Masters Degree in Counseling | Online Counseling Degree

Masters Degree in Counseling | Online Counseling Degree | Our TOP Recommendations
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Counselors help people with personal, family, mental health, educational, and job problems. Their responsibilities differ significantly depending on their particular specialty, which is determined by the environment in which they work and the people they serve.

• Nature of the Work - Counselors help people with personal, family, mental health, educational, and job problems. Their responsibilities differ significantly depending on their particular specialty, which is determined by the environment in which they work and the people they serve.
• Masters Degree in Counseling - A master’s degree is typically needed to become a licensed counselor. Some states require counselors in public employment to have a master’s degree; other states require a bachelor’s degree with specific counseling courses. Counselor education programs in colleges and universities are usually available in education or psychology departments.
• Licensure - Licensure requirements vary significantly by state, occupational specialty, and work environment. Many states require school counselors to have a state school counseling certification and to have finished at least some graduate course work; many others require a master’s degree.
  
  

Masters Degree in Counseling | Career in Counseling

Fields of study include elementary or secondary school counseling, college student affairs, education, marriage and family therapy, gerontological counseling, career counseling, substance abuse counseling, agency or community counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and related fields. Courses are often grouped into eight fundamental areas: human growth and development, group work, career development, relationships, social and cultural diversity, assessment, research and program evaluation, and professional identity. In an accredited master’s degree program, 48 to 60 semester hours of graduate study and supervised clinical experience in counseling are required.

Some employers offer training options for those counselors who are newly employed. Tuition assistance or time off to finish a degree is also offered by select employers. Counselors must usually participate in workshops, graduate studies, and personal studies to keep their certificates and licenses current.

Instruction and training requirements for counselors are typically very detailed and differ by state and specialty. Future counselors should verify with state and local governments, employers, and national voluntary certification organizations to find out which requirements apply.

Masters Degree in Counseling - Graduate - Job Outlook


Employment for individuals who have a master’s degree in counseling is expected to increase much faster than the average for all careers through 2016. However, job growth will differ by occupational specialty and by location. Job opportunities should be good due to growth and the need to replace counselors leaving the field.

Overall employment of counselors is predicted to rise by 21 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is far faster than the average for all careers. However, growth is projected to differ by specialty.

In 2006, Counselors held about 635,000 jobs. Vocational, educational, and school counselors work mainly in elementary and secondary schools and colleges and universities. Other kinds of counselors are employed in a wide variety of private and public establishments, including job training, career development, and vocational rehabilitation centers; healthcare facilities; correctional institutions; social agencies; and residential care facilities, like halfway houses for criminal offenders and group homes for the elderly, children, and the disabled. Many substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors have jobs in therapeutic communities where people with addictions live during treatment. Counselors are also employed in organizations involved in drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, social change and community improvement, and state and local government agencies.


Masters Degree in Counseling - Graduates - Earnings Statistics


In May 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports average annual incomes of wage and salary educational, vocational, and school counselors were $47,500. The middle 50 percent made between $36,000 and $61,000. The bottom 10 percent made less than $27,250, and the top 10 percent earned more than $75,950. School counselors can make more income working summers in the school system or in other careers.

Average annual incomes of wage and salary substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors were $34,040 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent made between $27,250 and $42,700. The bottom 10 percent made less than $22,700, and the top 10 percent made more than $52,250.

Average annual incomes of wage and salary mental health counselors were $34,375 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent made between $26,750 and $45,500. The bottom 10 percent made less than $21,750, and the top 10 percent made more than $59,750.

Average annual incomes of wage and salary rehabilitation counselors were $29,250 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent made between $22,750 and $39,000. The bottom 10 percent made less than $19,250, and the top 10 percent made more than $53,250.

Government employers generally pay the highest wages for substance abuse, mental health, and rehabilitation counselors, followed by social service agencies and hospitals. Residential care facilities usually pay the lowest wages.

Average annual incomes of wage and salary marriage and family therapists were $43,250 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent made between $32,975 and $54,250. The bottom 10 percent made less than $25,250, and the top 10 percent made more than $69,000. Average annual incomes were $36,000 in individual and family social services, the field employing the greatest number of marriage and family therapists.

Related Occupations: Counselors help people assess their abilities, interests, and disabilities and manage social, personal, academic, and job issues. Others who assist people in similar ways include social and human service assistants, teachers, social workers, psychologists, registered nurses, physicians and surgeons, occupational therapists, and human resources, training, and labor relations specialists and managers.

Masters Degree in Counseling - Colleges and Universities

There are an excellent number of choices if you want to earn a Masters Degree in Counseling. Online schools and colleges now provide the same curriculum as the traditional education. Learning online provides you with so much more flexibility to suit your lifestyle and current employment. We include our top recommendations for colleges and universities where you can attain a Masters Degree in Counseling.


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