KY: Education Professional Standards Board - Guidance Counselor Certification


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Guidance Counselor Certification

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Link to Applicable Regulations

Provisional Guidance Counseling, Primary-Grade 12

The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board issues a five year Provisional Certificate for Guidance Counseling P-12 to applicants who:

Have completed an approved master’s level program in guidance counseling.

Standard Guidance Counseling, Primary-Grade 12

The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board issues a five year Standard Certificate for Guidance Counseling P-12 to applicants who have met one of the following options:

Option 1

Successful completion of an approved master’s level program in guidance counseling;
Successful completion of an additional three to six credit hours from an approved graduate level counseling or guidance counseling program;
One year of full time employment as a provisionally certified guidance counselor in an accredited public or private school;
Hold a valid Kentucky Professional teaching certificate, and
Have a minimum of one year of fulltime classroom teaching experience.

Option 2

Successful completion of an approved master’s level program in guidance counseling
Successful completion of an additional three to six credit hours from an approved graduate level counseling or guidance counseling program
Have a minimum of two year of successful employment as a Provisional fulltime certified guidance counselor.

How to apply for Guidance Counselor Certification

Fill out TC-1 (.pdf) application form
Submit $50 processing fee in the form of a money order, cashier or certified check made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer
Submit an official transcript showing completion of necessary coursework for counseling certification as required by the university program
Upon receipt, the EPSB will issue a 5-year Professional Certificate

Division of Certification
Education Professional Standards Board
100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Provisional Guidance Counselor Certification Renewal
Each five year renewal shall require:

Completion of a TC-2 (.pdf) application and
An official transcript showing at least nine semester hours of additional graduate credit in the areas of counseling or guidance counseling
$50 processing fee in the form of a money order, cashier or certified check made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer.
Mail completed TC-2 & $50 processing fee to:

Division of Certification
Education Professional Standards Board
100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Additional Information: Whenever there is a lapse in the provisional certificate for guidance counselor for lack of meeting renewal requirements, the certificate may be reissued at a later date under current administrative regulations upon application and the submission of proof of the completion of a minimum of nine semester hours of graduate credit for each five year period of validity or lapse of the guidance counselor certificate. The graduate credit shall be in the areas of counseling or guidance counseling.

Standard Guidance Counselor Certification Renewal

Each five year renewal shall require:

Completion of a TC-2 (.pdf) application and
Completion of the Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) hours as specified by the KY Department of Education in KRS 156.101. (It is the responsibility to provide documentation of this training to the district superintendent, who recommends renewal on the TC-2.)
$50 processing fee in the form of a money order, cashier or certified check made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer.
Mail completed TC-2 & $50 processing fee to:

Division of Certification
Education Professional Standards Board
100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Additional Information: Whenever there is a lapse in the standard certificate for guidance counselor for lack of meeting renewal requirements, the certificate may be reissued at a later date under current administrative regulations by first completing twelve clock hours of counselor role specific training for each year since the expiration of the certificate up to a maximum of seventy-five clock hours or nine (9) semester hours of additional graduate credit appropriate to position of guidance counselor.

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Contact the EPSB Division of Certification

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