Careers in Student Counseling
Pursuing a career in student counseling offers a chance to make a difference in many lives. To become a school counselor or a vocational counselor, expect to spend two or three more years in college after earning a bachelor's degree. Colleges and universities offer a variety of counseling programs, including school counseling, mental health counseling and student personnel counseling. Your choice of the type of master's degree in counseling may affect what settings you can work in after graduation.
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School Counselor
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To become a counselor in the K-12 system, you would need to get a master's degree in counseling and satisfy additional requirements to be licensed by a state. A school counselor should expect to manage a large caseload of students. The counselor may handle educational issues (i.e. guidance counseling) and address broader concerns, including mental health and family problems.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a counselor serving students in elementary and secondary schools earned a median wage of $57,800 in May 2008. There will be 38,600 new jobs added for educational and vocational counselors from 2008 to 2018.
Elementary Counselor
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According to the American School Counselor Association, students in the elementary school need assistance at an important time of their development. The ASCA explains, "It is also a time when students develop and acquire attitudes toward school, self, peers, social groups and family." The elementary counselor who wants to work with children during this important stage of childhood will need to acquire education in child development and counseling and perform a substantial number of internship hours working with this age group. In this rewarding career, the elementary school counselor serves as an important connection between administrators, teachers and families.
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Secondary Counselor
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The middle school or high school counselor helps young adults prepare for the workforce and choose the right courses on their way to earning a diploma. Each counselor brings the mental health background to helping the educational staff of the school. According to ASCA, a school counselor at this level not only provides guidance and support for success in the classroom, he or she helps students set individual goals and delivers important trainings, including substance abuse education, coping strategies and conflict resolution.
Vocational Counselor
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This counselor works for a variety of employers, including educational institutions and community agencies. Vocational counselors help young adults and older adults make decisions that will improve their ability to earn a living.
BLS notes this professional would usually work outside of schools. The main focus is making career decisions after helping an individual identify his or her interests and abilities through testing. A vocational counselor helps the student identify career goals and get the right education, training and experience to achieve those goals. Other tasks might include job placement and interview preparation.
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References
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