School Counselor Certification

New York State School Counselor Certification

Students enrolled in the Counselor Education program have the following types of certificates available to them if and when they qualify: Initial and Professional, Internship (optional), Initial and Professional Bilingual Extension.

School Counselors must be certified to practice in the state in which they work. In New York State, all certificates have specific requirements. Lehman College is required by the state to verify specific requirements before college recommendations (online verification) can be submitted. After a college recommendation is submitted, the state has final review before approving and issuing the certificate a candidate applies for. 

New York State TEACH Online Service Account - Everyone must have a TEACH Online Service Account to begin and maintain their certification. A TEACH Online Service Account is a permanent account all students must create. The candidate must periodically update their educational background, personal information, work experience (after certification), apply/pay for any certificates, etc. It is everything pertaining to state certification. Candidates must also have their fingerprint clearance on file in this account.

Initial Certification
This is the base entry level School Counseling certification all students must first obtain after graduation. All students who are including the bilingual extension in their program will also apply for the initial certification and the initial bilingual extension.

Students must have 60 credits including semesters of practicum and internship I, II by the time they graduate. Students should also have the following three mandated workshops completed:

• Child Abuse Identification & Reporting
• DASA: Anti-Bullying & Discrimination Training
• School Violence Prevention

At the end of their last semester, students may set up their paid application
for the initial School Counselor certificate through their state TEACH Online account by
following these instructions: https://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/apply.html
When prompted for a program code use: 41528 [Approved Teacher Preparation Program Pathway].

After students receive their official graduation approval from the Registrar, they should email the Lehman Certification Office at : teacher.certification@lehman.cuny.edu. The Certification Office will then review their qualifications before a college recommendation can be submitted to the state. 

After the state receives the college recommendation submission they will then conduct their own review. They will check for fingerprint clearance (must have on TEACH account) and the CST: School Counselor exam (#193).

Internship Certification:
Internship Certification is a temporary optional certificate for students actively enrolled in the Counseling Education program. It is available after completion of 30 credits, including practicum. It is only available before graduation.

Mandatory Requirements to submit to the Lehman Certification Office (teacher.certification@lehman.cuny.edu):

• Complete 50% of coursework (30 credits) including practicum.
• Submit proof of securing a School Counselor position with a letter from the school principal identifying the position and location.
• Submit the program advisor approval form. 
• Complete mandated workshops (3):
  • Child Abuse Identification & Reporting
  • School Violence Prevention
  • DASA: Anti-Bullying & Discrimination Training
• Must have fingerprint clearance on your TEACH Online Service Account

After all documents are submitted to the Lehman Certification Office, they will review and supply instructions to apply for the Internship certificate on the TEACH Online Services Account. 

Bilingual Initial Certification:
School Counselor candidates who passed the BEA exam (candidates need to choose the language for the exam and visit the Pearson testing website to register and schedule the exam), filed the appropriate form with their advisor and graduate studies, and have taken the bilingual extension courses in the summer of their third year are eligible for bilingual certification. After graduation, students should contact the School of Education Teacher and School Counselor Certification Office teacher.certifcation@lehman.cuny.edu to request submission for the initial Bilingual Certificate AND the initial School Counseling Certificate.

National Counselor Certification

Counselor Education/School Counseling candidates can pursue National Counselor Certification (NCC) (and after earning the NCC earn the National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential) through the National Board of Certified Counselors. Get more information at: www.nbcc.com

To apply to become a National Certified Counselor, you must document successful completion of a qualifying master’s degree and experience, and obtain a passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination NCMHCE). You can show your commitment and expertise in the area of school counseling with the National Certified School Counselor (NCSC). To apply for the NCSC, you must be certified as an NCC.