High School School Counselor – College Prep Counselor

How to Become a High School Counselor

Schools offer varying degree programs for becoming a high school counselor.

Some institutions require a school counselor to have a master’s degree in counseling. Degrees can be either a master of arts in counseling, a master of science in counseling, or a master of education in counseling. Students can also study psychology and minor in counseling. Often, the degree holder has taken education requirements at the master’s level for a general counseling degree, specializing in working in schools.

While most colleges do not restrict the type of undergraduate degree prospective students can hold, most prefer the degree to be in something related to counseling or education. Social work or sociology would be an effective and appropriate undergraduate degree for someone who is interested in a school counseling career. Psychology, education, or something similar would also be a good preparatory undergraduate degree.

The National Association of School Psychologists issues a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential. This credential recognizes school psychologists who meet rigorous national standards for graduate preparation and continuing professional development. Many states and school districts accept this credential when deciding on who to hire for their positions. In order to achieve this credential, seek out NASP-approved graduate programs.

To become a high school counselor, the prospective student will decide on their educational path. Earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school or program is the first and foundational step toward a career in school counseling. Then, they should decide if they want to pursue a master’s degree from a school that requires graduate entrance exam (GRE) scores as part of its admission requirements. It takes time to prepare for these exams, so that should ideally be factored into a student’s plan. According to the Princeton Review, it takes between four and 12 weeks to prepare for the GRE properly.

During the student’s master’s education, they decide on the specializations they want to take. For instance, they may focus on bilingual or multicultural counseling or primary or secondary school counseling.

To meet licensing requirements, most states require the student to have graduated with a master’s degree from a state-approved program. This typically means the state’s board of education has approved the school counseling program. Other accreditations to look for when considering school counseling degree programs are those from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Many states require graduates seeking licensure to have graduated from an accredited program, as do doctoral programs for those who wish to continue on for further graduate-level education.

School counselor degrees are available in traditional on-campus, online, and hybrid formats. While some school administrators and educators may continue on and achieve a doctorate in school counseling, psychology, or education with an emphasis on school counseling, most of these programs are master’s level.

In Florida, for instance, the University of Florida’s Counseling Education Program offers a master of education (MEd) and education specialist (EdS) dual degree. Students who complete a master’s thesis are awarded a master of arts in education (MAE) rather than a master of education. The dual degree requires 72 credits, which is completed in an average of 2.5 to three years. Students complete one practicum (an observational learning experience) and one clinical internship (supervised work experience that typically follows a practicum).

Students in the University of Florida program can choose to specialize in school counseling. That requires passing scores on the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (for practice in Florida), the Professional Education examination, and the Subject Area Examination in Guidance and Counseling K-12 before graduation from the program.

When students apply to the program, they should know which specialization track they want to pursue, because the application is specialization-specific. This program says GRE scores are given strong consideration although they are not required, but there are many colleges and universities with in-person and online counseling degree programs that do not require them at all.

Supervised Hour Requirements for High School Counselors

To become board-certified as a National Certified School Counselor (NCSC), the graduates must have completed six semester- or ten quarter-hours of supervised school field experience. Becoming board-certified is voluntary, but it goes a step further to ensure that the graduates achieve the highest standard of education and practice. If the graduates have not completed six semester hours of supervised school field experience, alternative options are:

• Three semester- or five quarter-hours of supervised school field experience and ten continuous years as a fully state-licensed school counselor
• Three semester- or five quarter-hours of supervised school field experience and an additional 120 hours of direct supervision

The supervised hour requirements vary by state. All require a master’s degree, experiential hours, and a period of supervision. Florida, for example, requires 600 clock hours of supervised internship, according to the Florida Department of Education.

CACREP, the highest level of accreditation for counselor education, accredits programs in which students complete supervised counseling practicums of a minimum of 100 clock hours over a full academic term of a minimum of ten weeks. Practicum students must complete at least 40 clock-hours of direct client work that develops their counseling skills. Supervisors must interact with the students weekly for at least one hour per week. Additionally, practicum students must join in 1.5 hours of group supervision weekly.

