School Counselors Certification Flowchart

School Counselors Certification

 

Basic I

 

Valid for Two (2) Years — Renewable

• Signed and Completed Certification Application Form
• One (1) Passport Size Photo (For First-time Applicant Only)
• Fingerprint Submission (valid for one (1) year)**
• Police Clearance (valid for one (1) year)
• Payment receipt of $40 (processing fee per certification)
• Official College Transcript
• Bachelor's degree or higher
• Proof of Passing Praxis II
• Current recommendation letter from a Supervisor/ Principal (For Renewal Only) 
• Proof of completion of one hundred twenty (120) hours of seminars, workshops, or in-service training as sanctioned by PSS/BOE and or equivalent university or college courses (For Renewal Only) 

**The CNMI Certification and Licensure Office requires fingerprint processing for the following:

1. First-time applicants applying for certification; 
2. Applicants who have left and are returning to the CNMI Public School System (PSS) after two (2) years; 
3. Off-island applicants

 

Basic II

 

Valid for Three (3) Years — Renewable

• Met Basic I Requirements
• Signed and Completed Certification Application Form
• Background Check:
  • Fingerprint Submission (if re-entering the system after two (2) years)
  • Police Clearance (valid for one (1) year)
• Payment receipt of $60.00 (processing fee per certification)
• Current Recommendation Letter from a Supervisor/Principal
• Official Transcript or Certificate of Completion of specific Basic II courses:
  • Computer Technology
  • Test and Measurements
  • Introduction to Counseling
  • Issues and Philosophies of Culturally Diverse Schools
  • Multicultural Counseling
  • Counseling Process: Theory
  • Counseling Process: Practice
• Professional Development:
  • For Initial: Proof of completion of one hundred twenty (120) hours of seminars, workshops, or in-service training as sanctioned by PSS/BOE and or equivalent university or college courses
  • For Renewal: Proof of completion of one hundred eighty (180) hours of seminars, workshops, or in-service training as sanctioned by PSS/BOE and or equivalent university or college courses

 

Standard

 

Valid for Five (5) Years — Renewable

• Met Basic II Requirements
• Signed and Completed Certification Application Form
• Background Check:
  • Fingerprint Submission (if re-entering the system after two (2) years)
  • Police Clearance (valid for one (1) year)
• Payment receipt of $100.00 (processing fee per certification)
• Current Recommendation Letter from a Supervisor/Principal
• Official Transcript or Certification of Completion of specific Standard courses:
  • Instructional Technology
  • NMI History/Pacific Institute
  • Dynamics of Individual Behavior
  • Individual and Group Assessment
  • Group Counseling
  • Prevention & Outreach
  • Career Counseling and Placement
• Professional Development:
  • For Initial: Proof of completion of one hundred eighty (180) hours of seminars, workshops, or in-service training as sanctioned by PSS/BOE and or equivalent university or college courses
  • For Renewal: Proof of completion of three hundred (300) hours of seminars, workshops, or in-service training as sanctioned by PSS/BOE and or equivalent university or college courses

 

Professional

 

Valid for Ten (10) Years — Renewable

• Met Standard Requirements
• Signed and Completed Certification Application Form
• Background Check:
  • Fingerprint Submission (if re-entering the system after two (2) years)
  • Police Clearance (valid for one (1) year)
• Payment receipt of $200.00 (processing fee per certification) 
• Current Recommendation Letter from a Supervisor/ Principal 
• Master’s degree or higher
• Current membership of Professional Education Association
• Employment Verification of ten (10) cumulative years of instructional experience 
• Professional Development:
  • For Initial: Proof of completion of three hundred (300) hours of seminars, workshops, or in-service training as sanctioned by PSS/BOE and or equivalent university or college courses
  • For Renewal: Proof of completion of six hundred (600) hours of seminars, workshops, or in-service training as sanctioned by PSS/BOE and or equivalent university or college courses