Applying for:

Clear Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling based on completing an out-of-state program

Allows you to:

Serve as a School Counselor.

A red octagon shape surrounded by a gray border Before You Apply

You will need to obtain your fingerprint clearance specifically for the Commission. If you already have valid fingerprints on file with the Commission, it is not necessary to fingerprint each time you apply for a credential or permit. However, if your fingerprints are expired then you must re-establish fingerprints. Details on how to check your fingerprint status can be found at Check Application Status.

The online application will require you to answer questions related to your professional fitness. Please review How to Complete the CTC Online Professional Fitness Questions before completing the application. If you must answer "yes" to any of the professional fitness questions, please gather all documentation, including any required police reports, certified court records, and miscellaneous documents related to the incident and have them ready to upload as attachments along with the materials for verifying academic requirements listed below. If any of the records have been purged or are otherwise not available, provide an original statement from the agency on its official letterhead verifying that fact.

A green circle surrounded by a gray ring Ready to Apply?

The items below are required for this application. The Commission reserves the right to request the original(s) of any supporting documentation by mail to ensure authenticity.

 


ItemImportant Details and Tips

Transcripts

 

  • Transcripts must show completion of ALL of the following:

 A bachelor's degree or higher

 A professional preparation program of post baccalaureate study in another state, consisting of a minimum of 30 semester units specializing in School Counseling.

  • If you earned any degrees outside of the U.S., you cannot provide the official transcripts. You must obtain a foreign transcript evaluation from an approved agency.
  • Submitting paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations: 
    • Upload a scan of the original, official paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluation. Clear photographs will also be accepted. All pages, front and back, must be included in the upload. 
  • Submitting electronic transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations.
    • Upload the original file sent to you by the college, transcript service provider, or foreign transcript evaluation agency.

Supervised field experience with school-aged children
  • Supervised field experience with school-aged children can be verified with ONE of the following:

Programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) meet this requirement.

  • If you are using a course on your transcript to meet this requirement, the course listed on the transcript must be specifically with school-aged children, and it must be passed with a grade of C or better (Pass, Credit, or Satisfactory grades will also be accepted). If it is not clearly indicated on the transcript that the course is with school-aged children, you must submit the course description.
  • If you are submitting a letter, it must be on official letterhead from the college or university's education department, and it must be a scanned copy of an original letter or an electronic PDF. If the letter is a scanned copy, the original letter that was scanned must be signed with a wet ink signature. If the letter is an electronic PDF, it must be signed with an acceptable electronic signature. Screenshots are not acceptable.
Completion of a School Counseling program approved by the state agency where the coursework was completed
  • To verify completion of a comparable program, submit ONE of the following:

 Comparable out-of-state School Counseling credential.

 Letter from the program you completed verifying your eligibility for an out-of-state School Counseling credential.

 Letter verifying that the program you completed is an approved program for obtaining a School Counseling credential in that state.

  • If you have a School Counseling credential from another state, submit a scanned copy, image, or screenshot of it.
  • If you are submitting a letter, it must be from the institution where you completed your School Counseling preparation program and on official letterhead. The letter must be a scanned copy of an original letter or an electronic PDF. If the letter is a scanned copy, the original letter that was scanned must be signed with a wet ink signature. If the letter is an electronic PDF, it must be signed with an acceptable electronic signature. Screenshots are not acceptable.


    Important Notes:

    • This checklist is ONLY for submission of an online application.
    • This web-based checklist is a guide and does not need to be uploaded with the online application.
    • Full details on qualifying for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling can be found on CL-606 under the section Requirements for the Clear Credential – Specialization in School Counseling.
    Updated October 30, 2025