Preliminary School Counseling License: Track 2

Applications for 2023 will open on October 1st

Prerequisite

Candidates must have a master’s degree or higher in a closely related field (e.g. education, psychology, social work) and do not have a licensed teaching background. The master’s degree must be earned from a regionally accredited institution in the United States (the college or university must be regionally accredited at the time of enrollment and when the degree was conferred) or the foreign equivalent.

Application Requirements

Applications and all supporting materials (transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) must be received by the Graduate Admissions Office by the School Counseling Department’s application deadline. Standardized test scores are not required for admission. This includes ORELA and GRE.

The following are required:

1. Application Form
   Lewis & Clark uses an online application. You will be able to upload your essay and resume. However, transcripts must be sent directly to the graduate school. We will accept official e-transcripts sent by colleges and university registrar offices.
2. Application Fee
   A $50 nonrefundable application fee is required. The fee is payable with a credit card or electronic check. Fee waivers are available to alumni and employees of Lewis & Clark and current students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences. Participants in special programs are also eligible for a waiver. Go to this page for information about the fee waiver process.
3. Personal Essay: School Counseling 
   Applicants to the School Counseling program must submit an essay that addresses all of the topics listed see below. Your essay should be approximately 500 words in length and is submitted electronically
   • Why you are pursuing a graduate degree in school counseling.
   • The experiences that you believe make graduate study in this field appropriate for you.
   • What about Lewis & Clark’s School Counseling program appeals to you?
4. Three Letters of Recommendation
   We require letters from three individuals who know you and are qualified to evaluate your academic competence, character and/or experience in professional or leadership roles. Professors, supervisors, and employers are often the best sources. References from a personal therapist, family members, or friends are not accepted.
   
   How to submit your letters
   Applicants will provide contact information for their references within the application. An email will be sent by our office to those references with a form they need to complete on the applicant’s behalf in addition to attaching their letter of recommendation.
5. Official Transcripts
   Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree and a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States (the college or university must be regionally accredited at the time of enrollment and when the degree was conferred) or the foreign equivalent. Official transcripts must be submitted from each post-secondary institution attended regardless of the length of study or the number of courses taken. This includes all college level credit earned while in high school or participating in study abroad programs. Failure to submit official copies of all transcripts may result in the withholding of your application for consideration. Transcripts stamped “Issued to Student” will not be considered official.

   Graduates of a non-U.S. university system are required to provide officially evaluated and translated copies of all their college transcripts. Official evaluations and translations are done by outside agencies. Information regarding three such agencies can be found by going to International Applicants.

   How to Submit Transcripts
   Lewis & Clark will accept paper or e-transcripts ordered directly from each postsecondary institution attended. Transcripts cannot be uploaded via the online application. Transcripts must be mailed or emailed directly from the institution to the Graduate Admissions office. The mailing and email information can be found on the right side of this web page.
6. Grade Point Average (GPA)
   All applicants must hold a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Students who graduated from an institution using a 5.0 scale must have earned a minimum of 3.75 GPA  in their graduate degree and a 3.4 GPA for the undergraduate degree. If your GPA falls below the minimum, you will be required submit a letter of explanation with your application materials. 
7. Resume
   Submit a current professional resume listing positions that you have held for three months or longer including your current position.

Interview

Qualified applicants will be invited to interview with School Counseling faculty. Selection will be based on initial faculty review of completed applications. Dates for 2022 interviews will be determined.

Reapplicants

Application files for all School Counseling programs are kept for one year. If reapplying for the following year, you will need to submit a new application form and the $50 application fee. If you would like us to use the essay(s), resume, and/or letters of recommendation that were submitted with your old application please notify us of this in writing. If you wish to submit new essays, resume, or letters, send these in with your new application form. The Admissions office will notify you of any additional required documentation. If you are reapplying more than a year from your previous application, you will need to resubmit all required application materials.

Additional Information

• Testing Information

• Career & Licensing Services

• Veterans Services

• Special Student Status