what do i need to become a guidance counselor

A school counselor, likewise commonly known as a guidance advisor, provides students with academic, career, and college advice, as well as personal and social guidance. This tin be achieved through group counseling or private counseling. Counselors also assist with annual academic planning for each educatee. This guide provides further information on what school counselors do, how to become one, and the occupation's bacon and job outlook.

School Counselor Task Description

While historically counselors working in educational settings have been known as "guidance counselors," the term "schoolhouse counselor" is now mostly preferred. The American Schoolhouse Counselor Association (ASCA) has been active in promoting this change in terminology, as school advisor may better reflect today's "whole person" approach to student success, which focuses on much more than vocational cess and placement. School counselors play an important role in the lives of students at both public and private schools. Their principal job is to help students brand positive decisions that atomic number 82 to bookish and personal success. To reach this, counselors work closely with students, teachers, and school administrators. Counselors may work in simple, eye, or loftier schools as well every bit in colleges and universities. Counselors mainly work in an part setting, but they may besides spend time in classrooms observing students, helping to place and define needs. They also guide troubled students and work with differently-abled students. The number of students that a schoolhouse advisor works with tin vary widely past district, simply according to the ASCA, the ideal caseload is 250 students per school counselor.¹

School Advisor Requirements and Common Tasks

In addition to assisting with personal or emotional problems, counselors too assistance students in their academic lives, helping them develop better study habits and examination-taking skills. They may as well assist students to identify their interests and natural abilities, set achievable goals for the future, and piece of work with them to create plans to reach those goals. In elementary schools, counselors may help teachers identify students who need actress help, have special needs, or take behavioral problems. In the same vein, they might also help in identifying gifted students who crave a greater claiming or more than advanced content than they can get in the regular classroom.

Counselors teach simple students how to make sound decisions, which volition hopefully prepare them upward for later success. In heart schools and loftier schools, the school counselor plays an of import office in advising students about possible colleges and scholarships and grants that may be available to them. They besides might counsel students on choosing classes that will support their longer-term goals. In loftier school, their job might include helping students write resumes, apply for jobs, and learn interviewing skills. School counselors may besides assist students deal with tragedies that affect the student body as a whole: the expiry of a teacher or young man student or incidents such equally a school shooting. Strong communication skills and pity for others are essential in the career of counseling since a genuine desire to help students succeed is at the heart of the profession.

School Counseling Programs

How to Become a School Counselor

For those seeking information on how to become a school counselor, the first step is to obtain a available's degree. Some topics that will help prospective counselors gain the skills needed to enter the profession are child psychology and communication. All states require a chief's degree in school counseling to become fully licensed as a school counselor. The program you select should exist approved past your land'due south board of education and may need to include specific courses and/or concur specific accreditations – exist sure to cheque with your state's board for detailed requirements. All master'due south in school counseling programs also include a menses of fieldwork, allowing students to gain real-life experience in the field. The typical steps to become a school counselor are:

1. Earn a bachelor'south degree in counseling, psychology, or a related subject.
2. Earn a primary's caste in school counseling or a closely related bailiwick with adequate coursework in school counseling to fulfill state requirements.
3. Complete a school counseling internship or other qualifying clinical experience as part of your plan, depending on your land's requirements.
4. Pass your land's required exams for schoolhouse counselors.
5. Utilize for your school advisor's license.
6. Begin applying for open school counselor jobs.

Some schools also prefer candidates to take a teaching certificate and a few years of teaching feel before condign a school counselor. The rules for schoolhouse counseling certification vary from state to state; we recommend checking with your state's lath of education to verify the requirements.

School Counselor Bacon and Task Outlook

The bacon of a school counselor varies depending on such things as the level of the school (master or secondary), whether the schoolhouse is public or private, the schoolhouse'due south location, and the candidate'southward teaching and feel. According to the Usa Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for schoolhouse and career counselors in 2018 was $56,310.ⁱⁱ Through 2028, employment for school counselors is expected to grow by 8%, which is faster than average for all occupations.^two

Helpful Skills and Experience

Since school counseling requires working with students, parents, teachers, and administrators, people in this function should exist excellent communicators. Counselors should be not bad listeners, able to easily relate to people of unlike ages and backgrounds, and compassionate. Since school counselors will likely mentor students with emotional or behavioral problems, they should possess kindness and a natural ability to empathize. It is helpful if the prospective counselor has prior experience in counseling children, either through an internship or previous employment.

Possible Job Titles for This Career

• Career Counselor
• College Counselor
• Elementary School Counselor
• Guidance Advisor
• Loftier School Counselor
• School Counselor

Additional Resources

• The American School Advisor Association: The American School Counselor Association (ASCA), supports counselors at schools with professional person development opportunities, publications, research and advocacy.

Ofttimes Asked Questions

Question: What types of courses do I take to get a school counselor?

Answer: The courses required will vary depending on the school, but virtually school counseling programs volition crave coursework in fostering academic development, group and individual counseling, equally well as folklore and psychology.

Question: Exercise schoolhouse counselors get summers off?

Answer: Depending on the school, some counselors might get their summers off. Check with the private school to find out more.

Question: How much do school counselors make?

Answer: The salary for school counselors depends on a variety of factors, but according to the BLS, the median bacon for a schoolhouse advisor in the The states is $56,310.

Question: What degree do y'all need to be a schoolhouse counselor?

Answer: In most states, a master'southward degree in schoolhouse counseling is required to become a school counselor. There may be exceptions where a provisional license with a lesser caste may exist issued, with the expectation that a master's in school counseling be pursued within a specified time period in society to reach full licensure.

References:
1. American School Counseling Association, "The Role of the School Counselor": https://world wide web.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/ee8b2e1b-d021-4575-982c-c84402cb2cd2/Role-Statement.pdf
two. Agency of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, School and Career Counselors: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/schoolhouse-and-career-counselors.htm

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