The Department of Education may establish a program to reimburse public school counselors for the fees associated with the application and examination process necessary to earn the credential of National Certified School Counselor from the National Board for Counselor Certification. The program may not accept any new people into the program after July 1, 2025. The reimbursement shall include any federal funds that may be available through a candidate subsidy program. The reimbursement shall be paid upon receipt of documentation that the public school counselor successfully completed all of the certification requirements which took effect on January 1, 2004, and was awarded the credential. In addition to the reimbursement provided in this section, a counselor who is employed by a school district and who has earned the credential of National Certified School Counselor from the National Board for Counselor Certification may receive a payment of two thousand dollars per year. The stipend shall be paid as follows:

1. (1) One thousand dollars from the Department of Education; and
2. (2) One thousand dollars from the school district that employs the counselor. The department is not required to pay a teacher a stipend pursuant to this section unless the school district employing the counselor opts to pay a stipend.

Source: SL 2009, ch 70 , § 1; SL 2025, ch 73 , § 1.