How to Make a Career Change to Be a Guidance Counselor
After working for years in one occupation, some people still find themselves unfulfilled by their work and consider whether a career change is a viable option. Individuals with a penchant for communicating with children and helping them with their problems may want to think about becoming a guidance counselor. Educational and licensing requirements to become a guidance counselor vary from state to state, but typically require a few years to complete.
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Instructions
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Assess what your personal likes and dislikes are to determine whether you will enjoy a career as a guidance counselor. Guidance counselors generally work in public and private schools at the elementary level through senior high school. Counselors spend a lot of time talking with students, so they must enjoy communicating openly with younger children for the majority of a work day. Prospective guidance counselors also must possess the will to want to help people as well as the ability to work alone and as part of a team.
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Research licensing requirements in your state for becoming a school guidance counselor. Most states require that guidance counselors earn a master's degree before working as a counselor, and some states require a certain level of continuing education credits to maintain a counseling license. Contact your state's department of education for state-specific information.
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Research job opportunities and career information for guidance counselors. Career information resources include business news publications, local job boards and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. These resources will help you determine the career outlook for guidance counselors, hiring trends and any developments in the field you may want to study. Consult with a career counselor about your desired career change.
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Complete the educational requirements necessary to earn licensing and employment as a guidance counselor. Degree programs that prepare a student for a career as a guidance counselor include elementary or secondary school counseling, psychology or education. If you already have a bachelor's degree in any field, you may be accepted by a master's degree program in guidance counseling without having to complete a four-year bachelor's degree program in a related field.
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Earn career certification as a guidance counselor through any industry-specific certifying boards. For example, the National Board for Certified Counselors awards the National Certified Counselor distinction for general practice as a counselor. Often, these certifications are voluntary and not state-mandated, but they can help your job prospects when looking for work.
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Apply for guidance counselor licensing through your state's department of education. You will likely have to pay an application fee for the state's education department to process your licensing application.
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Apply for guidance counselor jobs in the state which you are licensed in. Prepare a resume and cover letter that highlights your skills and relevant experiences related to the field of counseling. A guidance counselor's resume should include any certification earned in addition to required educational degrees. You can list other prior experience that required communicative skills, working with children or other skills relevant to a guidance counselor position. Contact local school districts to find out about counselor opportunities in their schools.
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Tips & Warnings
Try to keep your original occupation as long as possible while switching careers to guidance counselor. Completing the educational and licensing requirements may take a few years, during which you will need to provide yourself with an income.
According to the Princeton Review, the attrition rate for guidance counselors is 60 percent within the first two years of employment.
