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Becoming a high school counselor in the US requires a master’s degree and meeting state-specific regulations, which can vary. A degree in education, psychology, social work, or sociology can help, and programs should focus on counseling in a school setting. State requirements should also be considered, and some supervised work may be necessary.
The requirements for becoming a high school counselor can vary depending on the state in which the person lives and wants to work. In the US, each state has different regulations and must be researched separately, and those planning to move from one state to another at some future point may need to meet additional requirements. However, there are still some general statements that can be made about the type of education needed by the person who would like to become a high school counselor.
First, most people should expect to complete master’s work before they can be certified in the state in which they will be working. Options in the bachelor’s program may vary. Some people recommend getting a four-year degree in education, psychology, social work, or sociology. Any of these degrees can help in the easy transition of the person who wants to become a high school counselor to master’s work. Psychology or social work may be better choices, but the most practical suggestion is to look at school counseling master’s programs and determine the minimum requirements for entry into one. Choose the majors that are most likely to win favor when it comes to applying for graduate school.
There are several names under which high school or master’s counselor programs may be offered. This includes student services, school counseling, student development and student personnel services. In some states, degrees in psychology or child psychology may be acceptable. Alternatively, some school counselors may hold a Ph.
Mainly, the main thing people should look for in a course and program is that it focus on how counseling operates in the school setting, and while students may want to become high school counselors, often they need to learn about counseling in all levels of students.
Another important thing about choosing a school at the master’s level is the question of state requirements. People are typically best served by earning their Masters or Ph.D. in the state where they plan to work. This is a way to ensure that the school is more supportive of the requirements needed to gain postgraduate training, licensure, and/or accreditation. On the other hand, sometimes a program elsewhere is just too tempting to resist. In that case, discuss the school with the state licensing agency to see what items need to be added to a program to complete it. People can always pursue licensure in multiple states as well.
There is usually some supervised work that must take place after completing the master’s degree and before accreditation is granted. This can vary. Some people recommend getting a “counseling/therapy” degree, which usually requires around 3000 hours of supervised practice before being licensed to counsel people. More often than not, those who want to become a high school counselor do not have to meet this requirement and can work without it because the high school therapy and counseling fields are seen as something different in directing.
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