If you are interested in psychology, education, and helping students succeed, you may have considered becoming a school counselor. School counseling is a career path that combines counseling skills with academic planning, career development, and social-emotional support for students.
However, becoming a school counselor requires more than an interest in psychology or a bachelor's degree. Aspiring school counselors need graduate-level education and must meet their state's certification or licensure requirements.
Whether you are currently earning your bachelor's degree in psychology or exploring graduate school options, understanding the education and training required can help you decide whether school counseling is the right career path for you.
What Is a School Counselor?
A school counselor is an education professional who supports students' academic, career, and social-emotional development. School counselors work in educational settings to help students navigate challenges, build skills, and prepare for future opportunities.
School counselors may work with students individually, facilitate small-group counseling, deliver classroom lessons, collaborate with teachers and families, and connect students with additional resources.
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) provides professional guidance on the role of school counselors, including their responsibilities and appropriate duties.
Although school counselors provide emotional and interpersonal support, their work is distinct from that of a mental health counselor or a therapist providing outpatient counseling. School counseling focuses on student development within an educational environment, with an emphasis on helping students succeed academically, socially, and personally.
What Does a School Counselor Do?
The responsibilities of a school counselor vary depending on the school, grade level, and student population. However, school counselors generally focus on three areas of student development: academic development, career development, and social-emotional development.
Academic development: School counselors help students set academic goals, develop effective study habits, navigate academic challenges, and plan their coursework.
Career development: School counselors support students as they explore career interests, identify strengths, research postsecondary options, and prepare for college, vocational training, or employment.
Social-emotional development: School counselors help students develop coping skills, navigate relationships, manage emotions, and address challenges that may interfere with learning or well-being.
A school counselor's daily responsibilities may also include meeting with students, leading classroom guidance lessons, consulting with teachers and parents, participating in student support meetings, and coordinating school-wide initiatives.
The role can look different across elementary, middle, and high school settings. For example, an elementary school counselor may focus on foundational social skills and emotional development, while a high school counselor may spend more time helping students plan for graduation and explore college and career opportunities.
ASCA's overview of school counselor roles and responsibilities is a helpful resource for understanding how school counselors support students and contribute to their school communities.
What Degree Do You Need to Become a School Counselor?
School counselors in public schools generally need a master's degree in school counseling or another qualifying graduate program that satisfies their state's requirements. A bachelor's degree alone does not qualify someone for a credentialed public school counselor position in most states.
Is a psychology degree a good starting point?
A bachelor's degree in psychology can be a useful foundation for graduate study in school counseling. Psychology programs often cover human development, behavior, learning, research, and mental health, which are all relevant to understanding students and their experiences.
However, a psychology bachelor's degree does not automatically qualify you to become a school counselor. You will generally need additional graduate education, supervised practical experience, and the appropriate state credential.
What master's degree should you pursue?
Aspiring school counselors commonly pursue graduate degrees such as:
Master of Arts (MA) in School Counseling
Master of Science (MS) in School Counseling
Master of Education (MEd) in School Counseling
The specific degree title matters less than whether the program meets the requirements for school counselor certification or licensure in the state where you intend to work.
Graduate programs typically include coursework in counseling theories, child and adolescent development, individual and group counseling, career development, ethics, and school counseling program design. They also include supervised practical experience in a school setting.
Some programs require prior teaching experience, while others do not. Research individual programs and state requirements before deciding where to apply.
Because school counseling requirements vary from state to state, review your state's specific credentialing requirements before enrolling in a graduate program. The ASCA State School Counseling Association Directory can help you find your state association, while your state's department of education is the appropriate source for official credentialing requirements.
How to Become a School Counselor: Step-by-Step
If school counseling interests you, the following steps provide a general overview of the path into the profession.
Step 1: Earn a bachelor's degree
Begin by completing a bachelor's degree. Psychology, education, human development, and related majors can provide a foundation for graduate study.
A bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field is not always required for admission to a school counseling graduate program. Check the admission requirements of individual programs to determine which undergraduate backgrounds they accept.
Step 2: Choose a qualifying graduate program
Research master's degree programs that prepare graduates for school counselor certification in your intended state.
Consider the program's curriculum, accreditation, fieldwork requirements, cost, format, and graduate outcomes. Most importantly, confirm that completing the program will satisfy the relevant state credentialing requirements.
Step 3: Complete graduate coursework and supervised experience
During graduate school, you will complete coursework in school counseling and gain supervised experience working in an educational setting.
Practicum and internship experiences help aspiring school counselors develop practical skills, understand school systems, and apply counseling techniques while working under appropriate supervision.
Required practicum and internship hours vary by program and state. Check the requirements of the programs you are considering rather than assuming that every program requires the same number of hours.
Step 4: Meet state certification or licensure requirements
School counselor credentialing requirements vary by state. Depending on where you plan to work, you may need to complete an approved graduate program, fulfill supervised experience requirements, pass an examination, complete a background check, and submit a credential application.
