Academic Counselor Job Description
Academic counselors, also called advisers, work with students to provide educational guidance to reach the next step in their educational goals. Typically, academic counselors have qualifications such as the desire to help students, work independently and the ability to handle an array of problems. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for academic counselors is expected to increase 18 percent from 2008 to 2018.
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Elementary School Academic Counselor
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Elementary school counselors work with children to help teachers evaluate students' strengths, problems or special needs. According to BLS, elementary school counselors provide less academic counseling and provide more focus on observing children during classroom activities. They work with students individually or in groups and meet with their parents. Typically, elementary school counselors discuss children's academic and social process and any needed resources. Also, they work with educational administrators to provide the appropriate academic and developmental curriculum that will help students.
High School Counselor
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High school counselors provide students with guidance on courses to take during secondary school and on their academic future. They advise students on college planning, which includes selecting college majors and understanding admission requirements. High school counselors also assist students with acquiring financial aid and college entrance exams. They also help students who are not pursuing higher education by advising them on resume, job search and interviewing techniques.
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College Advisers
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College advisers work with students 18 years or older and who are pursuing post-secondary education. Typically, they counsel traditional and nontraditional students on educational issues regarding academic majors, scheduling courses and career planning. They may help students trying to balance academic work with personal tasks such as work. College advisers follow policies and regulations such as identifying students with low GPAs to provide academic guidance.
Education
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Counselors must have at least a master's degree to work in the field. Typically, they have degrees in areas such as career counseling, education, college student affairs, secondary or elementary school counseling. Coursework usually includes cultural diversity, counseling techniques, research and professional ethnics. Also, counselors must undergo 48 to 60 semester hours of graduate study, which include supervised clinical experience in counseling, according to BLS.
Considerations
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Licensure requirements differ by state. According to BLS, academic counselors may only need certification and some graduate coursework to enter the counseling field. Other states require licensure based on graduating from an accredited counseling program. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration's O-net Center, the median salary for academic counselors in 2009 was $52,550 a year.
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References
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