DepEd Order 19, s. 2026 explained: qualifications, salary grades, eligibility, practicum rules, and implications for school counselor hiring.
DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2026: Complete Guide to the New School Counselor Qualification Standards
DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2026 adopts the Civil Service Commission-approved qualification standards for the new Schools Division Counselor, School Counselor, and School Counselor Associate positions created under Republic Act No. 12080. This guide explains who may qualify, what the salary grades mean, how the 200-hour practicum rule should be read, and what the order does not automatically authorize.
What Is DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2026?
Issued on July 22, 2026, DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2026 is titled "Qualification Standards for Positions Created Under Republic Act No. 12080 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act." Its principal function is to adopt the qualification standards approved by the Civil Service Commission through CSC Resolution No. 2600920, promulgated on June 30, 2026.
The order covers the newly established positions of Schools Division Counselor, School Counselor I to IV, and School Counselor Associate I to V. The CSC classifies these positions under the Related-Teaching Group. They form part of the personnel structure supporting Mental Health and Well-Being Offices at the Schools Division Office level and Care Centers in schools.
How the Legal Sources Fit Together
DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2026
Adopts the CSC-approved qualification standards for the new counselor positions.
CSC Resolution No. 2600920
Contains the detailed standards for education, experience, training, and eligibility, and classifies the positions under the Related-Teaching Group.
RA No. 12080 and its IRR
Establish the broader school mental health system, including Mental Health and Well-Being Offices, Care Centers, role boundaries, referrals, confidentiality, implementation, and staffing directions.
Why Was the Order Issued?
Republic Act No. 12080 created new career positions for personnel who will deliver and support mental health, guidance, counseling, career development, referral, and learner well-being services in the basic education system. However, a plantilla title cannot be filled properly without approved standards for education, experience, training, and eligibility.
DepEd therefore proposed qualification standards to the CSC. After review and policy discussions, the CSC approved the standards and directed that they be used in the attestation of appointments and evaluation of other human resource actions involving the covered positions.
In practical terms, DO 019 supplies the minimum personnel standards needed before DepEd can consistently recruit, evaluate, appoint, promote, reclassify, or process employees for the new counselor personnel structure.
What Positions Are Covered?
Schools Division Counselor
A licensed guidance counselor or psychologist who heads the Mental Health and Well-Being Office in the Schools Division Office. The position is Salary Grade 24.
School Counselor I to IV
Registered and licensed Guidance Counselors or Psychologists who are charged with heading school Care Centers and ensuring that the Centers perform their functions under RA No. 12080 and its IRR. The positions range from SG 16 to SG 22.
School Counselor Associate I to V
Second-level personnel who support guidance, career development, mental health, learner monitoring, program delivery, and referral work within the limits of law and professional practice. The positions range from SG 11 to SG 15.
Summary of Qualification Standards
| Position | SG | Education | Experience | Training | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schools Division Counselor | 24 | Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology | 4 years supervisory or management experience | 40 hours supervisory or management learning and development intervention | RA 1080, as amended, Guidance Counselor or Psychologist |
| School Counselor I | 16 | Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology | None required | None required | RA 1080, as amended, Guidance Counselor or Psychologist |
| School Counselor II | 18 | Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology | 1 year relevant experience | 8 hours relevant training | RA 1080, as amended, Guidance Counselor or Psychologist |
| School Counselor III | 20 | Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology | 2 years relevant experience | 16 hours relevant training | RA 1080, as amended, Guidance Counselor or Psychologist |
| School Counselor IV | 22 | Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology | 3 years relevant experience | 24 hours relevant training | RA 1080, as amended, Guidance Counselor or Psychologist |
| School Counselor Associate I | 11 | One of the three approved bachelor's degree routes | None required | None required | Career Service Professional or Second Level Eligibility |
| School Counselor Associate II | 12 | One of the three approved bachelor's degree routes | 1 year relevant experience | 4 hours relevant training | Career Service Professional or Second Level Eligibility |
| School Counselor Associate III | 13 | One of the three approved bachelor's degree routes | 2 years relevant experience | 8 hours relevant training | Career Service Professional or Second Level Eligibility |
| School Counselor Associate IV | 14 | One of the three approved bachelor's degree routes | 3 years relevant experience | 16 hours relevant training | Career Service Professional or Second Level Eligibility |
| School Counselor Associate V | 15 | One of the three approved bachelor's degree routes | 3 years relevant experience | 24 hours relevant training | Career Service Professional or Second Level Eligibility |
For School Counselor II to IV, relevant experience involves the delivery of guidance and counseling services and career development programs, and/or the implementation of mental health and well-being programs in schools or other related settings. Relevant training covers the delivery of counseling and guidance services, career development programs, or mental health and well-being programs in schools or other related settings.
For School Counselor Associate II to V, relevant experience involves providing support and assistance in the delivery of guidance and counseling services, career development activities, and/or mental health and well-being programs in schools or other related settings. Relevant training covers support in the same service areas.
The Three Education Routes for School Counselor Associates
An applicant for School Counselor Associate I to V may satisfy the education requirement through any one of the following routes:
- Route 1: Bachelor's degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology.
- Route 2: Any bachelor's degree with at least 18 units of courses in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology.
- Route 3: Any related bachelor's degree with at least 18 units of Behavioral Science courses that include 200 hours of supervised practicum or internship experience in guidance and counseling, preferably in a school or community setting.
Critical Reading of the 200-Hour Practicum Rule
The 200-hour practicum or internship requirement belongs to the third education route. It should not be automatically imposed on applicants who already qualify under Route 1 or Route 2.
The punctuation and structure of the approved qualification standard separate the three alternatives. An HR evaluator should therefore first determine which route the applicant is invoking before requiring practicum documentation.
Applicants using the third route should prepare verifiable records such as a transcript, certification from the higher education institution, practicum completion certificate, internship record, or other official evidence showing the required supervised hours and the nature of the guidance and counseling exposure.
Requirements for School Counselors and the Schools Division Counselor
The Schools Division Counselor and School Counselor I to IV positions require both graduate-level education and professional eligibility:
- Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology; and
- RA 1080 eligibility, as amended, as a Guidance Counselor or Psychologist.
In effect, these positions are intended for registered and licensed professionals. A teaching license, civil service eligibility, a guidance designation, or years of school experience alone does not substitute for the required professional license.
The CSC resolution also recognizes the grandfather clauses under Republic Act No. 9258 and Republic Act No. 10029. Individuals who acquired their PRC licenses under the applicable grandfather provision are considered to have met the master's degree education requirement for positions covered by the corresponding professional law.
School Counselor vs. School Counselor Associate: Why the Difference Matters
Operational provisions: RA No. 12080 and IRR
The distinction is not merely about salary grade. It determines the level of professional responsibility that may lawfully be exercised.
School Counselor
A School Counselor is a registered and licensed Guidance Counselor or Psychologist who is charged with heading the Care Center. The person performs professional counseling and other functions within the lawful scope of the license, and helps ensure that the Center carries out its statutory and regulatory duties.
School Counselor Associate
A School Counselor Associate supports the delivery of guidance, career development, learner well-being, monitoring, mental health literacy, case coordination, and referral services. The associate remains subject to the restrictions on professional practice under the Guidance and Counseling Act and the Philippine Psychology Act.
What DO 019 Does and Does Not Do
What the Order Means for Applicants
Do not apply based only on the word "counselor." Compare your documents with the specific SG level and its experience and training requirements.
School Counselor Associate applicants should clearly indicate whether they qualify through Route 1, Route 2, or Route 3.
A certificate stating only the number of years may be insufficient. The duties performed should show guidance, counseling support, career development, mental health, learner well-being, referral, or related work.
Generic seminars may not automatically count. The subject, learning objectives, number of hours, and relation to the duties of the position should be evident.
School Counselor Associate positions require Career Service Professional or another appropriate second-level eligibility. School Counselor positions require the applicable RA 1080 professional eligibility.
Meeting the qualification standard creates eligibility for consideration, not an entitlement to appointment.
Can Teachers Apply for the New Positions?
Yes, a teacher may apply if the teacher independently satisfies all qualification standards for the position. School Counselor I and School Counselor Associate I do not require prior experience. For the higher levels, teaching experience is not automatically relevant. The applicant must document duties substantially connected with the functions specified in the CSC standards, subject to evaluation by the authorized DepEd human resource office.
A designation as guidance teacher, guidance advocate, child protection coordinator, or homeroom adviser may strengthen the documentary record, but the designation does not automatically satisfy the education, eligibility, licensure, experience, or training requirements.
RA No. 12080 also directs DepEd and CHED to develop scholarship pathways for teaching personnel interested in qualifying as School Counselor Associates or licensed School Counselors. However, applicants should distinguish a future scholarship or career-development opportunity from immediate qualification for a published vacancy.
While the new items are being filled, the law also allows DepEd to assign trained teachers to assist in school-based mental health services under professional supervision, with honoraria subject to applicable DBM and COA rules. This temporary arrangement does not confer a professional license and does not authorize an unlicensed teacher to independently perform functions reserved by law for Guidance Counselors or Psychologists.
What School Heads and HR Personnel Should Prepare
Even before a school receives an item, school leaders should understand the institutional direction created by RA No. 12080 and supported by DO 019.
