MA in Psychology – 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. Job settings typically include private practices, schools, and offices.

Steps Toward an MA in Psychology – Career Counseling

To become a career counselor, requirements vary significantly by state. Successful students typically complete the following steps:

1. Earn proper undergraduate degree (requirements vary by state). Common undergraduate degrees include Bachelor of Science programs in education, psychology or human services.
2. Earn proper graduate degree (requirements vary by state) from an accredited institution like Purdue, Liberty, or Walden University. Typically includes completing an MS or an MA in psychology with a concentration in vocational or career counseling.
3. 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.
4. 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.

The most common place you will find career counselors is in high school, as students begin to embark on deciding their future careers. But counselors can work with clients at any stage of their career. This can include college counselors helping students with their major or what jobs to look for with their degree, while other counselors may help laid-off workers transition into new employment. Others might even work at a corporate center of a company, helping current employees find ways to work themselves up within the company.

My Degree and What It’s Worth

This degree allows you to offer evidence based advice to clients in career transitions, or those who are choosing a career path for the first time. A career counselor is typically responsible for the following job duties:

• 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.

Depending on the specific job, location, and experience, annual salary varies for career counselors. Please visit our salary information page for more details.

Online MA in Psychology – Career Counseling Degree Programs

• University of the Rockies: MA in Psychology – Career Counseling

Closely Related Programs

The following degrees are closely related to a master’s degree program in career counseling psychology, often allowing you to pursue a career in this field or others:

• MS in Applied Psychology
• MS in Career Counseling
• MS in Counseling Psychology
• MS in Leadership Coaching Psychology
• MA in Professional Counseling