MS in Career Counseling
Career counselors are also known as vocational counselors or employment counselors. They serve as coaches, confidants, and advisors to their clients who are interested in exploring career opportunities. They help people examine their interests, styles, and abilities to find and enter the profession that best suits them. Education requirements for career counselors vary by state. The job setting typically includes private practices, schools, and offices.
Steps Toward an MS in Career Counseling
To become a career counselor, requirements vary significantly by state. Successful students typically complete the following steps:
- Earn proper undergraduate degree (requirements vary by state). Common undergraduate degrees include Bachelor of Science programs in education, psychology or human services.
- Earn proper graduate degree (requirements vary by state) from an accredited institution like Purdue, Liberty, or Walden University. Typically includes completing a Master of Counseling degree with a concentration in vocational or career counseling.
- Obtain proper licensure (requirements vary by state). At the moment, career counseling is an unregulated field, but most members of the profession are licensed in their state of business as a professional counselor.
- Participate in continuing education. There is no formal regulatory board for this profession, although many professionals embark on continuing education courses in counseling or psychology.
Note that some states require teaching certification or 1-2 years of teaching experience in order to be a certified counselor. For more information, visit the American School Counselor Association.
My Degree and What It’s Good For
A person with this degree works with a variety of patients with chronic counseling needs or emergent crises. to A career counselor’s job typically requires them to:
- Evaluate client’s education, training, work history, interests, skills, and personality traits.
- Arrange for aptitude and achievement tests to help clients make beneficial career decisions.
- Coach clients through vocational search and recommend positions that best fit client.
- Counsel people experiencing job loss, job stress, or other career transition issues.
Job prospects are favorable due to job openings outnumbering graduates from counseling programs, particularly in rural areas. Annual salary varies within the profession based on specific type of job, location, and experience. For more on your earning potential, please visit our salary outlook for counselors page.
Online MS in Career Counseling Programs
- University of the Rockies: MA in Psychology: Career Counseling and Management
Closely Related Programs
The following degrees are closely related to a Masters in Career Counseling degree, often allowing you to pursue a career in this field or others: