Working as a school counselor is a rewarding career, but you should look at the educational requirements for a school counselor before you begin making plans for your future.
As these counselors work directly with students who face problems at home and in school, schools typically look for applicants who have a high level of training and experience working with students in the past. You can gain some of the experience that you need and some of the skills you’ll use on the job while in college.
Bachelor’s Degree
Nearly every school that hires counselors require that those professionals have a graduate degree, but before you go to grad school, you need to finish a bachelor’s degree program. Many colleges do not offer undergraduate degrees in school counseling, but you can study psychology or social work. A social work program will give you a better understanding of the programs and help that is available to students of all ages and teach you about how to report signs of abuse. Psychology programs often require more research, which will help you in grad school, and you’ll also learn the basics of why kids act in different ways.
Graduate Degree
During your last year in college, you can start applying for graduate programs and completing your applications. You’ll usually need to take a standardized test like the GRE and submit your scores as part of that application too. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many of these programs require that students do some hands on work through either an internship or some type of practicum class. If you study school counseling at the graduate level, you’ll often spend at least one semester working in a nearby school, but some programs require that students spend an entire year working in the field.
Counseling License
Most states now require that school counselors have some type of counseling license. No matter where you live, you can expect to go through a background check. The background check shows the school that your criminal record is clean from convictions that might affect the students around whom you work. Some states will also ask that you continue your studies and take steps to complete a doctoral degree before obtaining a counseling license.
Other Requirements
In addition to the educational requirements for a school counselor, you should consider all other requirements too. Several states now require that school counselors have some teaching experience or experience working directly with students first. You may need to spend up to two years working as a teacher and get your teaching license before you can work as a counselor. Some states also require that counselors work under direct supervision for one year or longer before working on their own. This ensures that those counselors can handle all the demands of the job.
School counselors work with students who suffer from abuse at home, have problems with their peers and even those who are the victims of harassment and bullying. Before you can work as a school counselor, you must meet all the requirements of your state. Some of the educational requirements for a school counselor include a graduate degree and internship experience.
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