Overview
School counselors can play an integral role in helping students navigate their way from grade school to high school and into college or the workforce.
"It is one of the best professions in the world. We get to work with students and see them achieve," Gail M. Smith, a school counselingdirector for the Cobb County School District in Georgia, said in an interview with U.S. News.
Smith is not alone in her enthusiasm for her occupation – more than 70 percent of educational, vocational and school counselors reported that they had high job satisfaction, according to a survey by PayScale, an online salary database and careers website.
Counselors can use student interactions and performance data to spot at-risk students before they drop out and help students with disabilities receive the learning support they need to succeed. Aspiring counselors in an online school counseling master’s degree program will learn how to help students reach their full academic potential.
Course Work
Example courses
- Principles of educational and psychological testing
- Family therapy theories
- Career development and life planning
- Child and adolescent counseling
- Collaborative consultation in schools
Online school counseling master’s degree programs generally take about two years to finish, and usually require students to complete some offline components, such as an internship or practicum.
Core courses
An online master’s in school counseling includes courses that cover topics such as:
• Educational research
• Counseling techniques
• Learning and human development
• Career development
• Testing and assessment
Counselors often coordinate with administrators and teachers to help students with a variety of needs achieve their educational goals. Courses such as educational collaboration and multicultural counseling will help prepare future counselors to work successfully in a school setting.
Field experience
Most programs require students to complete a supervised internship so they can apply the theories and concepts learned in the classroom. An internship, practicum or similar experience is also generally required for state licensure or certification, which is necessary for employment in public schools, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Some programs may require students to come to campus for short-term residencies in addition to their online course work and in-person field experience.
Job Outlook and Salary
Once students complete their degree, they’re poised to enter one of the top 20 social service careers in the U.S. News Best Jobs rankings.
Licensing requirements
Public school counselors need a state-issued credential to practice, according to the BLS. A master’s degree in school counseling and an internship are typically required to receive a credential, which could be called a license, certification or endorsement, depending on the state.
Other requirements may include prior teaching experience, a teaching license or a certification from the National Board for Certified Counselors, which involves taking an exam. Specific certification requirements vary by state, and aspiring counselors are advised to research them on their own.
Potential jobs
While most counselors work in elementary, middle and high schools, others work in higher education institutions. They may advise students on classes and potential majors, for example.
Demand for school and career counselors is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations in the coming years, according to the BLS. The industry as a whole is expected to add about 31,000 jobs by 2022.
However, employment growth in educational settings could become stagnant or reduced because of state and local budget cuts.
School and career counselors earn a median salary of about $54,000, according to BLS data.
Professional associations
The American School Counselor Association offers members benefits such as networking, professional development opportunities and access to free educational resources, among other benefits.
The association’s website includes information on state licensing requirements, continuing education requirements and more. Most states host their own school counselor professional associations as well, which offer similar benefits.
Median salaries
per the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
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Source: http://docphy.com/business-industry/higher-education/online-school-counseling-masters-degree.html
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