the 15 credits must be in counseling:

  1. Counseling - Suggestions include theory and procedures in individual and group guidance; counseling and interviewing techniques; career counseling.
  2. Testing and evaluation
  3. Psychology - suggestions include child or adolescent psychology, psychology of exceptional children or psychology of learning.
  4. Sociological Foundations - suggestions include community agencies, organizations, and resources; multicultural counseling; educational sociology; social problems; family counseling; urban sociology.