Career Info
A school counselor works with teachers, administrators and parents to help children succeed academically, as well as develop emotionally and socially. They meet with students individually, in small groups and in classroom settings to help students overcome learning and behavioral problems, cope with family difficulties, assess their personal interests and review their academic strengths.
School counselors provide teachers and parents with information on special education services and healthy parent-child communication. With high school students, they might conduct workshops on the college application process, drug and alcohol abuse prevention, resume writing and job interview techniques.
Education Requirements
A master's degree in school counseling or guidance is generally required to be certified in this profession. Students typically complete 48-60 credits in such courses as child abuse prevention, psychology and educational assessment in counseling, grief counseling, student assistance programs and counseling strategies for education.
Internships and clinical practicums with school guidance departments give students the practical experience needed for certification. Some states also mandate passing scores on the Praxis II, which measures knowledge and skills required of school counselors, or another certification exam. Prospective counselors should check with their state education department for requirements.
Advanced Education
Experienced counselors who enjoy research and teaching might want to become counselor educators at colleges and universities. This career path requires obtaining a Ph.D. in Counselor Education. A doctoral program typically includes training in recent developments in counseling theory, educational research, advanced educational psychology and qualitative methods.
A doctoral candidate commonly completes an original work of research, or dissertation, in a specialized area of study. The dissertation is written under the guidance of a faculty advisor and usually takes 1-2 years to complete.
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