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Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 26-0935.01 Anna Petrini x5497 SENATE BILL 26-153
Senate Committees House Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING GRADUATE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSED101
SCHOOL COUNSELOR , AND , IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ,102
ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS103
REQUIRED FOR SPECIAL SERVICES LICENSURE WITH A SCHOOL104
COUNSELOR ENDORSEMENT.105
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
To qualify for an initial special services license as a school
counselor, an applicant must hold a master's degree or higher from an
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 9, 2026
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
April 8, 2026
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Kolker and Simpson, Coleman, Cutter, Frizell, Gonzales J., Jodeh, Kipp, Lindstedt,
Marchman, Rodriguez, Sullivan, Wallace
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Bacon and Martinez,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
accredited institution of higher education. The degree must be in school
counseling and require completion of at least 48 graduate semester credit
hours.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) Schools play a critical role in preparing students for academic4
achievement, postsecondary education, and participation in the5
workforce;6
(b) Students' ability to succeed academically is often influenced7
by personal, developmental, and social challenges that may affect school8
engagement and learning;9
(c) The social, emotional, and behavioral health needs of students10
in Colorado schools have increased significantly in recent years. Failing11
to address these needs affects students' academic success, school12
attendance, safety, and long-term well-being.13
(d) School counselors provide essential services to students and14
schools by identifying and confronting obstacles to student learning and15
supporting students with social and emotional development, academic16
planning, and career and postsecondary readiness;17
(e) In many schools, particularly in rural and smaller districts and18
underserved communities, a licensed school counselor is often the only19
readily available professional whose preparation includes training in20
counseling practices and student development;21
(f) School counselors are increasingly called upon to perform risk22
and safety assessments, provide short-term counseling and crisis23
intervention when tragedy strikes a school, coordinate services with24
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families and community providers, and support students experiencing1
trauma and other behavioral health challenges;2
(g) Because of these res ponsibilities, it is important that3
individuals seeking licensure as school counselors receive comprehensive4
graduate-level preparation that includes coursework in counseling5
practices, student development, and strategies to help students6
experiencing stress, behavioral challenges, or other barriers to academic7
success;8
(h) National standards for counselor preparation, including those9
established by recognized accrediting bodies, typically require graduate10
programs of at least sixty semester credit hours and include coursework11
related to mental health counseling, assessment, and crisis response; and 12
(i) Establishing minimum graduate credit requirements will help13
ensure that school counselors entering Colorado schools possess the14
knowledge and skills necessary to support students effectively.15
(2) Therefore, the general assembly declares that establishing16
minimum graduate-level preparation requirements for licensed school17
counselors is necessary to provide effective student services, promote safe18
and supportive learning environments, and ensure that students across19
Colorado have access to well-prepared school counseling professionals.20
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-60.5-210, amend21
(1)(a)(I)(B) as follows:22
22-60.5-210. Types of special services licenses issued - term.23
(1) The department of education is designated as the sole agency24
authorized to issue the following types of special services licenses to25
persons of good moral character:26
(a) Initial special services license.27
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(I) The department of education, in its discretion, may issue an1
initial special services license to any applicant who:2
(B) Has met the standards of the state board of education3
concerning academic and professional preparation, and experience, and4
performance, as appropriate for the subject matter area or areas for which5
such THE initial special services license is to be endorsed; EXCEPT THAT,6
TO QUALIFY FOR SPECIAL SERVICES LICENSURE WITH A SCHOOL7
COUNSELOR ENDORSEMENT , AN APPLICANT MUST HOLD , FROM AN8
ACCREDITED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, A MASTER'S DEGREE OR9
HIGHER IN SCHOOL COUNSELING THAT CONSISTS OF AT LEAST FORTY-EIGHT10
GRADUATE SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS.11
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,12
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate13
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for14
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state15
institutions.16
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