Guidance Counselor career information?

Question

It's taken me awhile to figure out what to do with my life, but I have finally figured out I want to be a guidance counselor.

I live in West Virginia and many people tell me that in order to become a guidance counselor and get a job, you need a degree in teaching and teaching experience. I do not have any interest in being a teacher at all.

At the college I will be attending it says they have an alternative program for students w/o a teaching degree and I think that allows you to be licensed as well...does anyone know anything about that?

I am wondering how hard it would be to land a job as a guidance, as many people tell me it's very difficult, what the job is like and what would be a good thing to get a BA in?

I was thinking Counseling, then I thought possibly social work, now I am still strongly thinking maybe sticking with counseling.

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

To be a GUIDANCE COUNSELOR you generally do need experience in classroom instruction and then often get a guidance credential on top of this (it is VERY rare to come directly out of an MA program and be able to be a guidance counselor.

Now the last post is also wrong. With an MSW you could be a school social worker -

With an MA in psych you could be a school psychologist

These three positions are very different and have different responsibilities (though they all work together and often work with the same populations (often special education).

Guidance counselors are often most closely associated with providing "guidance" around career and school and occasionally psycho/social issues.

Social workers - are usually involved in psycho/social issues around school, families, substances, etc.

School psychologists are involved in testing (primarily around special eduction).

DA

Answer 2

You dont need a degree in teaching. You will need either a masters in social work or a masters in psychology.