Want to Become a School Counselor? Start Your Journey With an MS in School Counseling.

A school counselor and a student speak in an office
Find out how you can earn your online counseling degree.

Key Takeaways

  • School counselors support students’ academic, social-emotional, and career development through comprehensive counseling programs.
  • A master’s degree in school counseling is the standard entry-level requirement for this career.
  • Specializations in areas like addiction counseling, trauma counseling, and rehabilitation counseling allow you to focus on specific student populations
  • After earning your degree, you’ll need to obtain state licensure or certification before pursuing employment in P–12 schools.
  • Job growth for school counselors is projected at 4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 31,000 openings annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.


School counselors play a vital role in helping students succeed, both in the classroom and beyond. They support academic achievement, social and emotional development, and college and career readiness at every stage of a student’s journey. If you’re considering this career path, it’s important to understand what school counselors do and how to become one. Here’s what to know about the role, requirements, and job outlook.

What Is a School Counselor?

A school counselor is a trained professional who supports students’ academic success, social and emotional well-being, and college and career readiness. Working in elementary, middle, and high schools, school counselors help students navigate challenges, build essential life skills, and plan for their futures.

What Do School Counselors Do?

Students can face many challenges both at school and at home during their school years. Social and behavioral issues and problems with family and friends can prevent a child from succeeding in school, and possibly later in life.
School counselors help improve student success by implementing comprehensive school counseling programs that support the academic, social-emotional, and career needs of all students. Their responsibilities may include:1,2

  • Identifying issues that affect a student’s performance in school
  • Helping students develop improved study habits and classroom behavior
  • Offering counseling to both individual students and groups
  • Helping students set and meet their academic and career goals 
  • Providing short-term counseling for immediate student concerns
  • Collaborating with school administrators, teachers, families, and community members to support students
  • Addressing problems such as bullying, drug use, and poor academic performance
  • Advocating for students and their needs within the school system
  • Analyzing data that identifies student needs, concerns, and challenges.
     

How School Counseling Differs by Grade Level

A guidance counselor’s duties vary significantly depending on the age of the students.

Elementary school counselors focus on helping younger students develop foundational social-emotional skills, conflict resolution abilities, and basic academic success strategies. They often address issues like peer relationships, school adjustment, family changes, and early behavioral concerns.

Middle school counselors support students navigating the challenges of adolescence, including identity development, peer pressure, and increasingly complex academic demands. They help students build coping skills and make healthy decisions during this transitional period.

High school counselors concentrate on helping students plan for life after graduation. They provide guidance on college applications, career exploration, scholarship opportunities, and the transition to postsecondary education or the workforce. They also address more complex issues related to mental health, substance use, and academic pressure.2

Where Do School Counselors Work?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were about 376,300 school counselors and career counselors in the country in 2024.3 Most worked in schools, with about 45% working in public or private elementary and secondary schools. Another 38% of these counselors worked in public or private junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools.3

From 2024 to 2034, the number of jobs for guidance counselors is expected to grow by 4%, according to the BLS, with about 31,000 openings projected annually.4 

Education Requirements

Master’s Degree Requirement
The typical education required for entry-level guidance counseling jobs is a master’s degree. You’ll want to choose a degree program that academically prepares you to seek licensure or certification in your state. As soon as you graduate, you can start the licensure process. After attaining state licensure or certification, you can pursue employment as a school counselor in P–12 schools.

If you’re considering a career as a school counselor, Walden University’s MS in School Counseling program provides the advanced education needed for this profession.

About Walden’s MS in School Counseling Program

At Walden, the master’s degree in school counseling program includes the General Program and seven specializations, allowing you to align your studies with your career interests.

CACREP Accreditation and ASCA Alignment
Walden’s online master’s in school counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and aligned with standards set by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). These standards help ensure that you graduate prepared with the skills needed in P–12 environments.

