How to Become a Guidance Counselor in Ohio

To become a guidance counselor in Ohio, you must first have earned a high school diploma and received a bachelor's degree, preferably in psychology. Once you have done this, you will need to fulfill the remaining requirements in the state of Ohio. These requirements include obtaining a master's degree in school counseling or a related field by a state-accredited university.

Instructions

1. Enter and complete a graduate program in either school counseling or human services. You can take classes online at Capella University, or select and apply to an accredited Ohio program. Graduate programs take 2 to 3 years to complete, depending on whether you do the coursework online.

   You can contact the Ohio Department of Education for a complete list of accredited universities by calling 1-877-644-6338.

2. Complete 600 hours of work in a school setting (working with children in grades K-12). You must also either: obtain a one-year induction from the state of Ohio with the supervision of a licensed guidance counselor, have two years of teaching experience with a valid teacher's license, or have at least three years' experience from another state.

3. Take the Praxis II examination. You must pass this test to become a guidance counselor in the state of Ohio. You must also pass a thorough background check. The website for the Educational Testing Service, which administers the test, will have information regarding all testing centers and dates. Go to ets.org, where you can also select a test and location that is convenient for you.

4. Once you have completed all the requirements, you can begin applying for open guidance counselor positions in the state of Ohio.

References

• ETS: Praxis Exams
• School Counselor: How To Become A School Counselor In Ohio