Overview of Degree Programs to Become a College Counselor

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Are you seriously thinking of earning a college counselor degree? College counselors are responsible for counseling students through a couple of the most pertinent decisions that they have to make in life. A college counselor can refer to an expert who works in career services, admissions, placement counseling or academic counseling or to professionals who offer specialized psychological services. Basically, a counselor provides an individualized attention to students who are in the midst of making pertinent decisions about which courses, financial aid or job to choose.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the employment of school counselors with a college counselor degree is expected to rise twelve percent (12%) from 2012 to 2022. The rising school enrollments should lead to employment growth of college counselors.

Education

One does not need to have a specific degree in order to become a college counselor, but a considerable amount of college counselors have earned a degree in psychology. Then, college counselors who have earned a degree in another discipline may have an advantage when counsel students who are thinking of pursuing a career path or education that is related to the counselor’s discipline. For instance, college counselors who have a degree in biology may find it really easy to counsel a pre-med student. The counselors who provide services in the area of psychology typically must possess advanced degrees like Masters, PhD, or PsyD.

Training

A college counselor who does not provide formal psychological care generally receives on-the-job training from the institution that has employed them through continuing education seminars and orientation. School counselors who provide psychological care are also required to complete training in psychology – this typically involves a minimum of 2 to 3 years of study and also entails a supervised practicum where students get to practice under the supervision of licensed professionals.

Certification and/or Licensing

No professional license or certification is necessary for college counselors who don’t provide formal psychological care, though some counselors seek to get a license from the National Association of School Psychologists or the National Board for Certified Counselors. But, counselors that offer formal psychological care will need to obtain a state license in order to practice.

Necessary Qualities and Skills

Since the major part of a college counselor’s job is to build a rapport with students in order to make them comfortable enough to speak freely about their life’s aspirations and goals. Counselor will need to have superb communication skills and the following qualities:

•Strong speaking skills – this is essential to delivering clear message.
•Great listeners in order to understand the concerns and problems of students.
•Compassionate and patient, as many students often faces difficult and stressful situations.
•Eager and ready to assist in nurturing students through this vital period in their lives.

A college counselor most times makes career advancements by simply getting a higher level of responsibility within his or her employing institution. A lot of college counselor start by providing part-time or temporary services, and their role often evolves into becoming high administrative or supervisory position within the institution.