Student counselors, also called guidance counselors, are professionals who help students at the high school or college level. Depending on your career goals and the setting you want to work in, an advanced degree might be needed to hold one of these positions.
Instructions
Education and Licensure Requirements
1. Enroll in a four-year college as a psychology, education, or counseling major depending on what's available at your university. If you desire to be a high school student counselor, a bachelor's degree in one of these majors might be all you need to get hired--if you're dedicated to obtaining an advanced level of education.
2. Complete the bachelor's degree while taking upper level courses that foster growth as a career student counselor. For example, lifespan development and personality psychology are two important courses that employers and graduate schools look for on a transcript.
3. Apply to graduate school with plans to obtain a Masters of Education or a doctorate in school counseling. While attending graduate school, you may have a choice to specialize in certain counseling tracks, such as human growth and development.
4. Refer to licensing requirements of the state in which you'll seek employment. Most states require a student counselor obtain a school counseling certification from the state after passing an exam. In addition, most states require supervision as a counselor as well as re-certification after a period of several years.
5. Obtain counseling certification by the National Board for Certified Counselors. This will solidify your qualification to gain employment as a student counselor at the high school or college level. This certification usually requires ongoing educational requirements that need to be met every few years.
Tags: student counselor, high school, bachelor degree, college level, counseling certification