School Counselor Career Guide
Reviewed by Dr. Elizabeth Brokamp, PhD, LPC, ACS, NCC, BC-TMH
Assistant Professor, Gwynedd Mercy University Counseling program
Are you interested in becoming a school counselor for an elementary, middle, or high school? School counselors (once called "school guidance counselors") are one of the most important members of the educational team and are essential to the academic and emotional success of many students.
With this guide you will learn what a school counselor is, the different types of school counseling degrees (including a master's in school counseling), the careers that can be obtained, the roles and responsibilities that they take on, as well as tips on how to become a school counselor.
- What is a School Counselor?
- School Counselor vs Guidance Counselor
- Types of School Counseling Degrees
- Types of School Counseling Careers
- School Counselor Roles and Responsibilities
- How to Become a School Counselor
- Your GMercyU Path to a Masters in School Counseling
What Is a School Counselor?
A school counselor is a key member of a student’s educational team who assists them in the areas of academic achievement as well as career and social/emotional development, with an overall goal of transforming today’s students into tomorrow’s productive and thriving adults.
School Counselor vs Guidance Counselor
In recent years, many schools have transitioned away from the name guidance counselors and are instead referring to them as school counselors. You may be wondering, “What’s the difference between a school counselor and guidance counselor?” In the past, a guidance counselor’s main purpose was to guide students down the road to college, which they did through writing letters of recommendation and sending out student’s transcripts. However, today, school counselors assist students in not only academics and post-high school planning, but also in the areas of emotional support, family intervention, and social development. These additional services have been linked to the achieving of higher grades, improved behavior, and an overall better educational experience in full.
Types of School Counseling Degrees
In order to become a School Counselor, there are two types of degrees that are usually required. First, you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, education, or in a related program. These programs are closely aligned with counseling. After a bachelor’s degree is completed, you will then need to earn a master's in school counseling.
Types of School Counseling Careers
The school counseling careers listed below may be found at elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges.
A school counselor assists students in several areas including academics, career, and emotional support. This includes building student academic schedules and individual/group counseling to determine future and personal goals. The average annual salary for a school counselor is $58,120.
A school psychologist works closely with students who are struggling with learning, behavioral, and educational disorders. This includes highly-individualized counseling, the transfer of learning, processing and coping skills, and the promotion of positive behavior, and as such, has different education requirements than a school counselor. The average annual salary for a school psychologist is $96,270.
School Counselor Roles and Responsibility
The most important role of a school counselor is to help students achieve the utmost success throughout their educational career in the smoothest manner possible. This includes helping students learn better study habits, identify their interests, and set realistic goals for the future.
Some of their day-to-day school counseling duties include:
● Ensuring students receive emotional support in the classroom
● Counseling students individually or in a group
● Being a guest speaker to a class or holding special events to bring awareness to topics, such as bullying
● Observing children in the classroom to assess strengths, weaknesses, and special needs
How to Become a School Counselor
Becoming a school counselor is challenging but meaningful work. Listed below are the steps that explain how to become a school counselor:
- Complete a bachelor’s degree in counseling, psychology, or in a related field. This allows you to learn and explore the basics of what a counseling career entails.
- Earn a master’s degree in school counseling. This is where you become an expert on counseling theories, learning and behavior disorders, and student services.
- Complete a graduate internship where you work and get experience in real-life counseling settings in order to meet certification requirements.
- Pass any required exams for certification/license. These exams will depend based on the requirements for the state in which you are looking to work.
- Earn additional certifications. Earning additional certifications will give you expertise in multiple areas of counseling and will make room for more opportunities within your career.
- Continue your education. It is important to stay up-to-date with new trends and changes within the counseling field so you are able to provide the best assistance to your patients.
Your GMercyU Path to a Masters in School Counseling
Gwynedd Mercy University offers one of the top school counseling programs in PA that will help you suceed in starting your career as a school counselor. The Online Masters in School Counseling degree program is a 60-credit, Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved school counseling certification program that aligns with the components of the American School Counseling Association’s (ASCA) National Model. Throughout the masters in school counseling program online, you’ll benefit from personal attention and mentorship provided by our experienced and caring faculty members. After graduation, you will be eligible to apply for certification as a K-12 school counselor in the State of Pennsylvania.
The program aligns with the overall goal of our Counseling Program, which also includes:
Clinical Mental Health Concentration
This concentration prepares you for a career counseling adolescents, families and adults and/or gaining the credentials to assume supervisory positions in mental health community agency settings.
Post-Master’s Certificate in School Counseling
If you hold a counseling master’s degree and want to expand into school counseling, we offer a post master's certificate program that prepares you for licensure.
Start your journey — complete the inquiry form below and an admissions counselor will reach out to you.