Q: Can a school counselor become an LPC?

Yes, a school counselor can become an LPC. To become an LPC, a school counselor must complete the requirements for licensure by their state board, which typically includes additional coursework and clinical hours beyond the educational requirements for school counselor licensing.

Q: Can you be a counselor without a degree?

Yes, you can become a counselor without a degree. While some counseling careers require degrees at the bachelor, master, or doctorate levels, there is a way to work as a counselor without a degree.

Q: Do counselors make good money?

Yes, counselors make good money. The average salary for a counselor is around $56,310 per year ($25.54 an hour). The range in earning for a counselor, however, can range from as low as $16 an hour to as high as $42 an hour -- factors such as experience, type of counselor, and location all impact earning potential.

Q: How many years does it take to be a counselor?

It takes between two to six years to become a counselor. Paths to a counselor. No degree, at least three+ years of experience working and being mentored/learning the practice. Complete practicum and/or internship hours. Gain real-life experience in the field. Peer counselor Life skills counselor Drug and alcohol counselor Complete a four-year bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree is typically required for most counseling professions. Complete a six-year master's degree program in counseling. Although not always required, online master's in counseling degree programs help aspiring counselors obtain the professional skills and knowledge necessary for practice. Obtain counseling licensure and/or certification. Meet the specific requirements for your state. The process of obtaining licensure varies from state to state, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the terms.

Question 1

How long does it take to become a Counselor?

Accepted Answer

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a counselor. That is the time it takes to learn specific counselor skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 5 to 7 years years to become a counselor.

Question 2

Can a school counselor become an LPC?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a school counselor can become an LPC. To become an LPC, a school counselor must complete the requirements for licensure by their state board, which typically includes additional coursework and clinical hours beyond the educational requirements for school counselor licensing.

Question 3

Can you be a counselor without a degree?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can become a counselor without a degree. While some counseling careers require degrees at the bachelor, master, or doctorate levels, there is a way to work as a counselor without a degree.

Question 4

Counselor vs Therapist

Accepted Answer

A counselor is someone who tends to offer superficial or more short-term mental health care, while a therapist provides longer, more customized mental health treatment plans.

There is a lot of overlap between counselors and therapists since both professions occupy much of the same professional space. Even within the industry, you can find the terms used interchangeably in some contexts.

Question 5

Do counselors make good money?

Accepted Answer

Yes, counselors make good money. The average salary for a counselor is around $56,310 per year ($25.54 an hour).

The range in earning for a counselor, however, can range from as low as $16 an hour to as high as $42 an hour -- factors such as experience, type of counselor, and location all impact earning potential.

Question 6

How many years does it take to be a counselor?

Accepted Answer

It takes between two to six years to become a counselor.

Paths to a counselor.

No degree, at least three+ years of experience working and being mentored/learning the practice. Complete practicum and/or internship hours. Gain real-life experience in the field.
- Peer counselor
- Life skills counselor
- Drug and alcohol counselor
Complete a four-year bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree is typically required for most counseling professions.
Complete a six-year master's degree program in counseling. Although not always required, online master's in counseling degree programs help aspiring counselors obtain the professional skills and knowledge necessary for practice.
Obtain counseling licensure and/or certification. Meet the specific requirements for your state. The process of obtaining licensure varies from state to state, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the terms.

Question 7

How to become a counselor without a degree

Accepted Answer

To become a counselor without a degree, follow these steps:

Figure out which type of counseling that doesn't require a degree you want to pursue; these include peer counselors, life skills counselors, and drug and alcohol counselors
Do some research on available certification options; these can be obtained through universities or professional institutions
Determine which certification program fits your needs
Think about working or volunteering in a related position during your certification program
After completing your certification, apply to entry-level counseling positions in your field

Question 8

What are careers in counseling psychology?

Accepted Answer

Private practice psychologists, school counselors, or clinical social workers are careers in counseling psychology. Counseling psychology focuses on how people function both individually and within the context of interpersonal relationships with family, friends, and coworkers.

Question 9

What is the difference between a counselor and a therapist?

Accepted Answer

The main difference between a counselor and a therapist has to do with education, training, licenses, and treatment plans.

Counselors and therapists are umbrella terms that often refer to mental health professionals who offer counseling or therapy. It's not uncommon to refer to counseling treatments as therapy and vice-versa.

