Considering a master’s degree? A Master’s Degree in School Counseling is the essential credential for those aspiring to become a school-based counselor. This comprehensive guide details the degree’s structure, career opportunities, and the required preparation, ensuring you have the expertise needed to make an informed decision.
What is a Master’s Degree in School Counseling?
A school counseling master’s degree is typically designated as a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree. This graduate degree represents the completion of comprehensive coursework and rigorous counselor training designed to prepare an individual to facilitate student wellbeing and achievement.
The primary goal of a school counselor is to support students’ development across three specific, critical domains:
- Academic
- Social/Emotional
- Career
Accessibility and Prerequisites
This graduate degree is accessible to individuals with an undergraduate degree in any major. However, applicants often hold a bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) in fields such as education, psychology, or social work.
Credentialing and Certification
Graduating with an M.Ed. in School Counseling signifies that a person possesses the credentials required to become a certified school counselor. Depending on the program’s structure and accreditation, graduates may also qualify for additional, highly valuable credentials:
- Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) eligibility within the state the program is located.
School Counseling Program Structure and Accreditation
School counseling graduate programs vary widely in affordability, accessibility, and academic quality. Crucially, they also differ in program formats, admission procedures, course credit totals, and the credentials you can acquire.
Program Delivery Formats and Credits
To accommodate diverse lifestyles and careers, programs offer various formats, including:
- On-campus day and evening classes.
- Virtual asynchronous classes.
Most school counseling programs require between 48-54 credits, which typically equates to five semesters of full-time enrollment. The increased number of credits is directly related to the required clinical experience hours.
Clinical Experience Requirements: Practicum and Internship
A hallmark of a high-quality school counseling program is the required clinical experience, which provides essential, supervised, real-world experience. These hours are supervised by qualified faculty and on-site supervisors.
| Clinical Requirement | Total Hours | Direct Service Contact Hours |
| Practicum | 100 hours | 40 hours |
| Internship | 600 hours | 250 hours |
Accreditation and Program Quality
Programs that require these extensive practicum and internship hours are typically accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
CACREP accreditation ensures a program meets stringent standards for professional training. Some programs may also hold accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Admissions and Application Procedures
Admission to a school counseling graduate program is competitive and requires specific materials:
Required Admissions Exams
Commonly required graduate school admissions exams include the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) – General Test or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Some programs may waive an admissions exam requirement altogether, but those that require one often set their own specific passing score range.
Undergraduate GPA
All school counseling graduate programs will require a specific undergraduate G.P.A. While this minimum requirement varies, a strong academic record is always advantageous.
Career Paths and Opportunities with an M.Ed.
While the primary career path is becoming a certified school counselor, this degree’s associated credentials, clinical knowledge, and experience offer flexibility for other professional pursuits.
School and School District Employment
- School Counselor: The most common role. School counselors are regarded as faculty members and often receive the same benefits as teachers, including salary, health insurance, and retirement. They serve as the lead advocate for students, mediating concerns between students, teachers, parents, and administrators, and performing administrative-type tasks.
- School-Based Therapist: Graduates may pursue a career as a therapist employed by a community agency but working directly within a school setting.
Alternative Counseling Careers
The comprehensive clinical preparation allows graduates to pursue roles outside the school setting. The ability to pursue other counseling careers, such as opening a private practice, is dependent on the specific program’s structure and the state’s licensure requirements.
Common alternative careers include:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Therapists
- Behavioral Specialists
- Mobile Therapists employed by community agencies
- Therapeutic Day Treatment Counselors
Professional Benefits and Skills Gained
Beyond the degree itself, completion of a school counseling graduate program confers critical professional skills, preparing graduates to excel in diverse settings:
- Ethical and Professional Considerations: A deep understanding of the ethical framework for the counseling profession.
- Clinical Counseling Skills: Possession of core counseling and intervention techniques.
- Assessment and Evaluation: Ability to conduct assessments and interpret results to inform interventions.
- Educational Systems Knowledge: Understanding how educational systems impact student development.
- Leadership Qualities: Development of necessary skills to serve as a leader and advocate within the school community.
The complex, multifaceted work of a school counselor—facilitating student wellbeing, achievement, and development across academic, social/emotional, and career domains—is made possible by the comprehensive preparation provided by a high-quality graduate program.
For more information about school counseling careers, please visit the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).
You’ve got important career goals — we have the graduate program to get you there. Check out our available graduate degree programs to advance your career today!
