How to Become a School Counselor

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommends a 250-to-1 ratio of students to school counselors. However, the national average has reached 385 students to every counselor in the 2022-2023 school year, according to the ASCA. This increase is attributed to high caseloads due to youth mental health challenges and post-pandemic adjustments. To address these challenges, the field needs professionals to fill the gaps at various academic levels.

The role of a school counselor has expanded beyond simply offering guidance, so it’s important for individuals entering this career to learn how to engage with different types of students. Counselors may be tasked with more administrative tasks than just helping students navigate their academic and personal lives. 

Many institutions require a master’s degree to become a school counselor. Most master’s programs offer practical experiences to prepare individuals for the field. State licensure and certification may also be required. 

What Does a School Counselor Do?

Because school counselors work at elementary, secondary, or postsecondary institutions, their duties may vary based on the needs of the school and their students. Fundamentally, these education professionals guide students in their academic and social development. 

Elementary school counselor duties include:

• Collaborating with teachers, parents, and school administrators to address the student’s academic and social development 
• Meeting with students in individual or group settings
• Identifying students’ academic and social goals
• Introducing students to career options and work fundamentals

Middle school counselor duties include:

• Offering one-on-one counseling to discuss social and academic challenges
• Assisting students with the transition to high school
• Meeting with students to outline ways to manage their study, social, and decision-making skills

High school counselor duties include:

• Providing information on the college admissions process
• Hosting college visit tours
• Helping students establish short- and long-term academic and career goals
• Working with teachers to incorporate relevant career-ready coursework

Postsecondary school counselor duties include:

• Advocating for students in the college recruitment process
• Ensuring that underrepresented groups receive equal access to career information
• Informing students and their families about their educational and privacy rights
• Completing professional development to stay abreast of career trends

Steps to Become a School Counselor

A career in school counseling generally begins with earning a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as sociology or education, before pursuing an advanced degree. 

1. Earn a Degree

A master’s degree is typically the minimum education required to become a school counselor. Each state’s board of education publishes the requirements for school counselors. Psychology, education, social work, special education, and counseling are some of the most common master’s degree majors. Some topics these programs cover include ways to conduct individual counseling sessions, how to interact with other professionals and students’ families, and how to analyze data to help school-aged individuals.

The ASCA has outlined topics that must be included in an advanced-level degree program for counselors working in public schools. Some of these topics include:

• Career development
• Individual counseling
• Group counseling
• Human growth and development
• Professional orientation
• Social and cultural foundations
• Supervised practicum

2. Develop Key Skills

Aside from earning an advanced degree, school counselors need a strong set of specific and fundamental qualities. Counselors with these traits are ideal for this field:

• Interpersonal skills. School counselors interact with a range of people, so they should demonstrate strong verbal, written, and listening skills to express ideas and gain information.  

• Analytical skills. Part of a counselor’s job is to review students’ academic records (e.g., attendance) and evaluate them against personal and professional goals. 

• Compassion. This trait is needed when offering advice to students who are in stressful or difficult circumstances. 

3. Gain Work Experience

Internships can help undergraduate students who are working toward careers as school counselors gain real world experience. Alternatively, if being a school counselor is a career change, most master’s degree programs include a project or supervised experience so that students can gain practical experience before entering the workforce. Internships are also available for graduate students. 

4. Earn a Certification or License

One way to increase skills and potential career opportunities is to earn a professional certification. Each state has its own regulations regarding the credentials required to work as a school counselor. They may be called licenses, endorsements, or certifications, depending on the state. Some employers require prospective school counselors to have classroom experience, pass a criminal background check, or be certified before seeking employment. 

The American School Counselor Association offers an ASCA-Certified School Counselor certification for candidates who have passed the Professional School Counselor Praxis Test and submitted a portfolio. Another eligibility pathway is for individuals who have completed their Recognized American School Counselor Association Model Program (RAMP) designation within the last five years, passed the Praxis, and submitted a section of the ASCA portfolio. 

Prospective school counselors may also pursue a National Board for Certified Counselors’ National Certified Counselor certification. Candidates must have a counseling degree from an accredited school, a professional endorsement, supervised work experience, and pass an examination. 

Salary and Job Outlook for School Counselors

There were approximately 360,800 school and career counselors as of 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Of the types of employers that hire these professionals, local elementary and secondary schools are at the top of the list. The BLS reports that 39% of counselors work in this sector, along with state and local postsecondary (24%); private postsecondary schools (14%); private elementary and secondary schools (6%); and other private educational services (5%). 

Salary ranges for school counselors also vary depending on the sector where they work. The median salary for school and career counselors and advisors was about $61,710 as of May 2023 according to the BLS. The top industries and approximate 2023 median salaries were as follows:

• Local elementary and secondary schools: $73,520
• Private elementary and secondary schools: $60,700
• Other private educational services: $56,670
• State and local junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools: $55,070
• Private junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools: $51,760

The BLS projects that positions for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors will increase by 4% between 2023 to 2033.

Launch Your School Counselor Career With a Master’s Degree

On the road to becoming a school counselor, earning a master’s degree is usually the minimum education requirement, along with state credential standards such as licensure. With an undergraduate background in education or counseling, individuals who want to advance their careers usually take the next step of earning a master’s degree. 

Wilson College Online’s Master of Special Education program prepares bachelor’s degree holders to work in PK–12 grades. The 10-course curriculum addresses topics such as parent conferencing, positive behavior support, transition planning, disability studies, and classroom assessments. Students can complete the program in as little as 18 months. 

Earning a master’s degree in special education prepares graduates to work as a school counselor as well as other related careers, such as educational consultant, instructional coordinator, behavior analyst, and educational diagnostician.

Learn how Wilson College Online’s Master of Special Education program can help you build the skills for a career in education with comprehensive coursework aimed at fueling positive change.

Recommended Readings

4 Special Education Careers

5 Child Care Careers With a Degree in Education

Nonteaching Jobs in Education

Sources:

American School Counselor Association, ASCA-Certified School Counselor

American School Counselor Association, School Counselor Roles and Ratios

American School Counselor Association, State/Territory Certification Requirements

American School Counselor Association, The School Counselor and Career Development

American School Counselor Association, The School Counselor and Student Postsecondary Recruitment

Education Week, “The School Counselor-Student Ratio: There’s Good News and Bad News”  

Indeed, How to Become a School Counselor (With Duties and Salary)

Indeed, Learn About Being a School Counselor

National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc., National Certified Counselor Certification

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, School and Career Counselors and Advisors