- Review the status, location, privacy, and accessibility of the existing guidance office or proposed Care Center.
- Map current personnel qualifications without prematurely promising conversion or appointment.
- Prepare accurate position-related records, training inventories, and documented duties.
- Strengthen referral protocols for cases beyond the competence or legal authority of school personnel.
- Protect confidential learner records and limit access to authorized personnel.
- Coordinate with the SDO Mental Health and Well-Being Office or designated technical personnel.
- Avoid assigning unlicensed staff to perform professional counseling or psychological functions outside lawful limits.
The Unspoken Implementation Risk
The largest risk is not the absence of a qualification table. It is the possibility that schools may rename an office or designate an employee without providing the confidential space, supervision, referral network, records protection, workload adjustment, and professional safeguards required for genuine mental health service delivery.
A new title without operational capacity can create false assurance. Implementation should therefore be measured by service quality, accessibility, ethical practice, and timely referral, not merely by the existence of a signboard or designation.
What Happens to Existing Guidance Positions?
Statutory provision: RA No. 12080
Republic Act No. 12080 provides that existing Guidance and Counseling Offices shall be converted and renamed as Care Centers. It also provides that the positions of Guidance Counselor, Guidance Coordinator, and Guidance Services Specialist shall be converted or reclassified, or both, to the pertinent newly created positions. However, this legal direction should not be confused with automatic individual conversion.
Actual personnel action still requires the appropriate DepEd, DBM, and CSC processes, an authorized item, evaluation of the incumbent's qualifications, and issuance of the necessary appointment or reclassification documents. DO 019 supplies the qualification benchmark for that evaluation.
Does DO 019 Apply to Private Schools?
Broader obligation: RA No. 12080 and IRR
The plantilla positions and CSC appointment standards in DO 019 are designed for positions in DepEd. Private school employees are not appointed to national government plantilla items through this order.
However, RA No. 12080 applies more broadly to public and private basic education institutions in relation to school-based mental health programs and the establishment and maintenance of Care Centers. DepEd is directed to issue guidelines that consider the number of learners and the financial capacity of private schools with limited resources.
Common Misinterpretations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main purpose of DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2026?
It adopts the CSC-approved qualification standards for the new Schools Division Counselor, School Counselor I to IV, and School Counselor Associate I to V positions created under RA No. 12080.
Is a PRC license required for School Counselor Associate I?
No PRC counseling or psychology license is listed as the eligibility requirement for School Counselor Associate I. The position requires Career Service Professional or another appropriate second-level eligibility, together with one of the approved education routes.
Is experience required for School Counselor I?
No. School Counselor I has no minimum experience or training requirement, but the applicant must meet the master's degree and professional-license requirements.
Is experience required for School Counselor Associate I?
No. SCA I has no minimum experience or training requirement, but the applicant must satisfy the education and eligibility standards.
Does any bachelor's degree automatically qualify for SCA I?
No. An applicant with another bachelor's degree must still meet the required academic units under Route 2 or Route 3. A general degree without the specified units does not satisfy the standard.
Can a guidance designate be automatically converted to a counselor position?
No. A designation does not create a permanent appointment. The employee must meet the qualification standard and undergo the applicable personnel and appointment process for an authorized item.
Who supervises a school Care Center?
RA No. 12080 states that the Center is headed by a School Counselor under the direct supervision of the Schools Division Counselor at the division level. Where staffing is incomplete, services and referrals must follow the law and DepEd's implementing arrangements.
Where should applicants watch for vacancies?
Applicants should monitor official DepEd, Regional Office, Schools Division Office, CSC, and government vacancy publication channels. Social media summaries should not replace the official vacancy announcement.
Final Assessment
DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2026 is a necessary personnel-policy milestone because it converts the broad staffing mandate of RA No. 12080 into measurable hiring standards. It establishes a tiered counselor personnel structure from SG 11 to SG 24. Progression is not automatic, and movement from the School Counselor Associate track to the licensed School Counselor track requires compliance with the separate graduate-degree and professional-licensure standards.
Its real impact, however, will depend on funded items, fair recruitment, professional supervision, confidential facilities, referral systems, training, records protection, and clear role boundaries. The order solves the qualification-standard problem. It does not, by itself, solve counselor shortages or guarantee a functional Care Center in every school.
Official References
- DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2026 - Official DepEd PDF
- CSC Resolution No. 2600920 - Qualification Standards for DepEd Counselor Positions
- CSC announcement on the approved qualification standards
- Republic Act No. 12080 - Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act
- Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 12080 - Official DepEd PDF
- Republic Act No. 9258 - Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004
- Republic Act No. 10029 - Philippine Psychology Act of 2009
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