School Counselor Institute

Since 2005, the School Counselor Institute (SCI) has offered prerequisite courses and testing for the Illinois Professional Educator License with a School Counseling endorsement. Individuals with a master’s in counseling or a related field can complete the program on an expedited track. Those without a counseling-related master’s degree are not eligible for SCI and should pursue the master’s in Counseling with a School Counseling specialization.

SCI offers a comprehensive program grounded in social justice and advocacy, helping participants strengthen their school counselor identity and support the emotional and mental health needs of K–12 students.

School counselors collaborate with educators, families and communities. SCI prepares participants to deliver culturally responsive, evidence-informed programs that promote students’ academic, social, emotional and mental development.

School Counseling Learning Content

• Post-secondary college and career counseling for school counselors
• Counseling and crises with children in schools
• Consultation and management of developmental school counseling programs
• School counseling: programs, issues and practices
• Multiculturalism and social justice in school counseling

Classroom-based Learning Content

• Classroom management
• Curriculum and climate in school settings
• Child and adolescent development
• Social and emotional wellness
• English language learners
• Literacy support
• Laws and programing for needs of exceptional children

School Counseling Content Test

Students must successfully complete the School Counseling Content Test (Test 181 or 235) at least one semester before the internship. We suggest taking the content test as early as possible. Failure to pass this test could require postponement of the internship.

Internship in School Counseling

• In accordance with ISBE PEL:SC licensure endorsement, participants are required to enroll in a minimum of four credit-hours of counseling internship and complete 400 clock-hours of school counseling internship practices in a K-12 school setting.
• An appropriate site supervisor would have a minimum of two years of school counseling employment and be credentialed as PEL with endorsement in School Counseling.
• All internship documentation for interns and site supervisors is submitted electronically.