Financial aid counselors that are employed in a school setting typically do so at the higher education level. These counselors work with students to find funding in the source of loans, grants or scholarships for continuing education costs. Though counselors at the high school level may not be called financial aid counselors, they may also be involved in guiding students toward finding funding for post-secondary education. This job description might even stretch to include career counseling as well.

Common places where 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
$30,430

Education Requirements

Though the requirements for financial aid counseling may differ in each place of employment, most require a degree in either counseling or finance. 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