During an internship, students must complete 600 clock-hours of supervised work with clients within their specialty area. Internship students complete at least 240 clock-hours of direct service. During the internship, students must again interact weekly with supervisors and their groups.

Credentialing & State Licensure for High School Counselors

Different states confer different titles on licensed counselors. The most common titles are Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). Each state’s regulatory board issues each title.

State licensure application processes vary. States may specifically require the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Some states require both examinations or allow you to choose between the two.

According to the American Counseling Association, state licensure requirements for professional counselors typically include possession of a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling from an accredited institution, completion of a minimum of 3,000 hours of post-master’s degree supervised clinical experience (performed within two years), and periodic completion of continuing education credits or hours, passing a state-recognized exam.

To be a practicing school counselor in Florida, for example, the student must become certified by the State of Florida Department of Education (DOE) Division of Certification. Certification by the state differs from national certifications.

For licensure, the Florida DOE requires either a master’s or higher degree with a major in guidance and counseling or school counseling that includes a minimum of 600 hours of supervised internship serving school-aged students in a pre-kindergarten, an elementary, or a secondary school setting. Non-counseling majors must have a minimum of 600 clock hours of supervised internship with school-aged children and their families with at least nine semester-hours of graduate credit in certain defined career and school counseling-related endeavors.

Licensure Renewal Requirements

All states require some sort of continuing education in order for a school counselor to renew their license. State licensure renewal requirements vary by area. The period of renewal can be from two to seven years, with five being the most common.

Requirements vary as well but typically include either a number of clock hours of professional development, semester-hours, or credits of additional education. Arizona, for instance, requires 180 clock hours of professional development or 12 semester-hours of education, or a combination of the two. Florida, though, requires six semester-hours of college credit to include at least one semester-hour in teaching students with disabilities.

What Do High School or College Prep Counselors Do?

No matter what grade they are working with, school counselors are essential. At all grade levels, school counselors are expected to help students develop the academic and social skills that lead to success in school and in their career path. That could mean helping students explore possible careers by connecting students to exploratory programs or internships. High school counselors also help students choose an educational program that will lead to a career.

A prospective high school counselor should have a strong desire to interact directly with students. Because of the nature of a school’s learning environment, a school counselor will work directly with administrators and with parents, and will sometimes serve as a bridge between the two, to help parents understand the school’s policies and positions and to help the administrators understand parental concerns. A counselor should have some natural empathy, good interpersonal communication and listening skills, and be committed to upholding societal and the profession’s ethical standards.

High school counselors can work in public schools, in defined low-income areas (which also may qualify the counselor for income-based loan forgiveness programs or public service loan-forgiveness programs), private schools, youth program agencies, or career counseling centers.

According to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), appropriate activities for a high school counselor include:

• Orientation and advising for new students
• Interpreting test results
• Disciplinary counseling
• Short-term and small-group counseling for students
• Consulting with teachers on effective classroom management
• Identifying student issues, needs, and problems
• Advocating for students as needed

At the high school level, counselors help all students develop interpersonal skills, manage emotions, and plan for options out of high school, such as higher education, the military, or joining the workforce. The ASCA says researchers found graduating 12th graders attending schools with lower student-to-school-counselor ratios were more engaged in higher-quality college counseling learning activities, which helped students make more informed college decisions.

According to research by the National Association for College Admission Counseling and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), the two groups recommend a student-to-counselor ratio of 250 to 1. According to data from the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics, the 2021–2022 national student-to-school-counselor ratio was 408:1.

High School Counselor – College Prep Counselor Professional Associations & Resources

• American School Counselors Association (ASCA)
• National Career Development Association (NCDA)
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
• American Counseling Association (ACA)
• Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC)
• National Education Association (NEA)
• International School Counseling Association (ISCA)
• American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)
• American College Counseling Association (ACCA)
• Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD)