Counseling is one of the career option that individual can acquire after earning counseling degree in human services. Human Services is a broad field that opens numerous career opportunities from entry level to positions in higher management. It is challenging field, people with strong communication skills with ability to listen, understand and tackle other people problems are suitable for this profession. Becoming a counselor is the first step for students of human services to jump starts their career.
Who is a Counselor?
If we define counselor, a qualified person with counseling degree in human services who advice or counsel other people to face problem situation with courage. They can work in private sectors and communities, and help people of all ages belong from every economic level. The primary responsibility of professionals is to listen to client and suggest them how a person can act to improve situation and achieve goals.
Education and Training to become Counselor
If a student or working professional decided to become counselor, counseling degree is the right degree that teach them all skills and concepts required for this position. Various top accredited colleges and universities offer associates to bachelor’s degree via traditional on-campus and online human services degrees. Online counseling degree or online human services degree is an excellent option for working professional and students with social responsibilities, who are not able to attend traditional classes. These degrees provide complete knowledge of multiple subjects like sociology, psychology, speech, counseling techniques, loss and distress, alcohol and drug addiction and case management. Furthermore, all students are essentially required to earn internship experience from authorized human services or social work agency.
Specific Counseling Degrees to become Counselor
In order to become well qualified professional, students must extend their degrees to a post bachelor graduate degree that is Masters or Ph.D. Students should also consider that degree program they are going to get enrolled is accredited by Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). On the other hand alcohol and substance abuse professionals can start their professional practice with associate’s level degree. Major course work of these degree programs covers concepts of sociology, psychology, statistics, child development, research and counseling techniques. After completing degree students are required to take almost two year clinical training in mental health-care facility.
Practical Training of Counselors after completing Counseling Degree
It is not necessary that you will find paid job just after completing education, in this condition you should consider working as volunteer. You can find volunteer job in various not-for-profit associations and religious groups. Degree holders with working experience as volunteer are first considered for jobs when paid jobs are announced. Because you can mention your volunteer work experience on your resume to describe your working skills that’s why it is suggested that high school students who are willing to become counselor in future can join human services organizations as volunteer to complete necessary ground work for their future.
Major Career Options for Counseling Degree holders
Qualified students can find jobs in almost all parts of society like hospitals, schools, industry, alcohol and drug treatment facilities, camps, churches, credit repayment agencies, job placement and unemployment offices, old houses and nursing homes. Moreover, state, city and local agencies also have job positions for counselors. Like other occupations due to budget cuts, these professionals also face layoff s, even an experienced professional still have limited job opportunities in tough job market. Most of the individuals join this profession due to their innate interest to help others rather than a highly paid profession. They feel good helping others than earning huge money.
End Note
Individuals who have decided to become professional counselor should keep it in their mind that they will be earning low salaries at initial stage. If you are entering in this profession without relevant degree and training will get small salaries. But with proper education and training even at associate’s level let you earn good amount of money. To get market competitive salary, you need to earn bachelors and Master’s degree in Counseling.
