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Whether you are looking to start a career in guidance or career counseling, or you want to advance your career with additional education, consider the benefits of an online degree. Gaining more education will help you increase your earning potential, provide professional growth and enter a new area of your field, and an online degree will offer the opportunity to complete your guidance or career counselor training on your own schedule—and from the privacy of your home or office.  Online Programs in Counseling Skills you've already learned from your work as a therapist or counselor will go a long way toward advancing your education. But in most states, you will need further education or certification to go into this new area. If you are just starting out and are interested in a career as a guidance counselor, you may pursue an associate's degree in counseling online before completing a bachelor's degree in psychology. Most states require counselors to have a master's degree, in addition to licensure and certification. Some states require counselors in public employment to have a master's degree; others accept a bachelor's degree with appropriate counseling courses, such as counseling psychology, social and cultural diversity, career development, vocational rehabilitation or educational development. These courses can be found in online continuing education or certificate programs. Getting an Associated Arts Degree Online An online AA degree is a great way to begin your degree program while continuing to work. You can complete your basic coursework, such as writing, biology and math classes online in a 1- or 2-year program. You can then go on to finish a bachelor's degree program in psychology or counseling. Get Ahead With an Online Bachelor's Degree To become a counselor, you will need to choose between a bachelor of science (BS) or a bachelor of arts (BA) degree in counseling. A BS focuses more on courses such as human growth and development, research methods, abnormal psychology and physiological psychology, whereas a BA may focus on sociological and cultural aspects of psychology and human development as well. You can earn both degrees online, and some online counseling degree programs even offer a combination of the bachelor's and master's degree programs in counseling, which will decrease the time you'll need to get your degree. Advancing With an Online Master's Degree Psychologists or private counselors can enhance their careers or change career paths by pursuing a second master's degree with an emphasis in educational or career counseling. An online degree may work best for you, because you can continue to work while earning a 1- or 2-year master's degree in a specialized field such as vocational rehabilitation or elementary and secondary educational counseling. Online PhD Degrees in Counseling If you are currently a practicing guidance or career counselor, an online PhD in counseling offers you the opportunity to move to the next level as a director or supervisor of counseling, a counselor educator, a counseling psychologist or school administrator. While earning an online counseling PhD, you will choose a specialty, such as child psychology, family psychology, organization psychology or health psychology. Within a specialty, a PhD holder may elect to pursue research, education, clinical practice or consultation. Some of the coursework that you will encounter in an online PhD program may include the following: - Principles and practices of vocational rehabilitation
- Career development for women
- Foundations of testing
- Disabilities and career rehabilitation
- Cultural psychology and education
- Racial identity in vocational rehabilitation
- Group counseling
You will also be required to complete a dissertation and licensure examination before practicing. Depending on the state you live in, ongoing continuing education may be required to continue to practice as a career or guidance counselor. Many of these courses are available online as well. A career as a guidance or career counselor can be very rewarding, as your clients become more confident, make good career decisions and generally improve the quality of their lives. And an online education lets you earn your degree at your own pace—and on your own time.  Guidance/Career Counseling Home
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