School Counseling & Psychology
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School counselors play an important role in the school system. While teachers are in charge of assessing students' academic progress, counselors help them resolve emotional or mental health issues, do better in school, and plan for the future. School counselors may specialize in a number of areas, based on the age group of children they work with and the type of counseling they provide. Elementary school counselors help very young children pinpoint their academic interests and evaluate potential learning issues. High school counselors, on the other hand, focus their help on the student's postsecondary options, such as career training or college admissions. Other counselors work in vocational schools or career placement organizations, helping clients refine their interests and apply for jobs.
Most school counselors will need at least a master's degree before they can begin their career. Master's programs in school counseling discuss psychological theories, cultural issues in schools, instructional techniques, and clinical techniques. A doctoral program in clinical psychology is appropriate for students interested in a career in psychology, offering therapy and treatment to patients. All states require school counselors to have a license; in most cases, licensure requires a master's degree and a passing score on an exam. Counselors can also earn voluntary professional credentials, to boost their resume and employability.
Job prospects should be good for qualified school counselors in the coming years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts above average job growth, as more schools realize the benefit of hiring effective counselors; schools are also expanding the job responsibilities of counselors and utilizing them for initiatives such as drug and alcohol abuse prevention.
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Career Specializations
- Educational/Vocational Counselors: This subgroup of counselors helps students evaluate their skills and strengths in order to make informed decisions about their academic and professional future.
- Elementary School Counselors: Elementary school counselors work with young children to help resolve any behavioral or emotional issues the child may be experiencing; they also help determine the child's academic interests and strengths.
- High School Counselors: The responsibilities of this subset of counselors focus on preparing students for postsecondary training. They help students determine what sort of college or vocational training program they would like to apply to and assist them in navigating applications and financial aid.
Degree Levels
- Master's Degree: 2-3 years to complete
- Doctoral Degree: 3-5 years to complete
Education & Certification Requirements
Most school counselors will need at least a master's degree in school counseling before they can begin their careers. These degree programs are hosted in a number of academic departments, from psychology to human services. Once accepted to a degree program, the student determines which area of school counseling they would like to focus in; some potential areas include education counseling, student affairs, or secondary school counseling. During these degree programs, students complete coursework in topics like psychological theory, human behavior, educational theory, and counseling techniques. Students are also required to spend time doing field work observing clinical techniques in action and practicing them under the guidance of an experienced counselor.
Counselors interested in providing clinical care or mental health diagnoses may need to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. These degrees are more research-based, and require students to complete a dissertation in order to graduate. Along with course work in psychological theory, students in these programs also learn about quantitative analysis and sound research principles. A year of supervised clinical work is required in most clinical psychology degree programs.
All states require that school counselors have a license; however, the requirements for earning this license can vary dramatically from state to state. A master's degree is the minimum education required by most states; some also require a passing score on an exam and continuing education credits. Counselors can also earn voluntary credentials from professional groups; these certifications can be helpful for demonstrating one's abilities or applying to advanced positions. The National Board for Certified Counselors offers the general National Certified Counselor credential to counselors who pass their exam. (BLS)
Salary Information
The salary that school counselors can expect to earn will depend on their specialty and their place of employment. The average wages of new counselors with a master's degree is $39,000. Those with professional experience earn $51,000-65,000. Elementary and secondary schools pay higher-than-average salaries, at around $57,000, while counselors in vocational rehabilitation services and individual and family services earn significantly less. Elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, and junior colleges are the largest employers of educational counselors. New Jersey, Alaska, Maryland, California, and New York have the highest average salaries for school counselors, with wages from $63,000-71,000 a year. (BLS)
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that school and educational counselors can expect job growth of around 14 percent through 2018; this is faster than the national average rate of job growth. As the single-job professional becomes a thing of the past and more workers look to change jobs, career counseling services will grow in use. School counselors are now also being used to help mitigate drug use and other crises among students, and are thus experiencing employment growth.
The job opportunities for qualified applicants should be good during this period, as job openings will exceed the number of program graduates. However, since many school counselors are employed in public schools, government budget cuts can affect employment prospects. Government grants or other budget additions can create cyclical upswings in employment and improve job prospects. (BLS)
Related Careers
Child psychologists also help young people deal with emotional or mental problems. Unlike school counselors, child psychologists are required to have a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and a state license in order to provide clinical treatment. These programs usually last five to six years.
Social workers often give counseling to their clients outside of the educational setting. They are trained to assist clients in a variety of financial, mental, or emotional situations by helping them find social services that may ameliorate their situation. Social workers usually need a master's degree in order to earn state licensure.