Question 10

What is a good starting salary for a Counselor?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a counselor is $28,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a counselor in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for counselors is $42,602, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a counselor can vary by state.

Question 11

What counselors get paid the most?

Accepted Answer

The counselors that get paid the most depend on the type of counselor and location of practice; however, school counselors are some of the highest-paid counselors.

They work with students on developing educational goals, devising steps to move toward a rewarding career, or creating strategies to cope with personal issues. The average salary of a school counselor is $58,120 a year.

Question 12

Can a counselor make 100k?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a counselor. While possible, it is unlikely to earn over $100k as a counselor because even higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $64,000 per year. The average annual salary for a counselor is $42,602.

Question 13

Do counselors get paid well?

Accepted Answer

No, counselors are not typically paid well. Counselors earn around $56,310 per year or $25.54 an hour. The range in earning for a counselor, however, can range from as low as $16 an hour to as high as $42 an hour -- factors such as educational experience, type of counselor, and location all impact earning potential.

Question 14

What are the career opportunities for counselors?

Accepted Answer

There are many career opportunities for counselors. The important part is knowing what you wish to specialize in and focusing as much study and hands-on experience in that area.

After earning a bachelor's degree and obtaining an entry-level position, you can advance your career in counseling by accruing clinical experience supporting clients of differing ages, gender expressions, ethnicities, and economic standing. The more people you work with, the better you will become at creating personalized treatment plans and intervention strategies.

Question 15

What are the qualifications of a counselor?

Accepted Answer

The qualifications of a counselor are education, training, and licensure or certifications. A counselor can take many forms, such as a social worker, guidance counselor, or mental health counselor.

Counselors can take many forms, but in most cases, counselors focus on one specific issue pertaining to a client for a limited amount of time.

For example, guidance counselors advise students in preparation for college or graduation from college, and drug counselors focus on a client's addiction to a specific drug in hopes of leading them into recovery. Mental health counselors see clients for specific conditions or disorders, such as depression or anxiety.

Here are more details on the qualifications of a counselor:

Education

You should study education, psychology, sociology, or social work to become a counselor. If you major in any one of these areas, it will give you the right prerequisite knowledge for the profession.

However, just be sure to take additional classes on two of these subjects, depending on which of the three you choose to major in. Nearly all counselors have obtained at least a bachelor's degree in one of these areas or a related field.

Most counseling positions require a master's degree in counseling or one of the related fields just mentioned. Obtaining a master's degree may also present you with better job opportunities and higher salaries in counseling.

There are many different kinds of counselors. Depending on what type of counselor you want to be will affect the educational and professional requirements for the role. Here are some counselor and counselor-related positions:

Substance Abuse Counselor

Substance abuse counselors specialize in addiction, recovery, and management. Social workers in this realm work with both individuals and groups in an attempt to achieve and maintain sobriety. They also seek to remedy broken aspects of an addict's life, such as personal or professional relationships.

Guidance Counselor

Guidance counselors are professionals who assist student populations with their educational development and future planning. They work in all types and levels of educational institutions, from elementary schools to universities.

Medical Social Worker

Medical social workers specialize in public health, geriatric, palliative, inpatient, or mental health care. Medical social workers can find themselves in a number of different medical settings depending on where their clients and patients are located. These can be hospitals, psychiatric facilities, outpatient clinics, community health clinics, and more.

Most medical social workers work alongside nurses, doctors, and medical specialists to provide interdisciplinary care and counseling to patients.

School Social Worker

School social workers help individuals and groups of students with mental health issues surrounding their academic life. They also help teachers, parents, and administrators support the mental well-being of students. Generally, school social workers' main goal is to make schools safer places for students and help them to feel empowered in their learning.

Community Outreach Worker

Community outreach workers typically work for a non-profit or government institution. Their aim is to improve the lives of community members by organizing events and providing services that focus on healthcare and social services for underserved groups of a community.

Foster Care Social Worker

Foster care social workers are also known as case managers. These social workers act as advocates for children in the foster care system. They also can be counselors to the foster care population of the establishment they work at. A foster care social worker's primary responsibility is the physical and emotional welfare of children.

Training for counseling

While obtaining a master's degree, most aspiring counselors get a year or two of practical training in the field through an internship program they must complete to obtain their degree.

