School Counseling Licensure Pathway

The School Counseling Licensure Pathway (SCLP) of the Human Development and Education master’s program provides the foundation for students to complete a postgraduate Certificate of Advanced Study in counseling and seek licensure in Massachusetts as a school counselor or school adjustment counselor.

• Students fulfill HDE Program requirements plus additional counseling related coursework and field-based placements. 
• SCLP students participate in a required yearlong school-based practicum. 
• Students spend approximately two days/week doing counseling-related work in a K-12 school during Year 1.  
• Interested applicants apply directly to the pathway by selecting School Counseling on the admissions application.  
• At the completion of Year 1, students graduate with a Master of Education degree.

The C.A.S. in Counseling allows graduates of the HDE School Counseling Licensure Pathway Year 1 (as well as the Prevention Science and Practice or Risk and Prevention program alumni) to continue their graduate studies beyond the master’s degree to earn Massachusetts initial licensure as a School Counselor or School Adjustment Counselor.

• Students complete the remaining required counseling courses and field hours required for licensure.  
• Students spend approximately three days per week in schools supervised by a licensed School Counselor or School Adjustment Counselor.  
• C.A.S. students participate in a yearlong advanced practicum course that provides support for students learning and development as a professional counselor.  
• At the completion of Year 2, students graduate with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Counseling and will have met requirements for licensure in Massachusetts as a School Counselor or School Adjustment Counselor.

Q: I am a new applicant to HGSE, and I would like to apply to the master’s program that leads to school counseling licensure. Which option do I choose?    
A: You should apply to the Human Development and Education (HDE) master’s program and select School Counseling Strand in the application.  

Q: Can I also choose a Concentration while enrolled in the HDE Counseling Strand?  
A: The School Counseling Licensure Pathway is essentially your concentration, and your elective credits will be used to enroll in coursework necessary to fulfill Massachusetts licensure requirements.

Q: When do HDE School Counseling Licensure Pathway (SCLP) students begin?  
A: SCLP students follow the same timeline as non-counseling strand students, beginning in June with Foundations courses and ending in May of the following year with Commencement. However, students in SCLP who wish to continue beyond their master’s degree and earn school counseling licensure will apply for a second year of study in the C.A.S. Program during the application period preceding Year 2.

Q: Who is eligible to apply to the C.A.S. Program?  
A:  The C.A.S. Program will begin accepting applications for the following academic year in late fall of the preceding year. Eligibility is based on your previous coursework and your performance in the practicum through the School Counseling Licensure Pathway Year 1. Alumni who have successfully completed the requirements of Year 1 may apply to return in any subsequent year to complete their C.A.S. year.  

Q: Can I earn a license by completing only one year in the HDE School Counseling Pathway? 
A: To receive either the school counseling or school adjustment counseling license, students must complete BOTH years of the School Counseling Licensure Pathway – Year 1 in the HDE master’s program and Year 2 in the C.A.S. in Counseling Program.

Q: Can I earn licensure in both school counseling and school adjustment counseling while in the program? 
A: The Massachusetts Department of Education allows HGSE to endorse only ONE license at the point of graduation.    

Q: How will this program prepare me for a career in school counseling or school adjustment counseling? 
A: The School Counseling Licensure Pathway provides you with both rigorous academic coursework and practical experience needed to support PreK–12 students in their social, emotional, and academic growth. Through coursework and fieldwork, you'll cover skills like counseling methods, crisis intervention, and addressing the developmental needs of PreK–12 students. During your practicum experience, you will apply your skills under the guidance of a licensed practitioner at a PreK–12 school site. The program emphasizes the importance of professional identity, cultural humility, and data-driven practices, so you can work effectively with students, families, and school communities.

Q: What kind of support is available for finding practicum placements? 
A:  The School Counseling Licensure Pathway supports each step of the site-matching process by connecting you with partner schools and experienced school and adjustment counselors. Practicum faculty are available to guide you through the process; additionally, we provide workshops, panels, and other events to help you navigate your practicum and academic journey at HGSE. Key information about the site-match is shared during the School Counseling Licensure Pathway’s mandatory pre-orientation held in mid- to late August.

Q: How many hours per week do students spend in the field, and where are they placed?  
A: Overall, SCLP students must complete 900 practicum hours in a PreK–12 school in the greater Boston area to meet licensure requirements over the course of two years. Year 1 students spend approximately 150 pre-practicum hours and 300 practicum hours, whereas students in Year 2 C.A.S. Program spend approximately 600 practicum hours.

Q: How does the school adjustment counselor license compare to a school social worker license? 
A: In Massachusetts, the license is officially called School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor; hence, the license in Massachusetts fulfills both functions. However, licensure requirements can vary widely across different states. Many states may only offer a school social worker license, which might come with its own set of prerequisites such as requiring a master's in social work (MSW).

Q: What is the difference between a school counselor and a school adjustment counselor? 
A: The differences in these two roles depend heavily on the school and district in which you are working. In some districts, school social worker/school adjustment counselors are primarily responsible for providing counseling to students who have counseling services written into their Individual Education Plan (IEP), whereas school counselors are responsible for all students. However, in other schools, both professionals provide the same types of support (counseling, leadership, systems-level interventions, etc.). The similarities and differences in these roles may also differ by the grade level you work with and the availability of other support staff in your particular context. If you work in a school where you are the only counselor, you may provide more comprehensive and less specialized support to all students. Further details on these differences will be covered during the mandatory School Counseling Licensure Pathway pre-orientation held in August.

The School Counseling Licensure Pathway equips you with a strong foundation for licensure in Massachusetts, but if you're planning to work outside of Massachusetts, it's important to check the requirements of the state where you intend to work, as each state has different expectations for these roles.  

Q: Can I earn an LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) through this program? 
A: The School Counseling Licensure Pathway is designed to prepare students for licensure as a school counselor or school adjustment counselor in Massachusetts through the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. While the Pathway provides a robust foundation in counseling, it is not accredited for nor intended to culminate in the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) credential.

Q: Can I get licensure through this program to work in other states or countries?  
A: SCLP graduates go on to transfer their licensure to other states while some use Massachusetts licenses internationally. Massachusetts participates in the interstate agreement, which allows our graduates who obtain licensure in Massachusetts to apply for a comparable credential in another state. However, each state sets its own licensure requirements and may require applicants from other states to complete additional requirements such as coursework, assessments, or field experiences before receiving a license.  

If you are considering licensure outside of Massachusetts after completing the C.A.S. Program, we encourage you to proactively review the licensure criteria of the state where you intend to work so you are aware of any unique prerequisites. We recommend you contact the office of certification in that particular state to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information on licensure requirements for candidates licensed out-of-state.

Q: What are the costs of this program?  
A: You can review the full cost details for two years of full-time study in the Residential Ed.M. Program (HDE) and the C.A.S. Program on our Tuition and Costs page.   

• School Counselor (elementary, middle, and high school levels) 
• School Adjustment Counselor (elementary, middle, and high school levels) 
• Counselor in human services, non-profit organizations, or social service agencies 
• Academic advisor and student affairs professional in higher education
• Counselor at international schools outside of the United States