Become a School Counselor

Discover the life changing career of school counseling

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School counselors, also called guidance counselors, help students evaluate their abilities, interests and personality characteristics in order to achieve academic success and develop realistic career goals. They guide students in dealing with social, behavioral and personal problems and collaborate with parents and teachers to devise and implement strategies that help students succeed.

Counseling, Coordinating, Advising and Teaching

Guidance counselors focus on more than schoolwork and careers. They help kids deal with personal stress, peer pressure and emotional issues, providing a confidential setting in which children can express their feelings and perceptions and learn lifelong coping skills. If you become a school counselor, your duties might also include the following: Evaluating elementary school children during play activities for strengths or special needs Advising high school students on college admission requirements, entrance exam preparation and financial aid options Helping students develop job search skills, resume writing and interviewing techniques Addressing the social and emotional issues that arise among children in middle school, particularly peer pressure, bullying, depression and academic challenges Counseling parents and other family members about a student's behavioral issues Coordinating with state programs that teach students about child abuse or drugs

School Counselor Work Environment

School or guidance counselors typically work in elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools where they meet with students in a private office to encourage open discussions and maintain confidentiality. At different times of the year, school counselors might arrange classroom or school-wide events to discuss topics such as substance abuse or college recruitment. In these instances, they might teach all students of a certain grade level at once or address the subject in a school auditorium.

Many school counselors work the nine- to 10-month school year, taking two to three months off in the summer; however, an increasing number of school counselors have accepted 11-month or full-year contracts. During student recruitment periods, college counselors may work long and irregular hours to conduct planning and placement activities.

School Counselor Salary and Job Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that elementary and secondary school counselor salaries range from $36,130 to $60,990. The lowest 10 percent make $27,240 or less, while the highest 10 percent earn $75,920 or more. According to PayScale.com, the states paying the top school counselor salaries are California, Illinois and Florida.

As the BLS reports, school counselors can anticipate a 13 percent job growth rate through 2016, which translates to 33,000 new jobs. Job candidates may find greater opportunities in rural and urban areas where recruitment is often more challenging.

School Counselor Degrees and Training

School counseling degree requirements vary from state to state. Most states mandate that school counselors hold a master's degree to qualify for licensing. However, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has established that school counseling programs must meet the following criteria:

• Award graduates with a master's or higher level degree
• Cover core components of the discipline, including human growth and development, social and cultural diversity, relationships and group work
• Require students to complete a 600-hour clinical internship supervised by a licensed school counselor

Understanding your state's school counseling degree and certification requirements in advance will help you make the best choice for your school counseling degree.

School Counselor Certification

Like degree requirements, licensure requirements for school or guidance counselors vary greatly from state to state. You should check your state's Department of Education to ensure that you direct your career toward the right certification for you. In addition to state boards, two different national boards provide licensure for school counselors.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) grants National Board Certification status to eligible candidates. To apply for this certification, you must meet education and experience requirements. Completing the certification process involves a demonstration of your teaching practice through portfolio entries and written assessment exercises.

The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) offers the National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential. To attain this certification, candidates must have earned a master's degree from an accredited school, hold a school counselor credential from their state, have three years of supervised experience in the field and pass a certification exam.

As a school counselor, you will bring students the caring, objective support they need to work through the wide range of issues that can affect their emotional stability and impede their academic performance. Teaching young people the self-management and behavioral skills they will carry throughout their lives will not only make a dramatic impact on them but on your community as a whole. For more information about becoming a guidance counselor, see this interview with a school counseling student.