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Vocational Counseling

Become a Vocational Counselor.

Vocational counselors, also referred to as career counselors or employment counselors, provide educational and career counseling to individuals and groups of people of all ages and backgrounds—from high school students to ex-convicts. These counselors apply interest and aptitude assessment tests, personality tests, interviews, counseling sessions and other methods to narrow down good career fields that would best suit their clients.

Vocational counselors perform the following duties:

  • Explore a client's job history, education, training, interests, skills and personality to evaluate individual career potential
  • Administer personality, interest, career and aptitude assessment tests
  • Advise clients on college, trade and technical schools
  • Provide support and information for people who are jobless
  • Help clients secure job shadowing opportunities, internships and apprenticeships
  • Help people develop their job search skills
  • Assist clients to apply for jobs
  • Help people network through interest groups within the community
  • Strengthen and edit resumes
  • Conduct practice interviews with individuals
  • Guide individuals through common career etiquette land mines, such negotiating salary or asking for a raise
  • Operate career centers and career information programs within the community

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Work Environment

Vocational counselors are most commonly employed at high schools, colleges and universities. Others run private consulting practices, community programs such as job fairs, or private programs such as those in rehabilitation clinics. A growing number of vocational counselors are employed within state and local governments, where they assist with unemployment and welfare programs.

Training

A bachelor's degree in psychology is typically needed to work as a counseling aide; however, the majority of vocational counselors have earned a master's degree in career or vocational counseling, or in psychology.

In addition, many employers require that counselors become licensed in vocational counseling (licensing is a must if you want to operate a private practice). Certification is available through the Center for Credentialing Education or the National Board for Certified Counselors. It is also offered through select state government agencies.

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Did You Know?

  • Life coaching is a breakout career that combines career counseling, psychology, leadership training and mentoring. Life coaches administer career assessment tests and help clients with behavior modification (to overcome fears such as public speaking), goal setting and other services that their clients might need.
  • Experienced life coaches command high salaries for their work, and unlike professions in similar fields, life coaching has no training standard or required certification process (although the best life coaches have a strong background in career counseling, psychology and sociology).

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Walden University

At Walden, you'll benefit not only from our unique distance learning delivery models, but from the personal attention of our world-class faculty, and from a highly customized program that is directly related to your career goals.

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Salary Data

According to Salary.com, vocational counselors earn a median salary of $54,443 annually, with half of career counselors in the US earning between $47,443 and $60,574.

In addition, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that demand for vocational counselors is expected to grow faster than the national average, as multiple career changes become increasingly common and workers are educated on their counseling options. State and local governments will also employ more career counselors to consult and assist with welfare and other aid programs.