Degree Program Structure
The General Program requires 90 quarter credits and includes field experience, pre-practicum labs, and a group lab.
School Counseling Specializations

The MS in School Counseling General Program provides a solid foundation in school counseling theories, approaches, and best practices for working with diverse student populations. Or, choose from a variety of specializations to help you focus on specific student populations and issues:

  1. Addiction Counseling. Address the unique emotional challenges of individuals and families dealing with substance use and addiction.
  2. Crisis and Trauma. Prepare to support students who have experienced traumatic events or are in crisis situations.
  3. Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. Explore relationships and family dynamics that can impact students’ lives. Learn about family structures, life-cycle dynamics, intergenerational influences, and healthy family functioning.
  4. Military Families and Culture. Focus on the specific needs of military-connected students and their families.
  5. Play Therapy. Discover how to use play to help young children express their emotions.
  6. Rehabilitation Counseling. Learn to help students with disabilities, injuries, and health conditions overcome barriers and lead productive lives.
  7. Telehealth Counseling, Private Practice, and Supervision. Master best practices for providing remote counseling services and operating an independent practice.

Accelerated Track Option
If you are ready to study full time and increase your course load, Walden’s MS in School Counseling program offers an optional accelerated track within the General Program that can allow you to earn your degree sooner.

Faculty Expertise
Walden’s diverse faculty have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the school counseling field and bring those insights into the classroom each day. They’re there to support and guide you from the start of your MS in School Counseling program to graduation and beyond.

Dual Degree Option
If you are unsure of what direction your career path might take, you may wish to consider earning Walden’s MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Upon successful completion, you will earn two degrees from CACREP-accredited programs and can pursue licensure or certification as both a mental health counselor and a school counselor.

The Path to Licensure and Employment

Earning a degree is an important step in your career, but it’s not the final step. Here’s the path to becoming a school counselor:

  1. Complete your master’s degree. Finish all coursework, field experience, and program requirements.
  2. Begin the licensure process. Start your state licensure or certification application as soon as you graduate.
  3. Meet state requirements. Complete any additional requirements your state mandates (exams, supervised hours, etc.).
  4. Obtain licensure or certification. Receive your official credentials from your state.
  5. Pursue employment. Apply for school counselor positions in P–12 schools.

Start Your Journey

A career as a school counselor offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives every day. With the right education, specialized training, and state credentials, you can help students overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and reach their full potential. If you’re ready to take the first step, exploring CACREP-accredited programs like Walden’s MS in School Counseling can prepare you for this rewarding profession.

Walden University is an HLC-accredited institution offering a CACREP-accredited MS in School Counseling degree program online. Earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

1Source: www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/ee8b2e1b-d021-4575-982c-c84402cb2cd2/Role-Statement.pdf
2Source: www.school-counselor.org/topics/understanding-school-counselor-duties/
3Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm#tab-3 
4Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm#tab-6

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Walden University’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which is a requirement for licensure in many states. The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. Because no graduate program can guarantee licensure upon graduation, we encourage students to consult the appropriate agency to determine specific requirements. For more information about licensure, students should visit the National Board for Certified Counselors at nbcc.org/search/stateboarddirectory#state-board, the American Association of State Counseling Boards at www.aascb.org, and contact the appropriate licensing body. International students are encouraged to identify and contact their appropriate licensing body. Learn more about professional licensure.

MS in School Counseling: The MS in School Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which may also be a requirement to become licensed or certified as a school counselor in some states. In addition, some states require school counselors to have an existing teaching license or certification, and teaching experience, in order to be eligible for a school counseling certification/license. Learn more about professional licensure.

Further, many states require school counseling programs to be approved in at least one state, either their own or another state. The MS in School Counseling program is approved by the states of Minnesota and Ohio, and while this approval is accepted by the majority of states which require state approval, it may not be accepted by all states.

Walden is not approved to offer the School Counseling degree in Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Mexico, or Tennessee, so if you reside in one of these states, you will not be eligible for the dual degree.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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