Check with your state's department of education for current requirements before enrolling in a graduate program.
Step 5: Apply for school counselor positions
After completing the required education and credentialing steps, you can apply for eligible school counseling positions.
School counselors may work in elementary, middle, or high schools. With additional experience or education, some professionals pursue district-level leadership, school counseling program coordination, counselor education, or related roles.
School Counselor vs. School Psychologist vs. Therapist
School counseling is one of several helping professions available to people interested in psychology and student well-being. Although these careers share some similarities, their training requirements and daily responsibilities differ.
School counselors focus on academic, career, and social-emotional development. They may provide individual and group counseling, classroom lessons, academic planning, and student support within a school setting.
School psychologists focus on the relationship between psychology and education. Their responsibilities may include psychological and educational assessment, consultation, behavioral interventions, and support for students' learning and mental health. Their graduate training and credentialing pathway differs from that of school counselors.
Therapists and mental health counselors provide mental health services to address emotional, behavioral, and psychological concerns. Depending on their credentials, they may work in private practice, community agencies, hospitals, schools, and other settings.
Which career is right for you depends on the type of work you want to do. If you enjoy supporting students' academic and personal development within a school community, school counseling may be worth exploring. If you are interested in assessment and learning-related concerns, school psychology may be a better fit. If you want to focus on mental health treatment, clinical counseling or another therapy-related profession may align more closely with your goals.
School Counselor Salary, Career Outlook, and Work Settings
School counselors primarily work in public and private elementary, middle, and high schools. Their schedules, responsibilities, and compensation vary by employer, location, experience, and education.
Some school counselors eventually pursue related opportunities in district administration, counseling program leadership, counselor education, or higher education. These positions may require additional qualifications or experience.
How much do school counselors make?
School counselor salaries vary considerably by state, school district, years of experience, and education level. Public school districts often use salary schedules that determine compensation based on experience and educational credits or degrees.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for school and career counselors and advisors was $64,330 in May 2025. Employment in this combined occupational group is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035.
These figures include career counselors and advisors as well as school counselors, so they are not school counselor-only salary estimates. The BLS also reports wage data by industry, which can help you compare compensation across different work settings.
When researching the earning potential of school counseling, look at salary schedules for districts where you might want to work. This will give you a more useful estimate than relying on a single national salary figure.
Is School Counseling the Right Career for You?
School counseling may be a good fit if you enjoy working with children or adolescents, value education, and want to help students develop academically, socially, and emotionally.
You may find the profession appealing if you enjoy building relationships, facilitating groups, teaching practical skills, collaborating with other professionals, and helping students navigate important transitions.
It is also important to consider the realities of the role. School counselors balance direct student support with documentation, meetings, consultation, program planning, and competing needs across the school community. The work can be rewarding, but it also requires flexibility, organization, collaboration, and the ability to respond to challenging situations.
Before committing to a graduate program, consider speaking with practicing school counselors, learning about the responsibilities associated with different grade levels, and exploring the credentialing requirements in your state.
Most importantly, compare school counseling with other graduate school and career options that interest you. A psychology degree can be a starting point for several professional pathways, and the best choice depends on your interests, strengths, and long-term goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a School Counselor
Can you become a school counselor with a bachelor's degree?
No. A bachelor's degree alone generally does not meet the requirements for a credentialed school counselor position in a public school. You will typically need a qualifying graduate degree and the appropriate state credential.
Is a psychology degree a good starting point for school counseling?
Yes. A bachelor's degree in psychology can provide a helpful foundation in human development, behavior, and mental health. However, additional graduate education and state-required credentialing are generally necessary to become a school counselor.
How long does it take to become a school counselor?
The timeline depends on your starting point, the graduate program you choose, and your state's requirements. Many students complete a bachelor's degree followed by a master's program that takes approximately two to three years, although program lengths and individual circumstances vary.
Do school counselors need a master's degree?
Nearly all states require school counselors in public schools to have a master's degree or qualifying graduate-level preparation. Exact requirements depend on the state and position, so confirm the rules where you plan to work.
Do school counselors need to be certified or licensed?
School counselors working in public schools generally need to meet state-specific certification or licensure requirements. The name of the credential and the requirements for obtaining it vary by state. Check with your state's department of education for the most accurate information.
Exploring Graduate School Options?
Choosing a graduate program is a significant decision, especially when you are still exploring which career path fits your interests and goals.
If you are considering school counseling alongside other options, read our guide to Graduate School Options for Psychology Majors to compare different graduate pathways and learn more about the careers they can lead to.
Pathway to Practice offers mentorship for aspiring mental health professionals and students who want to better understand graduate school options, explore career possibilities, and make informed decisions about their next steps.
You do not need to have your entire career mapped out before you begin exploring. Learning about your options is a meaningful first step.