Outline of the state of Oregon
State
Oregon
Requires practicum or internship

Category
School Counseling Staff Qualifications

Category
School Counseling Staff Qualifications

state statutes or regulations recommends minimum certification standards that include advanced coursework and graduate degree requirements for counselors and completion of a practicum or internship.

Oregon Administrative Rules 581-022-2060 Comprehensive School Counseling

(3) Counseling Staff Assignments. Each school district shall maintain a licensed staff and promote effective counseling and advising practices consistent with the district's expected comprehensive school counseling program outcomes. In determining staffing for the program, the following shall be considered:

  • (a) Alignment with the American School Counselor Association and School Social Work Association recommended ratio of 1:250 students;
Policy Type
Regulation

Oregon Administrative Rules 584-044-0011 Basic Counselor

An applicant for the basic counselor endorsement must complete the requirements under either section (1) or section (2) of this rule.

(1) Applicants with teaching experience must meet all of the following requirements:

  • (a) Hold, have held, or be eligible for an Oregon teaching license or comparable teaching license issued by another state;
  • (b) Have completed two years of successful teaching experience in Oregon schools or out-of-state public or regionally accredited private schools; or one year of teaching experience and one year of public school or regionally accredited private school intern counseling experience; and
  • (c) Have completed 24 quarter hours of graduate preparation designed to develop competence in:
  • (A) Counseling theory and interventions to include early intervention strategies;
  • (B) Groups: theory and interventions;
  • (C) Lifestyle and career development;
  • (D) Appraisal of individuals;
  • (E) Social and cultural foundations;
  • (F) Consultation and community resources; and
  • (G) Parent/family relations.
  • (d) Have completed six quarter hours of supervised practicum or internship in a counseling role in a public or regionally accredited private school. One year of full-time successful counseling experience in public schools on a valid state license is substituted for the practicum or internship required under subsection (1)(d) of this rule.

(2) Applicants without prior teaching experience must complete an Oregon approved counselor education program that culminates in a master's degree. These applicants must complete both the teaching and counseling practica.

Policy Type
Regulation

Oregon Administrative Rules 584-044-0021 Standard Counselor

The applicant for the standard counselor endorsement must have completed 24 quarter hours of graduate preparation, culminating in a masters degree, in addition to requirements for the basic counselor endorsement specified in OAR 584-044-0011(1)(c), designed to strengthen the applicants background in school counseling through a planned program to include: (1) Legal and professional issues for the school counselor; (2) Program development, organizational management, and technology-assisted guidance activities; (3) Research and program evaluation; and (4) Courses related to the development of a specialty area.

Policy Type
Regulation

Oregon Administrative Rules 584-070-0022 Professional School Counselor License

(1) Upon filing a correct and complete application in form and manner prescribed by the commission, a qualified applicant may be granted a Professional School Counselor License. (2) The Professional School Counselor License is issued for five years and is renewable repeatedly under conditions specified below. (3) The Professional School Counselor License is valid for counseling at all age or grade levels in any school building and for substitute teaching at any level in any specialty. (4) Applying for the License: To be eligible for a Professional School Counselor License an applicant must:

  • (a) Meet or complete all requirements of the Preliminary School Counselor License;
  • (b) Hold a master's or higher degree in the behavioral sciences or their derivative therapeutic professions from a regionally accredited institution in the United States, or hold the foreign equivalent of such degree approved by the commission, together with an equally accredited bachelor's degree.
  • (c) As part of the master's degree or separately, the applicant must have completed an initial graduate program in school counseling in any U.S. jurisdiction at an institution approved for school counselor licensure by the state in which the school counselor license was issued or in the alternative is approved by the commission;
  • (d) Have five years of school counseling experience at least half-time or more on any non-provisional license appropriate for the assignment; and
  • (e) Demonstrate minimum competencies, knowledge and skills in accordance with OAR 584-018-0310 by completing one of the following:
  • (A) An advanced program in counseling competencies in a TSPC-approved Professional School Counselor Program consisting of at least six semester hours or nine quarter hours of graduate credit or the equivalent beyond the initial graduate program in school counseling. As part of the advanced program, the applicant must have had a practica in counseling school students.
  • (B) Validation of all advanced counseling competencies through assessment by a commission-approved professional development program offered by an institution, an employer, or the two working together; or
  • (C) An accredited doctor's degree in educational, vocational, or clinical counseling; or in clinical or counseling psychology. (5) Renewal : To be eligible to apply for renewal of the Professional School Counselor License, the applicant must:
  • (a) Complete 125 continuing professional development units as provided in OAR 584-255-0010, Professional Development Requirements;
  • (b) Report on completion of any continuing education regarding suicide risk assessment, treatment and management; and
  • (c) Submit a complete and correct renewal application in the form and manner required by the Commission and the payment of all required fees, as provided in OAR 584-200-0050. (6) Preliminary to Professional School Counselor: An applicant moving from a Preliminary School Counselor to a Professional School Counselor License must report on completion of any continuing education regarding suicide risk assessment, treatment and management as provided in subsection (5)(b).
Policy Type
Regulation