Education and Training in a Guidance Education Program

Schools systems employ specialized educators to assist students, families, and staff. These educators are called school counselors.

School counselors, also called guidance counselors, are specialized educators. The position requires unique skills and interests to work with students in kindergarten to high school.

What Do School Counselors Do

According to the American School Counselor Association, school counselors provide services in the realms of academic, career, and personal/social development. Academic development involves study skills, time management, scheduling, credit checks, and learning issues. Career development includes career investigation, job shadowing, post-secondary (college) planning, and workplace field trips. Personal/social development involves mental health issues, social skills, and family issues.

School counselors primarily use three avenues to facilitate the developmental themes. The first is individual counseling. This includes meeting with an individual one-on-one to provide information and counseling directly to the individual. The next avenue is group counseling, which is delivering counseling and guidance with a small group of individuals with similar needs. The last way counselors deliver their services is through classroom or large group presentations.

Education and Training Needed to Become a School Counselor

To become a school counselor one needs to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Most school counselors study psychology, education, or communication during their undergraduate studies. An education major is a good choice in that counselors can become more familiar with the school environment and lesson planning.

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree students can then enter into a master’s program for professional school counseling or college of education. Master programs with accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and related Educational Programs (CACREP) are ideal programs. Programs accredited by CACREP meet high standards in developing future counselors.

Master programs in counseling usually take two to three years to complete. In the program students will learn active listening skills, counseling theories, verbal and nonverbal cuing, and other related skills. At the end of the program all students are required to complete either an internship or practicum at one or more levels of the Kindergarten to high school settings. Each state determines which levels counselors need to complete for a license.

Licensing Requirements to Become a School Counselor

After completing the master’s program in counseling, students are usually required to take a comprehensive exam. Each college will have their own version of an exam that assesses students’ understanding of the counseling program..

Once the education and exam have been completed, students are then eligible to submit an application for licensure to the state or states of their choice. Department coordinators or other college staff will assist students to apply for licensure which can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on the state. After this step one is ready to apply for employment at the elementary to high school level.

Overall, a career in school counseling requires specific skills and training. School counselors do not give advice but rather guide students to understand their situation and assist students to develop an action plan. This requires skills that needs to be practiced and honed, and a proper master’s program will provide this opportunity. School counselors’ salary usually begins at $30,000 a year but averages around $50,000.