Earn a Degree in School Counseling and
Help Students Succeed

School counselors and school psychologists have a lot in common, most notably their focus on helping students achieve academic and personal success. Professionals in both careers collaborate with teachers, parents, the community and the students themselves to promote a supportive learning environment. School counselors and school psychologists must be prepared to serve students of differing aptitudes, interests, cultural backgrounds and family situations as well as those with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, or behavioral problems.

If you are considering a degree in school counseling or school psychology, you will also want to look at the differences between these two careers. Each job has unique day-to-day responsibilities, distinct requirements for education and licensing, and differing employment environments. In addition to the general job duties described above, a school counselor may also:

• Work specifically with students in a particular age group, such as elementary school, secondary school or post-secondary school
• Help students evaluate and develop their academic and career goals through counseling sessions, testing and career information programs
• Implement preventive services or intervention programs to help students cope with an array of issues, including social, behavioral, family, academic, or drug and alcohol problems.

School psychologists perform many of the same job duties, but they may also train teachers and parents in behavioral management, effective learning and crisis management in addition to helping evaluate the effectiveness of academic and other services at the school and district level. Usually, school psychologists work at the early childhood, elementary or secondary education levels, in schools, clinics, private practice and state agencies.

A Master's Degree in School Counseling is a Must

In order to effectively address the academic, personal, social, and career development of students, a professional school counselor should possess at least a master's degree in school counseling, according to the American School Counselor Association. An accredited master's degree in school counseling is usually awarded upon completion of 48 to 60 semester hours of graduate coursework, including supervised clinical fieldwork in counseling.

In most states, a school psychologist must possess either a specialist graduate degree (EdS) or a more in-depth doctoral-level degree (PhD or PsyD) from a program approved by the National Association of School Psychologists. Both degrees consist of significant coursework in both education and psychology as well as a one-year full-time internship program.

Professional Licensing Requires a Degree in School Counseling

Although licensing and certification requirements for school counselors vary from state to state, most states require a master's degree in school counseling as well as state-level certification. Sometimes a separate license or additional teaching experience is required to practice as a school counselor; be sure to check the requirements of the state in which you plan to work.

School psychologists, too, must be certified or licensed by the state in which they work. They may also be licensed at a national level by the National School Psychology Certification Board. The national certification is currently recognized by 29 states, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A Degree in School Counseling Improves Your Job Prospects

Due to increases in postsecondary student enrollment and expansion of counselors' job responsibilities, the career outlook is good for those with a degree in school counseling. With further graduate education, school counselors may seek higher-level work as counselor educators, counseling psychologists, school administrators, or employees in a state department of education. School psychologists with appropriate specialist or doctoral degrees can also expect a fairly good job market, as schools place increasing focus on solving mental health and behavioral issues that affect learning.

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