College of Education

Admissions | School Counseling Certificate for Post-Master's Students

Admissions Timeline
Program StartFallWinterSpringSummer
Application OpensSeptemberSeptemberSeptemberSeptember
Final Application DeadlineAugust 1**November 1February 1May 1
Remote Interview DateAugust 4, 20252025 TBDMarch 10, 2025June 2, 2025

**If you are applying to begin the program in fall and plan to complete in one year, we recommend applying as early as possible so that our Field Placement Office can secure all required contracts and placements for your Internships.

The School Counseling Certificate for Post-Master's Students graduate certificate is designed to help already licensed counselors, therapists, and social workers move into the school system. To be eligible for this program, you must already hold a master’s degree in counseling, social work, or psychology, which included a clinical practicum.

 

Required application materials

Below is the list of the materials and information you will need to provide as part of your online application. We recommend preparing these materials in advance of submitting your application.

  • Unofficial Transcripts: from your bachelor’s degree-granting institution and from any institution at which you have earned graduate-level credit
  • Official Transcripts: After you are admitted, you must submit official transcripts to the Graduate School
  • English Language Proficiency: Automatically assessed in your application materials. Learn more about your options for proving proficiency.
  • Résumé that demonstrates prior work and volunteer experience as related to the field of counseling.
  • Statement of Purpose.
  • References: Submit contact information for two references via the application. Portland State University will contact your references and provide them with instructions for submitting recommendation forms.

Admissions instructions

  1. Review the PSU Graduate School’s minimum admissions requirements.
  2. Learn more about the Counseling Program application review process.
  3. Create an account or sign into the Portland State University Admissions Application system.
  4. Select "Start New Application"
  5. Then select "Graduate Application"
  6. For the college, select "College of Education"
  7. For the program of study, select "Counselor Education: School Counseling Certificate for Post-Masters Students"
  8. Select the term you plan to start the program

To validate your admission you must take a course during the term in which you have requested to be admitted. Should you not take a course in that term, your application will be cancelled and you will need to reapply to the next cohort.

Questions about the application process?

If you have questions about the application process, contact askcoe@pdx.edu.
Learn about available scholarships and financial aid.