Licensed School Counselor Credit Hour Requirements
Summary
Colorado Senate Bill 26-153 proposes requiring applicants for initial special services licenses as school counselors to hold a master's degree in school counseling from an accredited institution requiring completion of at least 48 graduate semester credit hours. The bill is currently under consideration in the Senate Education Committee.
What changed
Colorado SB26-153 would establish a minimum 48 graduate semester credit hour requirement for school counselor licensure, up from unspecified current requirements. The bill specifically targets applicants for initial special services licenses with a school counselor endorsement, requiring completion of a master's degree in school counseling from an accredited institution.
Affected parties include graduate-level school counseling programs, which may need to revise curriculum to meet the 48-hour threshold, aspiring school counselors who must plan their academic pathways accordingly, and school districts that hire licensed counselors. Educational institutions offering related graduate programs should monitor this legislation closely as it progresses through the Senate Education Committee.
What to do next
- Monitor SB26-153 progress through Colorado legislature
- Review current school counseling graduate program credit hours against proposed 48-hour requirement
- Engage with Colorado Department of Education regarding implementation if bill passes
Archived snapshot
Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
SB26-153
Licensed School Counselor Credit Hour Requirements
| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12) |
Concerning graduate academic requirements for a licensed school counselor, and, in connection therewith, establishing a minimum number of credit hours required for special services licensure with a school counselor endorsement.
Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:
To qualify for an initial special services license as a school counselor, an applicant must hold a master's degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education. The degree must be in school counseling and require completion of at least 48 graduate semester credit hours. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Prime Sponsors
Chris Kolker
Senator
Cleave Simpson
Representative
Jennifer Bacon
Representative
Matthew Martinez
Committees
Senate
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Status
Under Consideration
Introduced
Under Consideration
Upcoming Schedule
1 meeting
Apr 8
Senate General Orders - Second Reading of Bills - Consent Calendar
9:00 AM Senate Chamber
Related Documents & Information
| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 04/08/2026 | Engrossed | PDF |
| 03/31/2026 | Introduced | PDF |
| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 04/04/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note | PDF |
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer Senate Bill 26-153 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. | The motion passed on a vote of 6-0. | Vote summary |
Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Location | Action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 04/08/2026 | Senate | Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 04/06/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 03/31/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education |
Prime Sponsor
Sen. C. Kolker | Sen. C. Simpson
Rep. J. Bacon | Rep. M. Martinez
Sponsor
(None) Co-Sponsor
(None)
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