School Counseling Careers

School Counseling Careers: Job
Description
You’ll need a lot of patience in your role as a school counselor, but students will thrive
under your guidance.
“Go to the principal’s office!” Nobody wants to hear that. But sometimes, the pressures and
demands of school are enough to make anyone act out.
That’s where you can come in as a school counselor, and make a fulfilling career from easing
students through the often tumultuous school years. With your help, they can navigate problems
with confidence.
Children and young adults need guidance and support, especially when it comes to dealing with
academic, personal, parental and social pressures. Helping people reach their potential should be
your number one goal—and to achieve it you should be caring, flexible, adaptable and patient.
School counselors assist students at all levels, from elementary school to college. They act as
advocates for students’ well-being, and as valuable resources for their educational advancement.
As a school counselor, you’ll first and foremost listen to students’ concerns. Because everyone’s
home and social life is different, you could be the only person who fulfills that need for them at a
given time.
You may help students with issues such as bullying, disabilities, low self-esteem, poor academic
performance and relationship troubles. You can refer them to a psychologist or mental health
counselor for further treatment if necessary. In addition, you’ll evaluate students’ abilities,
interests and personalities to help them develop realistic academic and career goals. You’ll
facilitate aptitude tests and formulate potential paths to success.
On the job, school counselors:
 Listen to students’ concerns about academic, emotional or social problems

 Help students process their problems and plan goals and action
 Mediate conflict between students and teachers
 Improve parent/teacher relationships
 Assist with college applications, jobs and scholarships
 Facilitate drug and alcohol prevention programs
 Organize peer counseling programs
 Refer students to psychologists and other mental health resources
 Work on academic boards to improve learning conditions
What education or certification will I need to

become a school counselor?
Earning a four-year undergraduate degree is the first step in your education toward becoming a
school counselor. A bachelor’s in education, psychology or sociology will best prepare you for
your graduate school work, but if you’ve already earned a bachelor’s in another field, that’s OK.
Most commonly, the master’s degree you will pursue is the Master of Education in Counseling,
which will take two to three years to earn. This degree offers a combination of learning and
hands-on experience in classroom settings. Learn more about What You’ll Study.
After receiving your master’s, two years of practical experience is typically necessary in order to
become licensed as a counselor by the state. Some states also require a teaching certificate.
Licensing and certification guidelines for psychologists vary by state; be sure to check the
guidelines for the region in which you plan to study. Information about requirements for each
state is available from the American School Counselors Association.
What career paths can I take in school
counseling?
As a school counselor, you can work in various school environments, from elementary through
higher education. State, local and private schools, colleges, universities and professional schools,
and vocational schools all require a counseling presence. According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013, rising student enrollments in elementary,
middle and high schools are expected to increase demand for school counselors in those grades.
If you’d like to seek more education after earning your master’s and working in the field of
school counseling, you can pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and go on to become
a school psychologist. School psychologists interact with students in many of the same ways as
school counselors, but can go further with diagnosis and treatment of problems. This will require
a time commitment of an additional five to seven years, and will broaden your employment
opportunities to include academic research, consulting and more.
Learn about Pay and Job Projections for school counselors.

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School Counseling Careers: Job

 Listen to students’ concerns about academic, emotional or social problems

What education or certification will I need to

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