School counselor
A school counselor is a certified/licensed professional that provides academic, career, college readiness, and social-emotional support for all students. There are school counselor positions within each level of schooling (elementary, middle, high, and college). By developing and following a school counseling program, school counselors are able to provide students of all ages with the appropriate support and guidance needed for overall success.[1]
Types of school counselors[edit]
Elementary school counselor[edit]
Elementary school counselors provide[21] academic, career, college access, and personal and social competencies and planning to all students, and individual and group counseling for some students and their families to meet the developmental needs of young children K–6.[22] Transitions from pre-school to elementary school and from elementary school to middle school are an important focus for elementary school counselors. Increased emphasis is placed on accountability for helping close achievement and opportunity gaps at the elementary level as more school counseling programs move to evidence-based work with data and specific results.[23][24]
School counseling programs that deliver specific competencies to all students help to close achievement and opportunity gaps.[25] To facilitate individual and group school counseling interventions, school counselors use developmental, cognitive-behavioral, person-centered (Rogerian) listening and influencing skills, systemic, family, multicultural,[26] narrative, and play therapy theories and techniques.[21][27] Sink & Stroh (2003) released a research study showing the effectiveness of elementary school counseling programs in Washington state.[28]
Middle school counselor[edit]
Middle school counselors provide school counseling curriculum lessons[21] on academic, career, college access, and personal and social competencies, advising and academic/career/college access planning to all students and individual and group counseling for some students and their families to meet the needs of older children/early adolescents in grades 7 and 8.[29]
Middle School College Access curricula have been developed to assist students and their families before reaching high school. To facilitate the school counseling process, school counselors use theories and techniques including developmental, cognitive-behavioral, person-centered (Rogerian) listening and influencing skills, systemic, family, multicultural,[26] narrative, and play therapy. Transitional issues to ensure successful transitions to high school are a key area including career exploration and assessment with seventh and eighth grade students.[30][31] Sink, Akos, Turnbull, & Mvududu released a study in 2008 confirming the effectiveness of middle school comprehensive school counseling programs in Washington state.[32]
High school counselor[edit]
High school counselors provide[21] academic, career, college access, and personal and social competencies with developmental classroom lessons and planning to all students, and individual and group counseling for some students and their families to meet the developmental needs of adolescents (Hatch & Bowers, 2003, 2005, 2012).[33] Emphasis is on college access counseling at the early high school level as more school counseling programs move to evidence-based work with data and specific results[34] that show how school counseling programs help to close achievement, opportunity, and attainment gaps ensuring all students have access to school counseling programs and early college access/affordability/admission activities.[35] The breadth of demands high school counselors face, from educational attainment (high school graduation and some students' preparation for careers and college) to student social and mental health, has led to ambiguous role definition.[36] Summarizing a 2011 national survey of more than 5,330 middle school and high school counselors, researchers argued: "Despite the aspirations of counselors to effectively help students succeed in school and fulfill their dreams, the mission and roles of counselors in the education system must be more clearly defined; schools must create measures of accountability to track their effectiveness; and policymakers and key stakeholders must integrate counselors into reform efforts to maximize their impact in schools across America".[37]
Transitional issues to ensure successful transitions to college, other post-secondary educational options, and careers are a key area.[38] The high school counselor helps students and their families prepare for post-secondary education including college and careers (e.g. college, careers) by engaging students and their families in accessing and evaluating accurate information on what the National Office for School Counselor Advocacy calls the eight essential elements of college and career counseling: (1) College Aspirations, (2) Academic Planning for Career and College Readiness, (3) Enrichment and Extracurricular Engagement, (4) College and Career Exploration and Selection Processes, (5) College and Career Assessments, (6) College Affordability Planning, (7) College and Career Admission Processes, and (8) Transition from High School Graduation to College Enrollment.[39] Some students turn to private college admissions advisors but there is no research evidence that private college admissions advisors have any effectiveness in assisting students attain selective college admissions.
Lapan, Gysbers & Sun showed correlational evidence of the effectiveness of fully implemented school counseling programs on high school students' academic success.[40] Carey et al.'s 2008 study showed specific best practices from high school counselors raising college-going rates within a strong college-going environment in multiple USA-based high schools with large numbers of students of non-dominant cultural identities.
Education, certification, training, & accreditation[edit]
In the United States, a master's degree in counseling, school counseling, or related fields is required to become a school counselor. A few states may require additional training and/or certification to be eligible for employment. However, all public school counselors must receive a state government issued credential in order to practice counseling.[53] Obtaining certification/licensure requires a master's degree, an internship and/or practicum experience with a licensed school counselor, and completion of either a state or national test.[54] A few states may require counselors to have classroom teaching experience prior to becoming a school counselor.[53]
Those wanting to pursue a career in school counseling should ensure that their university program maintains the appropriate accreditation. In the United States, the largest accreditation body for Counselor Education/School Counseling programs is the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).[55] International Counselor Education programs are accredited through a CACREP affiliate, the International Registry of Counselor Education Programs (IRCEP).
The education of school counselors around the world varies based on the laws and cultures of countries and the historical influences of their educational and credentialing systems and professional identities related to who delivers academic, career, college readiness, and personal/social information, advising, curriculum, and counseling and related services.[56]
Additional information is needed to review the necessary requirements for other countries.
Salary, benefits, and expected job growth[edit]
In 2021, the median pay for school counselors in the United States was $60,510 annually or $29.09 per hour. But, a school counselor's salary can range anywhere between $37,550 to $98,190 according the most recent report completed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.[53]
Most State Education Boards require that school districts offer school counselors health, dental, and vision insurance. Additionally, school counselors can receive retirement plans as well as professional development assistance.[57][58] Lastly, school counselors enjoy the same vacation time as students, meaning counselors receive time off for each holiday that falls within the school calendar as well as a summer vacation each year.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the school counselor position to grow 10% between 2021 and 2031; meaning there will be an additional 32,000 job openings within the next 10 years.[53]
Additional information is needed to report on worldwide salary, benefits, and expected job growth statistics.