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