This webpage provides information on how to achieve certified in the Student Services areas to work as a school counselor, school psychological examiner, or school psychologist in Missouri.

(2) Applications for a student services Missouri certificate of license to teach shall be submitted on the forms provided by the board, accompanied by the appropriate fee, and may be obtained by writing the Educator Certification Section of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) at PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or by downloading from the Internet.

(3) An application is not considered officially filed with the board until it has been determined by the board or DESE staff to be complete and the application is submitted on the forms provided by the board, signed and accompanied by two (2) full sets of fingerprints with the appropriate fee as set by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (Highway Patrol) and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and any other applicable forms and/or fees. All information should be received by the board within ninety (90) days of the date of the application.

• (A) The applicant is responsible for submitting the fingerprints in the manner acceptable to the Highway Patrol and/or FBI and the payment of any fees required by the Highway Patrol and/or FBI.

(4) The applicant shall submit verification of certification or licensure directly to DESE including information regarding any disciplinary action from each state or United States' territory regulatory entity in which a professional license, including a certificate of license to teach, is held or has ever been held.

(5) The applicant for a student services certificate of license to teach as a school counselor must comply with the following additional criteria:

• (A) The applicant shall request and obtain the recommendation of the designated certification official for a state-approved master's or higher level school counselor preparation program; and

• (B) The applicant must possess either--

• 1. A master's or higher degree in school counseling from a state-approved school counselor preparation program; or
• 2. A master's or higher degree in education, school counseling, counseling, counseling psychology, rehabilitation counseling, or a closely related mental health discipline with additional graduate course work specific to school counseling, as designated by the state-approved recommending certification official, including a supervised internship or field experience of at least three hundred (300) hours in an appropriate school setting; and

• (C) The applicant must either--

• 1. Possess a bachelor's degree in education from a state-approved teacher preparation program; or
• 2. Complete a curriculum in teaching methods and practices, classroom management, and the psychology of the exceptional child, as specified by the recommending certification officer of the state-approved program; and

• (D) The applicant must achieve a score equal to or in excess of the qualifying score on the exit assessment(s), not to include the principles of learning and teaching, as defined in the rules promulgated by the board. An official score report shall be submitted to DESE.

(6) The applicant for a student services certificate of license to teach as a school psychological examiner must comply with the following additional criteria:

• (A) The applicant shall request and obtain the recommendation of the designated certification official for a state-approved master’s or higher level school psychological examiner preparation program; and
• (B) The applicant must possess either—
• 1. A master’s or higher degree from a state-approved school counselor preparation program; or
• 2. A master’s or higher degree in education, school counseling, counseling, counseling psychology, or a closely related mental health discipline; and complete a designated graduate curriculum in the practice of the school psychological examiner, as specified by the recommending certification program, including a supervised internship or field experience in school psychological assessment of at least one hundred fifty (150) hours in an appropriate school setting.

(7) The applicant for a student services certificate of license to teach as a school psychologist must comply with the following additional criteria:

• (A) The applicant shall request and obtain the recommendation of the designated certification official for a state-approved school psychologist preparation program;
• (B) The applicant must possess an education specialist’s or equivalent degree in school psychology from a state-approved program; and
• (C) The applicant must achieve a score equal to or in excess of the qualifying score on the exit assessment(s) as defined in the rules promulgated by the board. An official score report shall be submitted to DESE.

(8) The applicant for a student services certificate of license to teach as an adult education supervisor must comply with the following additional criteria:

• (A) The applicant must possess a baccalaureate level or higher degree from a stateapproved college or university.

