A Counseling Degree: Help Yourself to Help Others

Licensing requirements for counselors vary among the states, but most require a master's degree. In some cases, however, a bachelor's degree plus certain counseling courses is sufficient. A typical master's degree program involves 48-60 hours of graduate-level study along with supervised clinical experience.
Both online and traditional degree programs are available. Courses traditionally get grouped into eight areas:

• Assessment
• Career development
• Group work
• Human growth and development
• Professional identity
• Relationships
• Research and program evaluation
• Social and cultural diversity

In addition, most students specialize in one type of counseling, such as:

• Career counseling
• Mental health
• College student affairs
• Elementary or secondary school counseling
• Gerontological counseling
• Marriage and family therapy
• Rehabilitation counseling
• Substance abuse counseling

Those interested in working in a school setting require a state-specific school counseling certification. Other counselors, in most states, need to pass an exam after completing their necessary degree program.

Counseling Employment Opportunities

Most counselors work in elementary and secondary schools, colleges, or universities. Those at elementary and secondary schools have median annual earnings of $53,750, counselors at junior colleges have median annual earnings of $48,240, and those at colleges, universities, and professional schools have median annual earnings of $41,780.
Other counselors may work at healthcare facilities, rehabilitation centers, residential care facilities, or even correctional institutions.

Benefits of a Degree in Counseling

Employment in counseling should continue to grow much faster than the national average for all occupations, particularly for certain types of counseling. Substance abuse counseling should grow by 34 percent from 2006-2016, employment in both mental health counseling and marriage and family therapy are expected to increase by 30 percent, and rehabilitation counseling jobs are predicted to grow by 23 percent.
Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Counselors

Laura Horwitz has worked as a freelance writer and researcher for seven years in both London and the US, focusing frequently on education and career advice. She has also taught English and journalism. She currently lives in Los Angeles.