Vocational counselors, also called employment or career counselors, provide mainly career counseling outside the school setting. Their chief focus is helping individuals with career decisions. Vocational counselors explore and evaluate the client’s education, training, work history, interests, skills, and personality traits. They may arrange for aptitude and achievement tests to help the client make career decisions. They also work with individuals to develop their job-search skills and assist clients in locating and applying for jobs. In addition, career counselors provide support to people experiencing job loss, job stress, or other career transition issues.

Common places where guidance and career counselors are employed include:

• High school guidance offices
• College career planning and placement offices
• Placement offices in private vocational or technical schools and institutions
• Vocational rehabilitation agencies
• Counseling services offered by community organizations
• Private counseling agencies and private practices
• State employment service offices

Starting Median Salary
$43,281

Education Requirements

The National Board of Certified Counselors and Affiliates is an institution which accredits career counselors.

All States require school counselors to hold a state school counseling certification and to have completed at least some graduate course work; most require the completion of a masters degree. Some states require public school counselors to have both counseling and teaching certificates and to have had some teaching experience before receiving certification. For counselors based outside of schools, 48 States and the District of Columbia have some form of counselor licensure that governs their practice of counseling. Requirements typically include the completion of a master’s degree in counseling, the accumulation of 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience beyond the masters degree level, the passage of a state-recognized exam, adherence to ethical codes and standards, and the completion of annual continuing education requirements.

Counselors must be aware of educational and training requirements that are often very detailed and that vary by area and by counseling specialty. Prospective counselors should check with state and local governments, employers, and national voluntary certification organizations in order to determine which requirements apply.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics