School Counselor Education Endorsement

The School Counselor endorsement program meets the licensure requirements of the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and is accredited by CACREP based on national standards for the preparation of school counselors. This endorsement program does not lead to a Master's degree.

School counselors in Colorado are licensed Special Services Providers who work in school settings with students, parents, educators, and others within the community. They are licensed to work in Elementary, Secondary, or K-12 settings. School Counselors design and manage comprehensive developmental guidance programs to help students acquire skills in the social, personal, academic, and career domains necessary for living in a multicultural society.

School counselors accomplish this by employing interventions including guiding and counseling students individually or in small groups and by providing information through classroom guidance. School counselors contribute to the development of effective learning environments through student advocacy, facilitating systemic change, and consultation and collaboration with others. Teaching experience is not a requirement for the Colorado school counselor license.

In the School Counselor endorsement program, students prepare to become licensed professionals dedicated to supporting students and their communities within school settings. 

The primary role of a school counselor involves developing and overseeing comprehensive guidance programs designed to help students acquire essential skills across various life domains, including social, personal, academic, and career development. These skills are considered vital for thriving in our diverse society. To achieve this, students in the program learn and employ a range of strategies, including:

• Providing individual or small group counseling sessions for students
• Collecting data from students and stakeholders in effort to implement comprehensive evidence-based practices
• Delivering valuable information through classroom guidance sessions

The UCCS School Counselor endorsement program equips its students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make a positive impact on the lives of students and to foster nurturing and inclusive educational environments.

The school counselor endorsement program requires prior completion of a CACREP-accredited counseling master's degree program. School Counselor endorsement students will complete foundational coursework in school counseling and complete an internship experience in a school setting. 

Demonstration of content competency is required for candidates to be recommended for endorsement in School Counseling. A passing score on the Praxis #5422 School Counseling exam is required to qualify for the School Counseling endorsement. It is recommended that students take this exam after completing COUN 5800 and COUN 5810 taken in the Summer just prior to the Internship Year.

Required Courses

Courses that may be fulfilled with previously transcripted coursework

Financial Aid Priority Deadline: March 1

Program Admission Checklist

1. Complete an application with the UCCS Graduate School. Look for Endorsement Licensure - School Counseling ENDR-LICG (SCH)
2. Submit one transcript from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Send these directly to the UCCS Admissions Office (see details below).
3. Prepare a Career Goals Statement (see details below).
4. Current résumé (please include relevant paid work and volunteer experience where applicable).
5. Once application materials are in, you will need to interview with a faculty advisor for the program.

Career Goal Statement

• Describe why you have applied to the School Counseling Endorsement program and your goals for your career.
• Be sure to include personal and professional information that supports this decision.
• Your statement should be at least two pages in length, double-spaced.
• Make sure to include your name and the program you are applying to in your goal statement.

Official Transcripts

Domestic students: Have one official transcript of all higher education course work ever completed to date (undergraduate and graduate GPA must be included on transcripts), sent from the institution you attended directly to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Office of Admissions (electronically or by postal services).

• Postal Services: 
  UCCS Office of Admissions 
  1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
  Colorado Springs CO 80918-3733
   
• Electronically:
  ugapp@uccs.edu