We want to make sure that you know your choices when it comes to education programs and that you choose the right path. Whether you are just starting out, or you already have your Bachelor’s degree, there is a path for you. Professional Counseling can be a very rewarding career. Your success often depends on taking the right path.
Counseling is a career that requires solid academic credentials.
Having the right education provides the foundation of a successful counseling career. A Master’s degree will be the level of education needed to meet the requirement for appropriate licensing in every state; this allows you to safely and effectively practice as a professional counselor. A Bachelor’s Degree is the prerequisite leading to a Master’s in Counseling program. It is preferable that you study a relevant major such as Psychology, Education, or Social Work during your attainment of the Bachelor’s degree.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected an 18% employment growth for the counseling profession through 2018.
Bachelor’s Degrees
In most cases, a Master’s degree in an area of counseling or psychology will be required for licensure to practice as a professional counselor.
Majors such as Psychology, Education, and Social Work are logical choices for students pursuing the path to become professional counselors. Students will have a firm foundation for the plethora of subjects offered in a Counseling Master’s program. Students with a Bachelor’s degree in an alternate subject can be viable candidates for admission into a Master’s program for Counseling; but they will usually need to complete additional prerequisites in order to be accepted.
Selecting the right Master’s in Counseling program is your goal after accomplishing the Bachelor’s degree. Consider the programs that hold CACREP accreditation. These will position you best for gaining all the right credentials. In fact, most states will require that applicants (for licensing) have completed a Master’s program at an institution that has been nationally or regionally accredited, or have record of completion of a program that is CACREP-accredited. If a state’s education requirements dictate that an applicant complete a program accredited by CACREP, it is not a hopeless case for those who attended a program without accreditation. These applicants will probably be required to submit an official transcript demonstrating exactly what courses they completed. Individual decisions will be made accordingly. Make sure that you investigate the education requirements for proper licensing in your state before selecting a program that does not have CACREP accreditation. You need to have the assurance that you will be able to practice in your chosen state.
If you know for sure of the counseling specialty you want to pursue, then you should select a Master’s in Counseling with that specific area of focus. If you happen to be one of the many students who are not completely sure of their chosen practice from the very beginning, that is okay. A Master’s in Mental Health Counseling is a logical choice for many.
When confident that your goal is to practice in rehabilitation counseling, selecting a CORE accredited Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling program may be the best choice. Keep in mind that the
CRCC (Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification) does not require CORE accreditation as a mandate for certification.
We strongly recommend that you spend some time exploring all of the degree choices that we offer on our site in order to educate yourself about what is the best path for you.
