Career Counseling Certificate Programs and Job Facts
Career counselors help students or clients with choosing an occupation or finding a job. Learn more about the work responsibilities in this career, the available certificate training programs and salary projections.
What You Need to Know
Career counselors assist and guide students or clients as they decide on which vocation to pursue. Education requirements vary depending on the state and the individual employer, but a bachelor's degree is normally the minimum education level required.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Programs</b></td><td> Often offered as graduate-level certificate programs; 1-2 years in duration; both classroom-based, hybrid and online programs available; some require a master's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Mean Salary (2021)*</b></td><td> $63,090 (<i>For all school and career counselors</i>)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2021-2031)*</b></td><td> 10% (<i>For all school and career counselors</i>)</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatKindOfCertificateProgramsAreAvailable">What Kind of Certificate Programs Are Available?</h3><p>Certificate programs in career counseling are generally available at the graduate level and are usually designed for school counselors. These are flexible programs that you can complete in 1-2 years with classroom or online courses. You'll learn different counseling techniques focusing on career-oriented mentoring. You can enroll in most of these programs with a bachelor's degree, though some may require a master's degree for admission. In addition to an internship or supervised counseling requirement, your coursework could cover the following areas:
</p><ul><li>Career program design
</li><li>Career evaluation
</li><li>Counseling and career education methodology
</li><li>Educational psychology
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatWouldIDoAsACareerCounselor">What Would I Do as a Career Counselor?</h3><p>As a career counselor, you could work in schools, universities, career-assistance firms and employment search centers helping clients or students with career-oriented tasks, such as assessing career skills, building resumes and applying for jobs. You'd guide young adults to determine their career interests or help clients who are experiencing a stressful career transition. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of career counselors was expected to increase 8% from 2019-2029, much faster than the national average (<i>www.bls.gov</i>).
</p><h3 id="section---HowMuchWouldIMake">How Much Would I Make?</h3><p>According to the BLS, the mean annual salary for school and career counselors was $63,090 as of May 2021. However, your income can vary based on where you work. The BLS reports, in descending order, the top-paying states for career counselors as California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington, and Maryland, with mean annual wages ranging from $72,730 to $81,590 respectively.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatDoINeedForEmployment">What Do I Need For Employment?</h3><p>Requirements for career counseling positions vary by state and employer. If you want to offer vocational counseling in a school environment, you'll usually need specific training and state licensure. Some government agencies also require that you obtain a certain level of education and licensure. To work in private industry, you might want to consider earning at least a bachelor's degree and a career counseling graduate certificate to increase your employment potential.</p>