School Counseling
Graduates of the Master of Education in Counseling (MEd) program at the University of Puget Sound complete requirements to be recommended for certification as a school counselor in the state of Washington. Each state has different professional licensure requirements. Eligibility for licensure may involve more than degree completion and may include professional examinations, background checks, and fingerprinting. The requirements for licensure can change without notice. If you are interested in certification outside Washington State, please check with the appropriate licensing body in that state. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a list of state contacts.
The University of Puget Sound has determined through a reasonable, good faith effort that preparation for the MEd in School Counseling meets equivalent licensure requirements and/or preliminary licensure in the following states and territories:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
The University has determined the preparation provided in the MEd in School Counseling is equivalent to licensing requirements for the following states and territories but recognizes additional testing is required for issuance of a school counseling credential for the states listed below. Prospective candidates are encourage to reach out to the individual state’s licensing agency to determine specific exam requirements:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Guam
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Wisconsin
The University has not made a determination as to whether or not the MEd in School Counseling meets licensure for the states listed below and encourages candidates to reach out to these states directly for licensing office details.
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Puerto Rico
- Tennessee
The University of Puget Sound has determined that the MEd in School Counseling does not meet school counseling state licensing requirements for the following states/territories:
- American Samoa
- Washington DC
- Nebraska
- Virgin Islands
- Virginia
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Graduates of the Master of Education in Counseling (MEd) program for Clinical Mental Health at the University of Puget Sound complete requirements to be eligible to pursue licensure as a mental health counselor in Washington State. Each state has different professional licensure requirements. Eligibility for licensure may involve more than degree completion and may include professional examinations, background checks, and fingerprinting. The requirements for licensure can change without notice. The American Counseling Association, provides resources to look up professional licensure requirements by state.
The University has determined through a reasonable, good faith effort that preparation for the MEd in Clinical Mental Health meets equivalent licensure requirements and/or preliminary licensure in the following states and territories:
- Connecticut
- Nebraska
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Virgin Islands
- Washington
- Guam
The University has determined the preparation provided in the MEd Clinical Mental Health program is equivalent to licensing requirements for the following states and territories with the addition of testing. Prospective candidates are encourage to reach out to the individual state’s licensing agency to determine specific exam requirements and whether or not applications for licensing should be submitted prior to testing:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- DC
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Ohio
- Vermont
Like Washington, the majority of states require candidates for licensing as a mental health counselor to complete a minimum of two years post-graduate supervised hours. Some states require candidates to submit an approved plan for supervision in addition to passing a state and/or national exam. The University has determined that the MEd in Mental Health Counseling meets the education standards for these states and that candidates will need to meet additional testing and supervision requirements. Candidates planning to seek employment in these states should review requirements with the individual state’s licensing agencies:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The University has not made a determination as to whether or not the MEd in Clinical Mental Health meets licensure for the states/territories listed below and encourages candidates seeking employment in these states/territories to reach out to the individual state licensing office for details.
- American Samoa
- Hawaii
- Puerto Rico
The University of Puget Sound has determined that the MEd in Clinical Mental Health does not meet state licensing requirements for the following:
- California