Internship programs see them working under the supervision and guidance of an experienced counselor during counseling sessions with students, clients, or patients. They also often have to perform client or student assessments while completing their internship program.

Most counselors must obtain a certain number of clinical hours during their internship programs. For example, guidance counselors must obtain at least 600 hours of clinical experience during their internship.

Once a counselor is hired for a position, they typically receive some on-the-job training. This training may include gaining an understanding of the specific practices and protocols the facility or institution adheres to and the software and computer programs they utilize.

Counselors also can obtain training outside of their workplaces at relevant seminars and conferences. Here, any number of things may be discussed that will lead to improving their skills as a counselor.

This includes topics like specific counseling strategies and new developments in the area. They also get to meet other professionals in the field and learn about different trends in their specific field of counseling.

Certifications

Counselors can obtain many different certifications to exhibit their expertise in their particular area of counseling.

Guidance counselors must earn a state license to practice their profession and be hired by an educational institution. However, requirements for this license will vary from state to state.

Most require a master's degree and the completion of practical experience under the supervision of a professionally licensed counselor. Certain states also require candidates to pass an exam in addition to their application for licensure.

Aside from licensure, there are many certifications that can be obtained by guidance counselors. This can open them up to more senior-level roles and jobs that have higher-paying salaries.

National Certified Counselor (NCC)

This certification is offered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). It shows that a guidance counselor has the necessary skills and expertise to provide guidance counseling services.

To get this certification, candidates must have completed a master's degree program in counseling, obtained supervised counseling hours, and received a letter of recommendation. They must also pass an NBCC exam.

National Certified School Counselor (NCSC)

This is another certification offered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. To gain this certification, candidates must have already obtained their NCC certification.

They also must complete coursework in a few specialized areas of the field, as well as gain the required amount of supervised counseling hours. Candidates need to submit a letter of recommendation for this certification and pass another NBCC exam.

The Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood/School Counseling

This certification is offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). This exhibits that a guidance counselor has the professional capacity to advise students on several different topics. To get this certification, candidates must provide proof of counseling experience and pass an online test.

Licensure is a requirement for a guidance counselor in just about every state. Certifications may not be requirements for entry-level roles but can be required for higher roles in the field.

No matter the form of counseling, most states will not allow you to legally practice or accept health insurance from clients unless you are certified or have obtained a license as a counselor.

A valid state counseling license/certification serves as proof that a counseling professional has met state-determined qualification standards, including a minimum level of education and requisite hours of supervised clinical experience.

Research the licensing or certification requirements in the state in which you want to practice as a counselor. Learn how many professionally supervised and fieldwork hours are necessary in your state of interest and how and where you can fulfill them. Find out the details about licensing or certification exams, including costs, study guides, and registration.

Question 16

What is QPR training?

Accepted Answer

QPR training, or Question, Persuade, and Refer training, is training for professionals or volunteers involved in suicide prevention. The training helps these individuals to properly communicate with people who might be at risk for committing suicide.

Question 17

What is a licensed professional counselor?

Accepted Answer

A licensed professional counselor is a professional that looks at mental health problems as functional problems to be solved for each patient.

A licensed professional counselor is a specially trained mental health worker who evaluates, provides information, and guides clients in problem-solving, and decision-making.

Question 18

How do you put "counselor" on a resume?

Accepted Answer

The best way to include work as a counselor on your resume is to clarify what type of counselor, add certifications if applicable, and expand your work history section experience. If you are going to use "counselor" on your resume, the most important information is to explain what kind.

Question 19

What should a counseling resume include?

Accepted Answer

A counseling resume should include your contact information, education, certifications, and specialty. Many employers have a desired level of experience or are looking for specializations. Start by reading the job announcement to see whether you qualify.

Question 20

What should a mental health counselor put on a resume?

Accepted Answer

A mental health counselor should put professional licenses and certifications on a resume. Go into detail in the work experience section to give specific examples of which populations you have served.

Question 21

What should a school counselor's resume include?

Accepted Answer

A school counselor's resume should include your contact information, education, certifications, skills, and work experience. A hiring manager will evaluate your application to see if you are qualified for the position and a good fit for the school.

Frequently asked questions about counselors

Questions About Becoming a Counselor