Kansas School Counseling Licensure Pathways
To receive a Master’s degree in School Counseling, you must complete the Master's curriculum consisting of 60 hours coursework and pass the Praxis Professional School Counselor exam. To qualify for an Initial School Specialist License in Kansas, you must achieve a 3.25 grade point average or higher in this coursework. Your coursework includes a three-hour research methods course, in which you will learn research methods and complete a research paper. You must also satisfactorily pass a comprehensive exam over the subject fields of the program.
Application for Program Completion
You Must have your Program on file before filing for your Application for Program Completion. This form is now found in myFHSU app in Workday - Once in Workday search for Apply for Program Completion. Fill out the form in the semester you will graduate, after the first day of classes but before the deadline, according to the graduate school.
Praxis Link: Schedule Your Praxis Test (ets.org)
Please visit our student forms and information page for a breakdown of the course sequence.
If you have any questions about the M.S. in Counseling-School Counseling program, please contact Dr. Sarah Lancaster at (785) 628-4753 or smlancaster2@fhsu.edu.
There are three available routes to obtaining a School Counselor license in Kansas.
- School Counselor Traditional Program
- School Counselor Parallel Pathways program
- School Counselor Restricted License Program
Licensure Information
The 60-hour Clinical Mental Health Counseling and 60-hour School Counseling degrees are designed to lead to professional licensure as outlined by individual state boards of counseling and the Kansas Department of Education. Before enrolling in a program at Fort Hays State University, students should consult the rules and regulations regarding Professional Counseling and School Counseling for their particular state. More specifically, students should be aware of the following before enrolling in one of Fort Hays State University’s counseling programs:
- State regulations regarding licensure opportunities if an applicant has a previous felony conviction.
- State regulations regarding the type and number of academic courses and practicum/internship hours.
- The state accreditation requirements for educational institutions.
- The state regulations and requirements for online graduate education programs.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling - State Licensure Boards
School Counseling – State Certification Requirements
Disclosure Statement
Registration in one of the M.S. licensure programs does not guarantee a degree from Fort Hays State University or qualification for professional licensure. Students are responsible for meeting all academic and professional requirements for graduation. Further information regarding these academic and professional requirements is outlined in the MS in Counseling Student Handbook. Students registered in the counseling programs are responsible for knowing the material outlined in the handbook. Further, it is the sole responsibility of the student, not the program, to obtain information regarding prerequisites for licensure as outlined by their particular state board of counseling or Department of Education.
The information pertaining to state licensure requirements is subject to change without notice. Fort Hays State University is not responsible for knowing when changes occur. Additionally, there might be other states with unique licensure requirements.