School counselors help children and young adults cope with the stresses of their lives, reach a place of psychological balance, and prepare for their futures. To work as a school counselor, you'll need to complete a graduate program and become licensed. Read on to find out more about the requirements for a career as a school counselor.
Education Requirements
The first step towards becoming a school counselor is completing a bachelor's degree program. You'll then need to earn a master's degree in school counseling. There are also certificate options available for those with graduate degrees in related fields, like social work, clinical psychology, or education.
Graduate education in school counseling consists of core counseling and school counseling coursework. The core counseling courses cover topics like counseling theory and methods, group therapy, testing, and assessment. School counseling courses may include childhood and adolescent counseling, learning theories, and school counseling regulations. These programs also incorporate practicum experiences, in which students gain real-world experience counseling students in school settings.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutSchoolCounselorPrograms">Important Facts About School Counselor Programs</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td>Prerequisites</td><td> Master's degree programs require a bachelor's degree and, in some cases, teaching experience and licensure; Certificate programs require a counseling master's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td>Online Availability </td><td> Blended programs with online coursework and in-person internships/residencies are common</td></tr>
<tr><td>Continuing Education </td><td>Required by most states to renew licenses, usually every five years</td></tr>
<tr><td>Similar Programs </td><td> Clinical mental health counseling, couples and family counseling</td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031) </td><td>10% growth <i>(all school and career counselors)</i>*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (May 2021) </td><td> $60,510 <i>(all school and career counselors)</i>*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---CertificationAndLicensing">Certification and Licensing</h3><p>Licensing or certification requirements for school counselors vary greatly from state to state. However, many of them stipulate that school counselors complete a state-approved graduate program in addition to a supervised internship before being allowed to work in public schools. Some states also require you to have a valid teaching license in order to work as a school counselor, which has its own set of educational requirements.
</p><h3 id="section---CareerInformation">Career Information</h3><p>School counselors are employed in all levels of education, from elementary schools to colleges. As a school counselor, your main responsibilities revolve around working with students to address various personal, social, mental, and behavioral problems. You may also identify problems at home, such as domestic violence or drug abuse, and intervene accordingly, should the situation require it. Another key element of your job, especially at the high-school and college levels, involves working with students to determine their occupational aptitudes and help them achieve their goals.</p>
