Or. Admin. Code § 584-245-0130

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 12, December 1, 2024

Section 584-245-0130 - Restricted School Counselor License

(1) Purpose: The purpose of the Restricted School Counselor License is to allow a teacher, administrator, school social worker, or school psychologist to serve as a school counselor while they complete the requirements for the School Counselor License. The Restricted School Counselor License requires school district sponsorship.

(2) The Restricted School Counselor License is issued jointly to an applicant and a district.

(3) Terms of Licensure: The Restricted School Counselor License may be reissued up to four times and is valid for a length of term, as provided:

(a) For applications received from July 1 through December 31, the first Restricted School Counselor License is valid through June 30 of the school year for which it is issued.

(b) For applications received from January 1 through June 30, the first Restricted School Counselor License is valid through June 30 of the following school year, unless otherwise requested by the sponsoring district;

(c) The second, third, and fourth (final) term are issued for a maximum of one year and with an expiration date of the next June 30.

(d) Upon expiration of the final term (after fourth reissue) of the Restricted School Counselor License, the educator must qualify for the School Counselor License.

(4) The Restricted School Counselor License will be restricted for use within a district that has applied for it jointly with the counselor and may not be used for substitute teaching unless the educator also holds another license valid for substitute teaching issued by the Commission.

(5) District Sponsorship: The Restricted School Counselor License requires district sponsorship. The sponsoring district must submit a statement:

(a) Describing the extenuating circumstances preventing the district from hiring a School Counselor holding a nonprovisional School Counselor license appropriate for the assignment and how the issuance of the restricted license will protect the district's programs or students;

(b) Explaining how the qualifications of the applicant will resolve the extenuating circumstances;

(c) Assuring the Commission that the district will obtain the license for the educator prior to assignment within the district or prior to the 91st day after the date of application for licensure;

(d) Describing the district's plan to provide a mentor for the applicant.

(A) The district must identify that mentor in the letter of application.

(B) For purposes of the Restricted School Counselor license, a mentor shall be:

(i) A person with a professional counseling license, or

(ii) When a professional counselor is not available at the assigned work site, a principal may serve as a mentor, so long as the school district provides the counselor with support from a professional school counselor as noted by the sponsor.

(e) Describing the plan for how the school counselor will make progress toward qualifying for non-provisional state licensure within the first term of the Restricted School Counselor License.

(6) Renewal of District Sponsorship: Upon application for a reissue of the Restricted School Counselor License, the sponsoring district must provide a new statement confirming that:

(a) The extenuating circumstances necessitating the Restricted School Counselor License still exists;

(b) The applicant is still qualified and needed to remedy the situation;

(c) The plan for mentoring remains in place. The statement must update the name of the mentor, if appropriate; and

(d) The applicant is on track to meet the qualifications for the School Counselor License by the end of the final term (after fourth reissue) of the Restricted School Counselor License.

(7) Applying for the license: To be eligible to apply for a Restricted School Counselor License, an applicant must:

(a) Possess the personal qualifications for licensure including: attainment of at least eighteen years of age; possessing good moral character; and mental and physical health necessary for employment as an educator;

(b) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an Approved Institution in the United States, or the foreign equivalent of such degree approved by the Commission;

(c) Meet one of the following educational qualifications:

(A) Be enrolled in a school counselor program approved for school counseling licensure by any state;

(B) Have been a full-time certified Child Development Specialist (CDS) for at least three academic years; or

(C) Have a master's or higher degree in a counseling-related field.

(D) The candidate must submit an official transcript and/or any other evidence that the Commission requires to determine the candidate has met the qualifications of this section.

(d) Meet the requirements for knowledge of U.S. and Oregon civil rights laws and professional ethics;

(e) Satisfactorily complete a background clearance that includes:

(A) Furnishing fingerprints, as required by ORS 342.223;

(B) Providing satisfactory responses to character questions in the form and manner prescribed by the Commission;

(f) Submit a District Sponsorship statement from the sponsoring district as provided in section 5 of this rule.

(g) Have never held any type of Restricted School Counselor License.

(8) Reissue: Restricted School Counselor Licenses are subject to special reissuance conditions:

(a) First Reissue. To be eligible to apply for the first reissue of a Restricted School Counselor License, an applicant must submit:

(A) A complete and correct application in the form and manner required by the Commission, including payment of all required fees as provided in OAR 584-200-0050;

(B) A statement from the co-applicant district, as provided in section (6); and

(C) Evidence of progress toward completion of the School Counselor License program. The evidence of progress toward completion must be verified by the educator preparation program to which the educator is enrolled.

(b) Second Reissue. To be eligible to apply for the second reissue of a Restricted School Counselor License, an applicant must submit:

(A) A complete and correct application in the form and manner required by the Commission, including payment of all required fees as provided in OAR 584-200-0050;

(B) A statement from the co-applicant district, as provided in section (6); and

(C) Evidence of progress toward completion of the School Counselor License program. The evidence of progress toward completion must be verified by the educator preparation program to which the educator is enrolled.

(c) Third Reissue:

(A) A complete and correct application in the form and manner required by the Commission, including payment of all required fees as provided in OAR 584-200-0050;

(B) A statement from the co-applicant district, as provided in section (6); and

(C) Evidence the educator has completed more than 50 percent of the program to complete the School Counselor License requirements. The completion of more than 50 percent of the program must be verified by the educator preparation program in which the educator is enrolled. The school counselor licensure program must be approved by the Commission pursuant to OAR chapter 584, Division 400 and 435.

(d) Fourth Reissue:

(A) A complete and correct application in the form and manner required by the Commission, including payment of all required fees as provided in OAR 584-200-0050;

(B) A statement from the co-applicant district, as provided in section (6); and

(C) Evidence of progress toward completion of the School Counselor License program. The evidence of progress toward completion must be verified by the educator preparation program to which the educator is enrolled.

(e) Non-issuance: The Director of Licensure may not approve the application for reissue of the Restricted School Counselor License upon failure to show progress in the licensure program.

(f) Next License: Prior to or upon expiration of the final term (after fourth reissue) of the Restricted School Counselor License, recipients of this license must meet all the requirements of the School Counselor License.

(9) The Restricted School Counselor License is not transferable to another district. However, another district may coapply for a Restricted School Counselor License for any time remaining in the original terms, starting from the date the first Restricted School Counselor License was issued. A complete and correct application in the form and manner required by the Commission, including payment of required fees, as provided in OAR 584-200-0050, must accompany the request.

Or. Admin. Code § 584-245-0130

TSPC 18-2021, adopt filed 11/15/2021, effective 1/3/2022

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 342.165

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 342.125, ORS 342.136, ORS 342.138, ORS 342.165