If you enjoy working with children, but look to have a job that doesn’t consist of lesson plans and teaching students on a regular basis, being a school counselor is a great option. If being a school counselor seems like something you would enjoy, then it is important to be on the right path to assure that your scholastic endeavors match up with the requirements needed to work as a counselor. This content will take a look at the degrees you will need to become a school counselor and how your educational path should look.
Bachelors Degree
The first requirement to get you on the path of being a school counselor is to get a bachelor’s degree. Typically, this is usually in an area of expertise like counseling, psychology, or social work. There are other concentrations that will suffice, but these are most commonly seen among top applicants who apply for counseling positions. By getting a bachelors degree in any of the aforementioned fields, you will be trained and educated in a variety of lessons that will better prepare you for situations that you are sure to come across once you enter the career field.
Master’s Degree
After completing the education for your bachelor’s degree, you will then need to get a master’s degree in school counseling. The option to get a master’s in another field is much less lenient in comparison to the requirements for your bachelors, mainly because your master’s degree is directly related to the job position that you will look to fill. Many states require a master’s in counseling in order to teach at a school, therefore it is the best route to go in order to work your way towards being a school counselor.
During your time getting your master’s, it is also a viable option to begin taking training courses that will also prepare you for when you begin looking for a permanent position. The best way to find this training is to begin looking for internships and mentoring programs, preferably in a school district that you would one day like to work for. By beginning this training, not only will you learn directly from those that work in the field, but you will also develop relationships that could potentially help you in the future when you are looking for full-time employment. Even though you may not be getting paid, your training courses should be taken just as seriously as your education, simply because of the doors they can open for your future.
Licenses And Certifications
As you get closer to completing your education and entering the work world, it is important to know what type of licenses and certifications are required in your state. Each state and municipality is different, therefore you should pay attention what the requirements are for the state you’d like to work in. You can find out more about the requirements in your state on the NCSC website.
Continuing Education
Even after you land your job as a school counselor, your education is far from over. It is important to remember that the fields of psychology and human science are continually growing. There is always more information to familiarize yourself with and keep up to date with. Good school counselors will continue to learn throughout their entire career.
Being a school counselor is an entertaining and rewarding job. If you enjoy working in a school environment, helping people through their problems and simply being someone to talk to, a school counselor is a great career choice. And with the information provided here, you can decide whether or not you are on the right path to begin working as a school counselor.
