Licensure & Endorsement

Professional Counselor Licensure Requirements

Students are required to contact the Board of Counseling in the State or States in which they plan to practice upon graduation from this program. The requirements of this program prepare students for licensure in the State of Michigan as professional counselors. For information about these requirements, contact:

State of Michigan-Board of Counseling
P.O. Box 30018
Lansing, MI  48909
Telephone:  517-335-0918

See Appendix B for a sample of a completed application for licensure in the State of Michigan.  The Michigan Board of Counseling will send  a packet containing information and documents required for license at the postgraduate level.  Program faculty will only endorse licensure for fields in which a student has a practicum or internship. 

It is imperative that students develop program plans that will meet the curriculum requirements of the state of Michigan and any state in which they plan to practice.  Guidelines for licensure differ across states; consequently, additional coursework may be required beyond that necessary for program completion at this institution.  It is the responsibility of each student to collect state-specific information regarding licensure guidelines prior to program planning.  The American Counseling Association provides the information needed.

THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT PREPARE STUDENTS TO BECOME LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS.  If prospective applicants intend to become a limited licensed psychologist, supervision by a licensed psychologist is required. 

School Counselor License.  Graduates of the MSU Counseling Master’s program who would like to be a Guidance Counselor in the K-12 school setting, but do not posses a teaching certificate, and did not complete their practicum and/or internship in the school setting may be eligible to apply for the School Counselor License in the State of Michigan. Please be aware that this license may not be valid in other states and some Michigan school districts may still require teaching certification. Returning graduates need to complete the application for School Counselor License that is available on the CEPSE Admission’s page. Individuals who are admitted must:  complete CEP 860A; complete 6 hours of enrollment in a practicum or internship section including supervised counseling experience in a K-12 school setting; have at least 3 hours of coursework specifically addressing the unique developmental needs of the K-12 student population; pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) in Guidance Counseling; submit the Conviction Disclosure form; and, apply for the license through the College of Education Student Affairs Office (SAO).  As in the case of all students, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required.

State of Michigan Licensure Information

Endorsement

Persons in the State of Michigan who wish to obtain K-12 certification can do so by completing one experience (i.e., practicum or internship) in a K-6 school and the other experience in the 7-12 school. Please be aware that districts in some states have given preference to applicants who also are a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

School Counselor Endorsement.  Graduates of MSU’s Counseling Master’s program who hold a teaching certificate are eligible to apply to have the Guidance Counselor Endorsement on their teaching certificate. To do so they must have successfully completed the master’s program in Counseling with the appropriate practicum and internship, pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) in Guidance Counseling, submitted the Conviction Disclosure form and applied for the endorsement through the College of Education Student Affairs Office (SAO).