Question: I am considering a career in school counseling but I am having trouble finding programs in my area. How do I find them and determine which is the best for me?
- Kasey of Hull, Massachusetts
Answer: School counselors usually have to complete a graduate (or master’s) program in order to become certified to start working. These standards vary from state to state, with California among the most lenient, requiring only an undergraduate’s degree. You can check on your state’s guidelines here.
National associations also help to keep standards high by requiring that all counselors belonging to them (which include a great percentage of those currently employed) hold master’s degrees and a minimum number of logged hours of personal experience or apprenticeship. Some of the most revered are American School Counselor Association, National Board for School Counselors, and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
CACREP has a list of campuses with counseling programs that have earned accreditation, some of which even include online and distance-learning formats. Check out that list of programs here. Be sure to visit the website for programs that have lost accredited standing. If you have some time before beginning your degree, check out the list of programs currently vying for accreditation.
Sometimes the best knowledge comes from someone already employed in the field. Contact a school and ask to speak to the guidance counselor. You will probably find that they are more than willing to help. That’s the kind it takes for the job!
Best of luck!
Think I’ve missed something that could help Kasey? Share your knowledge. Post a comment.
Q & A
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
You were super thorough, Rachel! Good job!
As i was taking a practice PRAXIS test today (the real one is on Thursday afternoon), one of the sentence correction questions reminded me of this issue: "Assigned to handle both the academic and emotional challenges from [correction: of] children, counselors find themselves stretched by caseloads that average 477 students."
School counselors are a vital part of a school's success, offering support to students that teachers may be too busy or not equipped to provide. Schools work best when all the necessary components are in place--such as counselors, teachers, special education providers, custodians--so that each worker can focus on their particular specialty.
You are so right about the relationship between school counselors and teachers. Neither is meant as a replacement for the other - just as an added level of support coming from different angles.
Good luck on your test on Thursday! I am sure that you are prepared and will do great!
Post a Comment