Qualifications:

School counselors shall hold a school services personnel license with the school counselor endorsement. (Rules 0520-02-03-05)

Candidates seeking a practitioner school services personnel licensure and endorsement as a school counselor shall meet the requirements of one (1) of the following pathways:

1. Pathway 1. The candidate:

(i) Holds an advanced degree in school counseling from a regionally accredited college or university;

(ii) Has completed a State Board-approved educator preparation program in school counseling;

(iii) Is recommended by the approved educator preparation provider; and

(iv) Submits qualifying scores on all required assessments as defined in the Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy.

1. Pathway 2. The candidate:

(i) Holds a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university;

(ii) Is enrolled in a State Board-approved educator preparation program in school counseling with a job embedded clinical practice;

(iii) Is recommended by the approved educator preparation provider; and

(iv) Submits qualifying scores on all required assessments as defined in the Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy.

1. Pathway 3. The candidate:

(i) Holds an advanced degree in a counseling field;

(ii) Is enrolled in a State Board-approved educator preparation program in school counseling;

(iii) Has completed a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of coursework in school counseling;

(iv) Is recommended by the approved educator preparation provider;

(v) Submits required supervision agreement between the LEA and approved educator preparation provider; and

(vi) Submits qualifying scores on all required assessments as defined in the Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy.

1. Pathway 4. The out-of-state candidate:

(i) Holds an advanced degree in school counseling from a regionally accredited college or university;

(ii) Has completed an educator preparation program in school counseling approved by a state other than Tennessee as evidenced by a recommendation from the out-of-state educator preparation provider where the educator completed preparation; and

(iii) Submits qualifying scores on all required assessments as defined in the Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy.

1. Pathway 5. The out-of-state candidate:

(i) Holds an advanced degree in school counseling from a regionally accredited college or university; and

(ii) Holds a full and valid out-of-state initial level school counselor license from a state that is a partner in the NASDTEC interstate agreement.

(b) Out-of-state candidates seeking a professional school services personnel licensure and endorsement as a school counselor shall hold an advanced degree in school counseling and hold a full and valid out-of-state professional level educator license from a state that is a partner in the NASDTEC interstate agreement.

(c) School counselors who serve in a supervisory role shall have a professional school services personnel license with an endorsement in school counseling.