(9) The applicant for a student services certificate of license to teach as a career education counselor must comply with the following additional criteria:

• (A) The applicant shall request and obtain the recommendation of the designated certification official for a state-approved master’s or higher level school counselor preparation program; and
• (B) The applicant must possess either—
• 1. A master’s or higher degree in school counseling from a state-approved school counselor preparation program; or
• 2. A master’s or higher degree in education, school counseling, counseling, counseling psychology, rehabilitation counseling, vocational evaluation, or a closely related mental health discipline with additional graduate course work specific to school counseling, as designated by the state-approved recommending certification official, including a supervised internship or field experience of at least three hundred (300) hours in an appropriate school setting; and
• (C) The applicant must either—
• 1. Possess a bachelor’s degree in education from a state-approved teacher preparation program; or
• 2. Complete a curriculum in teaching methods and practices, classroom management and the psychology of the exceptional child, as specified by the recommending certification officer of the state-approved program; and
• (D) The applicant must achieve a score equal to or in excess of the qualifying score on the exit assessment(s), not to include the principles of learning and teaching, as defined in the rules promulgated by the board. An official score report shall be submitted to DESE.

(10) The applicant for a student services certificate of license to teach as a career services coordinator must comply with the following additional criteria:

• (A) The applicant must possess a bachelor’s degree or higher degree in a businessrelated field or human resources.

(11) The applicant for a student services certificate of license to teach as a speech-language pathologist must meet all the additional requirements in one (1) of the following areas:

• (A) State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts—
• 1. The applicant must possess a master’s or higher degree from a state-approved program for speech-language pathologists;
• 2. The applicant must possess a valid, unencumbered, undisciplined Missouri license as a speech-language pathologist from the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts; and
• 3. The applicant must achieve a score equal to or in excess of the qualifying score on the exit assessment(s), not to include the principals of learning and teaching, as defined in the rules promulgated by the board. An official score report shall be submitted to DESE;

(B) The Initial Student Services Certificate for Elementary Counselor (Grades K-8), valid for a period of four (4) years from the effective date of the certificate, will be issued to those persons meeting the following requirements:

1. Recommendation for certification from the designated official of a counselor preparation program approved by the department;

2. Completion of a course in Psychology/Education of the Exceptional Child; and

3. The applicant must possess either--

   • A. Completion of a master's degree with a major emphasis in guidance and counseling from a college or university meeting approval of the department based upon the completion of a planned program of at least forty-two (42) semester hours of approved graduate credit in courses in guidance and counseling with at least twelve (12) semester hours focused upon guidance in the elementary schools--

   • (I) Knowledge and/or competency in each of the following areas:

   • (a) Student Development--

   • I. Human Growth and Development;

   • II. Counseling Theories and Interventions;

   • III. Helping Relationships;

   • IV. Social and Cultural Diversity;

   • V. Appraisal of Student Growth and Achievement; and

   • VI. Career Development and Planning;

   • (b) Program Implementation--

   • I. Structural Components;

   • II. Program Components;

   • III. Technology; and

   • IV. Program, Personnel, and Results Evaluation;

   • (c) Professional Relationships--

   • I. Interpersonal Skills;

   • II. Collaboration;

   • III. Consultation Theories and Strategies; and

   • IV. School and Community Involvement;

   • (d) Leadership and Advocacy--

   • I. Personal Well-Being;

   • II. Leadership and Professionalism;

   • III. Student Advocacy;

   • IV. Program Leadership; and

   • V. School Climate and Culture;

   • (e) Ethical and Professional Conduct--

   • I. Ethical Standard;

   • II. Professional Standard;

   • III. District and School Policies; and

   • IV. Legal Requirements; and

   • (II) Field and Clinical Experience (three (3) semester hours minimum of three hundred (300) clock hours)--

   • (a) Culminating Clinical Experience. This refers to an elementary school placement(s) in which candidates actively participate and complete class assignments and work with students as requested while under the supervision of a counselor. The candidate should experience a wide range of class settings and have opportunities to collaborate with the supervising counselor, preparation program supervisors, and/or other stakeholders working to improve student learning;

   • B. A master's degree or higher degree in education, school counseling, counseling, counseling psychology, rehabilitation counseling, or a closely-related mental health discipline; and completed additional graduate coursework specific to school counseling, as designated by the recommending certification official approved by the department; along with the following:

