A school counselor is also known as a guidance counselor and they are individuals that advocate the success of students in the time of their primary and secondary education. Moreover, they are also known to possess professional knowledge in order to improve the experience of students for the purpose of ensuring a safe learning arena.
Having a job as a school counselor is actually very good and if you read till the end of this content you will get more understanding.
What is the Job of a School Counselor?
The job of a school counselor majorly involves providing students with guidance and assistance in dealing with issues like personal, academic, parental, or social pressures.
Responsibilities of a School Counselor
Just as the majority of jobs have their own responsibilities school counselors have their own responsibilities and they are going to be on the list below.
- Listening to students’ worries about their personal, social, or academic lives.
- Furnishing understudies with help and direction on the most proficient method to manage issues.
- Interceding and further developing connections between understudies, guardians, and educators.
- Directing people and gatherings as required.
- Assessing students to identify their interests, aptitudes, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Working with understudies to create and further develop their range of abilities.
- Assisting students in setting career objectives.
- Helping students apply for scholarships, colleges, and jobs.
- Executing projects to battle substance misuse.
- Whenever necessary, refer students to other mental health professionals and support services.
Requirements and Skills for a School Counselor Job
Stated below are the requirements and skills needed for a school counselor job.
- Graduate or Master’s degree in school counseling.
- 2+ years of involvement as a school counselor.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Familiarity with the models, techniques, and resources of counseling.
- Ability to recognize and address the requirements of students.
- Ability to listen well and solve problems.
- Must be understanding and patient.
- The high degree of honesty.
How to Become a School Counselor
Below are the steps or procedures that you should follow in order to achieve the aspiration of being a school counselor.
Finish Your Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited program is the first step toward becoming a guidance counselor and you should think about doing your undergraduate work in a field related to education or counseling, like behavioral or social science.
However, it’s vital to take classes that will show you emotional wellness establishments, understudy administrations, learning hypotheses, and schooling systems.
Acquire a Master’s Degree
A master’s degree from an accredited program in school counseling or a related field is frequently required by states for school counselors. Also, you can anticipate learning about learning and behavioral disorders, counseling theories, counseling ethics, and human development.
Furthermore, you can earn this advanced degree in school counseling in two to three years.
Complete an Internship
Well, you might be required to complete an internship as part of your graduate education in order to gain practical experience in the field of school counseling. Moreover, having this experience can help future guidance counselors apply what they’ve learned in the classroom in real, supervised hands-on training.
Additionally, an internship can help you improve your skills as a professional school counselor in the areas of academic, career, and social and emotional counseling for students.
Pass your State Required Exams
Whenever you’ve finished a temporary job, the next stage towards starting a job as a school counselor is to pass through the tests essential for procuring your certificate.
However, for certification or licensure, many states and school counseling programs require you to pass a specific exam.
Get Additional Certifications
You might decide to acquire other certifications that assist your resume with standing apart from expected employers. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) offers a number of certificates and specializations, such as a specialist in bullying, career development, mental health, trauma and crisis, cultural competency, and college admissions, among others.
Well, these specializations can help you prepare for a variety of roles in school counseling.
Further Your Education
You may need to take continuing education classes to keep your certificate or license, depending on state requirements.
Also, you may likewise seek after proceeding with training to keep awake to date on changes and updates in the guiding and instruction handles that are intently attached to school directing.
Average Salary for School Counselors
School Counselors are important personnel in the health or medical sector and their services are very important in order to offer counsel to students in need of it.
Meanwhile, having a job in that sector will benefit you and the salary is a School Counselor is about $18.09 – $41.10 per hour, $187 – $425 per day, $773 – $1,755 per week, $2,990 – $6,791 per month, $42,226 – $95,914 per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are frequent questions about School Counselors for you to read through.
What is the role of a counselor?
Counselors work with people who are having a wide range of emotional and psychological problems to help them change for the better and feel better. Also, clients could have issues, for example, sorrow, nervousness, stress, misfortune, and relationship hardships that are influencing their capacity to oversee life.
What is the role of a school counselor today?
Counselors at schools work to ensure that all students have equal access to services and a chance at success. And also, school counselors create a school culture of success for all students as essential members of the leadership team.
What are the basic roles of the counselor?
Well, the basic duties or roles of a counselor include listening to patients, developing treatment plans, and creating coping strategies.
What are the five roles of a counselor?
- Refer students to external agencies.
- Participate in student welfare and learning support committees.
- Evaluate and improve the counseling program.
- Counsel students.
- Liaise with teachers and parents.
