How to Become a School Counselor Pursuing Online Programs?

School counselors play a valuable role in students’ lives by helping students grow and develop. They have the opportunity to work with students in whatever grade level they wish to assist, from elementary school to middle school to high school. School counselors can also work in colleges. For a cost effective route to becoming a school counselor, you have the option to enroll in programs online to earn your master’s degree in the field. We’ve put together this guide so you can know how to become a school counselor and can prepare to fulfill school counselor requirements.

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What Does a School Counselor Do?

School counselors work with students in both private and public school settings. Previously, school counselors were referred to as guidance counselors, but there has been an effort to change the terminology to school counselors by the American School Counselor Association as school counselor serves as a better description of the role.

School counselors aid students in making decisions that will promote a healthy and successful future, both in terms of professional endeavors and personal relationships.

School counselors communicate with teachers, faculty, and students to ensure that students have whatever resources they need to do their best. Counselors may have cases where they work with troubled students to get them back on the right path, as well as help students with disabilities.

For students who are looking for assistance in determining their future career plans, school counselors can play an impactful role in providing students with information about colleges, financial aid, and even job prospects.

How to Become a School Counselor

To become a school counselor in America, you must earn a license to practice. But first, you’ll need undergraduate and graduate degrees in order to take the exam.

The steps typically go as follows:

Earn a bachelor’s degree: You begin by earning a bachelor’s degree in a field like psychology, counseling, or another related subject.

Earn a master’s degree: Fulfill state requirements by obtaining a master’s degree in school counseling or a similar subject.

Fulfill internship requirements: Your master’s degree program will likely consist of an internship or clinical experience in order to graduate, which may also be a requirement of that state in which you want to practice.

Pass state exams: Pass state exams required to earn a license.

Apply for jobs: Once you are licensed within your state, you can apply for open school counseling positions at the school of your choice.

However, it’s important to note that the process is different across countries. For example, in the United Kingdom, you’ll need to earn a qualification in counseling and get membership with an accredited register. During the process, you’ll need to obtain work experience in the field, which can include volunteer work.

The Option for Online Master’s Programs

If you want a flexible and cost effective way to earn your master’s degree, you can choose to enroll at  an online institution. When taking this route, be sure to select a school that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards.

Online master’s degree programs in counseling vary in terms of their required credits and coursework depending on the school you attend and what you choose to be your area of specialization. That being said, here’s an idea of what you can expect to learn:

• Research methods and data analysis
• Field experience
• Counseling ethics
• Student affairs

By choosing to study your master’s degree online, you will be able to work either part-time or full-time, study from wherever you are, and cut down on costs.

Typical Online Admissions Requirements

It’s important to plan for your application in advance and find out what is required by your online master’s program. Some of the common requirements for admission include:

• The application: Each school opens their application at a certain point in time and has a deadline associated with it.
• Bachelor’s degree: In order to get a master’s degree, you’ll first need to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program.
• Resume: Some schools may want to see what professional experience you have which can be showcased by your resume or CV.
• Letters of recommendation: Each school varies in the number of letters of recommendations they want. These letters will come from previous professors or employees, for example.
• Test Scores: Depending on the school, you may be required to submit GRE test scores (or TOEFL/IELTS if you’re an international student).
• Transcripts: Your master’s degree program will likely want a copy of your transcripts from your undergraduate degree, which shows all the classes you took and grades you received.
• Personal statement: A personal statement gives you the chance to provide the admissions committee with extra information about the chosen topic. In some cases, the school may leave the personal statement open for you to decide what to write about or provide you with a selection of choices.

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How Long Does it Take to Become a School Counselor?

The journey to become a school counselor will depend on the choices you make. But, generally, a master’s degree takes one to two years to complete, as a full-time student. This is on top of your four years spent earning a bachelor’s degree, and whatever time you spent outside of your academic degree programs working in the field.

Closing Thoughts

Knowing how to become a school counselor is just the beginning. If this is the career you want, then you’ll have to get started with your education, or continue your academic journey to make it to the exam stage (given you’re in America). In the United States, the average salary for a school counselor is reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to be $58,120 per year. Additionally, it is a strong career choice as it is expected to grow much faster than average at 8% between 2019 and 2029.

Depending where you are in the world, be sure to check out what requirements are necessary to work as a school counselor.

The role will be rewarding and exciting, no matter where you are working.