   • (I) Possess a bachelor's degree in education from a educator preparation program approved by the department; or

   • (II) Complete a curriculum in teaching methods and practices, classroom management, and the psychology of the exceptional child, as specified by the recommending certification officer of a program approved by the department; and

   • (III) Field and Clinical Experience (minimum of three hundred (300) clock hours)--

   • (a) Culminating Clinical Experience. This refers to an elementary school placement(s) in which candidates actively participate and complete class assignments and work with students as requested while under the supervision of a counselor. The candidate should experience a wide range of class settings and have opportunities to collaborate with the supervising counselor, preparation program supervisors, and/or other stakeholders working to improve student learning; and

4. Must achieve a score equal to or in excess of the qualifying score of any assessment(s) required by the State Board of Education (board). The official score report shall be submitted to the department;

(C) The Initial Student Services Certificate for Secondary Counselor (Grades 7-12), valid for a period of four (4) years from the effective date of the certificate, will be issued to those persons meeting the following requirements:

• 1. Recommendation for certification from the designated official of an approved counselor preparation program;
• 2. Completion of a course in Psychology/Education of the Exceptional Child; and
• 3. The applicant must possess either--

• A. A master's degree with a major emphasis in guidance and counseling from a college or university meeting approval of the department based upon the completion of a planned program of at least forty-two (42) semester hours of approved graduate credit in courses in guidance and counseling with at least twelve (12) semester hours focused upon guidance in secondary schools--

• (I) Knowledge and/or competency in each of the following areas:

• (a) Student Development--

• I. Human Growth and Development;

• II. Counseling Theories and Interventions;

• III. Helping Relationships;

• IV. Social and Cultural Diversity;

• V. Appraisal of Student Growth and Achievement; and

• VI. Career Development and Planning;

• (b) Program Implementation--

• I. Structural Components;

• II. Program Components;

• III. Technology; and

• IV. Program, Personnel, and Results Evaluation;

• (c) Professional Relationships--

• I. Interpersonal Skills;

• II. Collaboration;

• III. Consultation Theories and Strategies; and

• IV. School and Community Involvement;

• (d) Leadership and Advocacy--

• I. Personal Well-Being;

• II. Leadership and Professionalism;

• III. Student Advocacy;

• IV. Program Leadership; and

• V. School Climate and Culture; and

• (e) Ethical and Professional Conduct--

• I. Ethical Standard;

• II. Professional Standard;

• III. District and School Policies; and

• IV. Legal Requirements; and

• (II) Field and Clinical Experience (minimum of three hundred (300) clock hours)-- (a) Culminating Clinical Experience. This refers to a secondary school placement(s) in which candidates actively participate and complete class assignments and work with students as requested while under the supervision of a counselor. The candidate should experience a wide range of class settings and have opportunities to collaborate with the supervising counselor, preparation program supervisors, and/or other stakeholders working to improve student learning;

• B. A master's degree or higher degree in education, school counseling, counseling, counseling psychology, rehabilitation counseling, or a closely-related mental health discipline; and completed additional graduate coursework specific to school counseling, as designated by the recommending certification official approved by the department; along with the following:

• (I) Possess a bachelor's degree in education from an educator preparation program approved by the department; or

• (II) Complete a curriculum in teaching methods and practices, classroom management, and the psychology of the exceptional child, as specified by the recommending certification officer of a program approved by the department; and

• (III) Field and Clinical Experience (minimum of three hundred (300) clock hours)-- (a) Culminating Clinical Experience. This refers to an elementary school placement(s) in which candidates actively participate and complete class assignments and work with students as requested while under the supervision of a counselor. The candidate should experience a wide range of class settings and have opportunities to collaborate with the supervising counselor, preparation program supervisors, and/or other stakeholders working to improve student learning;

4. Must achieve a score equal to or in excess of the qualifying score of any assessment(s) required by the board. The official score report shall be submitted to the department.