In Oregon, educator candidates become eligible for a state educator license by completing coursework, student teaching and assessments, used to determine their status as program completers. Once all criteria are met, candidates can then be recommended to Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TPSC) for an educator license. Assessments during a program include subject matter test(s), a civil rights knowledge test, and a nationally-scored assessment, edTPA.. For information on Oregon testing requirements please refer to the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission website.
Tools of multiple measure are available to programs to assist candidates for whom tests or assessments present a barrier to program completion. Each licensure program in the COE has processes for utilizing the multiple measures tools which were developed by TSPC.
School Counseling Licensing
The School Counseling specialization has three options: Track I, Track II, and Licensure-only.
Track I & Track II
The School Counseling specialization prepares individuals to work as counselors in school settings (P-12). Emphasis is placed on preparing school counselors to work with students to support them in the process of achieving academic, career, and personal/social success. Students who have a teaching license and two years teaching experience take 6 additional elective credits (Track I). Students who cannot document a teaching license and two years of teaching experience must complete a 6-credit, 200- hour Effective Teaching sequence to obtain licensure as a school counselor (see “
Licensure") (Track II).
Licensure-only
Students enrolled in the licensure-only option must be graduates from an accredited Master’s program in counseling, psychology, or social work that required a clinical practicum focused on individual and group counseling skills. Graduate degrees in teaching or education are not accepted. The program is designed to meet the requirements for the Preliminary School Counselor License approved by TSPC. Students must complete 27- 33 credits in the school counseling core to be eligible for the Preliminary School Counselor license.
All students in the Licensure-only option must take the School Counseling specialization core courses. The Teacher Standards and Practices Commission requires school counselors to have two years’ experience as a licensed teacher in a public school setting. Individuals in need of the teaching requirement must take the six-credit, 200-clock-hour teaching experience sequence.
All students (Track I, Track II, and Licensure only) are required to:
- Be fingerprinted and clear Oregon State Police and FBI background checks.
- Complete a school counseling action research or related project and professional eportfolio documenting the knowledge, skills, and competencies required by TSPC.
- Complete a 600-clock-hour internship; internship includes placement in an early childhood/elementary and/or in a middle/high school setting.
- Have two years’ teaching experience. Students without two years’ teaching experience must complete a 200-hour teaching experience practicum in a year-long 6-credit course sequence.
Additional information about requirements and specific courses can be obtained from members of the Counselor Education faculty responsible for advising students in the School Counseling specialization.