The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires students who plan to serve as K-12 school counselors to hold a certificate to teach and complete an approved program in School Counseling. Candidates who choose to become K-12 school counselors but do not hold a teaching certificate must complete a sequence of courses in which they demonstrate knowledge and skills to plan, implement and evaluate classroom guidance lessons. Candidates should confer with program advisors to select appropriate courses. In addition, the State of Missouri requires all candidates for certification as a Professional School Counselor to earn a passing score on the Missouri Content Area Assessment for Counselors and the Missouri School Counseling Performance Assessment.