School Counselor Degree Requirements
School counselors make sure students are doing well in school, help them think about higher education and career choices and counsel them on social or emotional issues. Becoming a school counselor isn't easy. It takes a lot of formal education, training and a rigorous certification process.
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Courses
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If you're thinking about becoming a school counselor, you'll want to take classes that relate to the fields of psychology and sociology. Take courses that tackle subjects such as individual counseling, group counseling, and social and cultural foundations. These courses will help prepare you for everyday situations as a school counselor.
Degree
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To become a certified school counselor, you will need a master's degree from an accredited counseling program. While specific requirements vary from state to state, the master's degree from a counseling program with certain courses completed are almost always required.
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Program
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The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has laid out three specific criteria that a reputable program should meet. First, the program must offer a master's degree or higher. In addition to elective courses, it must cover core subjects such as human growth and development, social and cultural diversity, relationships and group work. The last part of the school counselor program entails an internship or practicum that is supervised by a certified school counselor and requires 600 credit hours.
Certification
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Once you've completed a school counselor program and have your master's degree, you'll need to be certified before you apply for jobs. Each state has different certification processes, but most have school counselor boards that require you to pass their exams. In addition to the state boards, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the National Board for Certified Counselors grant certification.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards requires candidates to submit portfolio entries and written assessment exercises for certification.
The National Board for Certified Counselors offers an advanced certification called the National Certified School Counselor credential. Candidates must already have a school counselor credential from their state, have three years experience and pass an exam.
Job Outlook
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Depending on your location, years of experience and grade level, school counselors can expect to make between $36,130 and $60,990 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau also finds that the field will grow 13 percent through 2016.
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