Some possible jobs within this career area are:
Most teachers need at least a Bachelor’s Degree, but depending on your state and career path, you might need a post-graduate teaching certificate or a Master’s Degree. Some school districts also require that teachers return to school for certification or other career development every few years.
Most colleges or universities offer these forms of certification:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master’s Degree
- Teaching Certificate
- PhD
Teachers, specifically good teachers, are always needed and in demand. Municipal taxes pay for public schools, which means that your area’s economy can dictate the school district budget and the number of jobs for teachers. To remain competitive in the job market, teachers often return to school to get their Master’s Degree. Some school districts tenure their teachers, which can be excellent for job stability.
Most teachers need a four-year degree, but some school districts require a Master’s Degree, which can add two to three more years of study. A typical teaching certificate takes between two and three years to earn.
How to Become a High School Counselor
High school guidance counselors help students assess their interests, talents, and abilities to choose the best academic and career goals. Counselors are usually in charge of career education centers and programs, and also help teens deal with social, personal, and behavior problems.
Most states require you to have at least a master’s degree to become a high school counselor; specific education requirements vary by state. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that some states require those entering a high school counseling career to also be licensed and/or certified as a counselor, and other states require both teaching and counseling certificates as well as teaching experience.
Aspiring high school guidance counselors in a degree program typically take courses in core areas such as social and cultural diversity, career development, assessment, human growth and development, professional ethics, relationships, counseling techniques, group work, identity, and research and program evaluation. You can expect to take between 48 to 60 required semester hours as well as supervised clinical work experience in order to earn your degree.
High School Counselor Salaries
According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, those in a high school counseling career can expect 14 percent job growth in the next decade. The median annual high school counselor salary in 2008 was 451,050, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $29,360 a year. The highest ten percent of high school counselor salaries earned over $82,330 per year.
In addition to salary, when you become a high school counselor you may also earn additional income during the summer vacation months either within or outside of the school system.
(Salary data retrieved 5/29/11)
To get the education you need to become a high school counselor, find a degree program now!