Office of the Revisor of Statutes
Minnesota Administrative Rules
8710.6400 SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
Subpart 1.
Scope of practice.
A school counselor is authorized to provide to prekindergarten through grade 12 students school counseling services that focus on the promotion of the academic, career, and personal and social development of all students through data-informed school counseling programs.
Subp. 1b.
Requirements for Tier 2 license.
A Tier 2 license issued under part 8710.0312 must be issued to a school counselor if the requirements of this subpart are met.
A.
The applicant must:
(2)
hold a baccalaureate degree and:
(a)
be enrolled in a school counselor program approved by the state where the program resides or the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, with no less than 24 semester credit hours in school-counseling-specific coursework or content, including introduction to the field, counseling skills, and ethical standards; and
(b)
verify to the board in writing a plan of study of full- or part-time enrollment to achieve licensure within three years.
B.
For individuals licensed under item A, subitem (2), the school counseling program where the applicant is enrolled must:
(1)
verify completion of at least 24 semester credit hours in school-counseling-specific coursework or content, including introduction to the field, counseling skills, and ethical standards;
C.
The hiring district must:
(2)
affirm the applicant will participate in an evaluation aligned to the district's teacher development and evaluation model under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.40, subdivision 8, or 122A.41, subdivision 5, or if the statutory models are not practicable, to another identified district-aligned evaluation; and
(3)
if the applicant obtains a Tier 2 license pursuant to item A, subitem (2), assign a school counselor who holds a Tier 3 or 4 license issued under parts 8710.0313 and 8710.0314 to have direct supervision of the applicant, affirm the position is designed to serve as a learning experience for the applicant, and affirm that the applicant will not replace a Tier 3 or 4 licensed school counselor.
Subp. 1c.
Tier 2 license duration; renewal.
A.
A Tier 2 license is valid for two years and may be renewed three times. For each renewal, the hiring district must show the applicant participated in mentorship and evaluation aligned to the district's teacher development and evaluation model under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.40, subdivision 8, or 122A.41, subdivision 5, or, if the statutory models are not practicable, to another district-aligned evaluation.
B.
If the applicant holds a Tier 2 license issued under subpart 1b, item A, subitem (2), the provider must certify that the applicant has made meaningful progress, as defined by the provider, toward completion of the program and a Tier 3 license. If no meaningful progress has been made, the board must deem the applicant to not meet renewal requirements unless the applicant provides justification to the board for failing to make meaningful progress.
Subp. 2.
Requirements for Tier 3 license.
A Tier 3 license issued under part 8710.0313 must be issued to a school counselor if the applicant:
A.
holds a master's degree from a college or university that is regionally accredited by the association for the accreditation of colleges and secondary schools; and
B.
shows verification of having completed a school counselor preparation program approved by the state where the program resides or the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
Subp. 2a.
Requirements for Tier 4 license.
A Tier 4 license issued under part 8710.0314 must be issued to a school counselor if the applicant:
C.
was not placed or otherwise kept in an improvement process aligned to the district's teacher development and evaluation plan by the applicant's most recent summative evaluation.
Subp. 5.
License renewal.
It is the responsibility of an individual seeking renewal of a Tier 3 or Tier 4 license to comply with licensure requirements in part 8710.7100 and to submit the application, appropriate verification, and other supporting materials to the local continuing education or relicensure committee, in accordance with procedures and due dates established by the committee under part 8710.7200.
Subp. 7.
Restrictions and expansions.
A.
An applicant whose school counseling preparation or experience does not align to a currently approved Minnesota license, but for which past rules have been adopted, and who meets all other requirements of subpart 2, must be issued a Tier 3 or 4 license restricted to the scope of the applicant's content training or experience.
B.
An applicant with preparation or experience within two grade levels of a currently approved Minnesota licensure scope must be granted the full scope of the Minnesota license.
C.
Upon request and at the time of application or renewal, an applicant who holds a Tier 3 or 4 license that is restricted or limited in scope must be granted the full scope of a currently approved Minnesota license when the applicant:
(1)
has two years of experience as a licensed school counselor within two grade levels of a currently approved Minnesota licensure scope; or
(2)
has completed a school counseling clinical experience within two grade levels of a currently approved Minnesota licensure scope.
History:
23 SR 1928; 25 SR 805; L 2017 1Sp5 art 12 s 22; 43 SR 463; 50 SR 479
Published Electronically:
December 10, 2025
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes