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School Counselor License Instructions

Applying to the Oregon TSPC for a School Counselor License

Version 06/2024

STEP 1—Congratulations

Begin the licensing process as soon as you either receive the “Congratulations, you are now eligible to apply for your license…” email from Lewis & Clark licensure staff or you see the Program Completion Report (PCR) from Lewis & Clark in your TSPC eLicensing account under “Documents.”

If you apply for your license before you receive the email or can view the PCR, your license application may be denied by TSPC requiring you to reapply.
If you are in a degree program, you will receive a separate email from the graduate registrar’s office when your degree posts. This email is NOT the same as the “Congratulations, you are now eligible to apply for your license…” email.

STEP 2—Application to TSPC

Complete an eLicensing application with TSPC, including paying the required fees.

Application Fees

As of April 2022, the application fees should be $182 for the “Evaluation In State,” $10 for a “Portal Provider Fee,” and $5 for a “Licensure System Fee” for a total charge of $197. Follow the instructions in the red box if the fees appear otherwise.

Background Check

As part of the application process to TSPC, TSPC staff will conduct a background check including: A Law Enforcement Data Systems (LEDS) check, a National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Clearinghouse for Educator Discipline check, and, in some circumstances, an internet or social media search.

TSPC Dashboard:
- After logging into your eLicensing account, select “Applications” and, in the upper right-hand corner, select “Submit New Application.”
New License/Registration/Certificate:
- The category of license you are applying for is “Personnel Services.”
License History Questionnaire:
- Select the “I have either: Held an Oregon Educational License (or) Completed an Oregon-approved Educator Preparation Program…” box.
License History:
- If you have completed the TSPC clinical practice registration and background check within 3-years of the application, select “Add a License” and fill in the required information selecting “Clinical Practices” in the License Category. (This will help you avoid being re-charged the fingerprinting fee.)
  - The end date for your clinical practice registration is 3-years from the date it was issued (or from the start date).
License History:
- If you have held other TSPC-issued licenses, such as the Restricted School Counselor License, enter those here.
Work History:
- Only add paid employment that required you to hold a TSPC-issued license, including if you worked on a Restricted School Counselor License.
- Do not enter student teaching, practica, unpaid internship, or volunteer experiences in school districts.
Education History:
- Add all the degrees you’ve been awarded that are new since you last applied to TSPC. (If you have never applied to TSPC before, you will enter all degrees conferred.)
- Degrees could include associate’s and bachelor’s degrees as well as your MEd in School Counseling and any additional advanced degrees earned.

STEP 3—Official Transcripts Including: Lewis & Clark Graduate School, Undergraduate, and Other Advanced Degrees

After receiving the “congratulations, you are now eligible to apply” email from Lewis & Clark, order the following official transcripts to be sent to TSPC:

Lewis & Clark Graduate School
- Request an official transcript from the Graduate Registrar’s office at Lewis & Clark to be sent to TSPC.
  - Your Lewis & Clark graduate transcript should show all courses required for the school counselor license, including course grades, and the master’s degree, as appropriate.
Undergraduate and Additional Graduate Degrees
- Request that official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate degrees you’ve been awarded be sent to TSPC.
  - If you completed your undergraduate degree at Lewis & Clark, you will find the instructions for ordering official transcripts here.
  - If you completed a law degree at Lewis & Clark, you will find the instructions for ordering official transcripts here.

If you already hold a TSPC-issued license, only send official transcripts that document course work or degrees that are new since you last applied to TSPC. (You do not need to resend official transcripts that you already submitted for previous applications to TSPC.)

STEP 4—PEER Form, Required If You Already Hold a TSPC-Issued License

If you have held any other TSPC-issued license(s) and *have worked on that license, request that your employing school district’s human resources office complete TSPC’s Professional Educator Experience Report (PEER) form.

If you worked in multiple school districts in positions that required you to hold a TSPC-issued license, you will need to request PEER forms from each school district.
Only submit PEER forms that document work experience that is new since you last applied to TSPC.
*PEER forms are no longer required for substitute teaching experience. (06/2024)

DO I NEED TO BE FINGERPRINTED?

If you are unsure of your fingerprint clearance status, please contact TSPC at contact.tspc@oregon.gov.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO APPLY FOR MY SCHOOL COUNSELOR LICENSE?

TSPC’s rules allow candidates 3-years to apply for their license, endorsement, or specialization following completion of a program. If it has been more than 3-years since completion, candidates will need to meet with a Lewis & Clark Graduate School faculty advisor to determine whether additional course work, testing, and/or field experiences are required, including admission into the current program.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TSPC TO ISSUE MY LICENSE?

Approximately 4 - 6 weeks.

WHOM DO I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT MY PROGRAM?

The faculty program director for the School Counseling program is Heather Hadraba.