Best Online Master’s in School Counseling

School counselors play an integral role in the educational support system by guiding students through critical turning points in their lives. With the right support, students can pursue their passions and unlock their full educational potential.

If you are interested in a fulfilling career helping students, learn more about how to become a school counselor, the required education, and the best online master’s in school counseling programs in this guide.

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Colleges and universities create their own curricula, so students pursuing an online master’s in school counseling need to research prospective programs to determine if coursework satisfies local licensure requirements. Students should also consider other factors that may influence their own personal goals. Some factors to consider:

During your studies, you will learn about the needs of children and adolescents, child and youth development, how school systems work, different types of counseling, delivering culturally competent counseling, and the legal and ethical standards school counselors adhere to.

Most online master’s in school counseling programs take approximately two years to complete and require 50-60 credits. While coursework takes place online, plan to complete fieldwork in person, typically on a school campus. When determining the best online master’s in school counseling for your needs, consider the logistics for attending your fieldwork. After you graduate and complete your required supervised experience and pass the national examination, you can apply for a state license. Each state has its own requirements.

This course explores counseling techniques and theories that apply to children and adolescents. Student outcomes include identifying common emotional and behavioral disorders, evidence-based interventions, cultural and environmental factors that impact treatment, and emerging trends. This course may include a final exam or special project. Students can use this opportunity to focus on their ideal target population.

School counselors often provide career development. This course emphasizes development theories and strategies for decision-making. Topics include relationships between roles of life and career development, cultural influences, and relevant assessments. Course objectives include identifying a healthy work-life balance. This course often requires a comprehensive final exam.

School counselors need to understand interpersonal influences on behavior, developmental stages of a group, and theoretical approaches for counseling groups. This course emphasizes group leadership skills. Learning outcomes include demonstrating knowledge and competence in both advanced and fundamental counseling skills. This course often includes a group project.

This course explores the relationship between ethical standards and legal regulations in counseling. Students also explore regulations for professional counseling practices, identify professional issues that impact counselors, and study ethical and legal standards in school counseling.

An accredited master’s in school counseling is required to earn a state license. Students must pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) offered by the National Board for Certified Counselors, which includes 200 multiple-choice questions. Topics include social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, group counseling and group work, and research and program evaluation.

Requirements vary by state. Students should visit their local department of education website to determine specifics. Requirements typically include logged contact hours. For instance, states may demand a specified number of practicum hours acquired under a licensed practitioner, or two or more years of teaching or counseling experience.

Students should also consider reciprocity guidelines if their career goals include moving to a different state. Professionals may need to complete additional coursework for applied experiences before earning reciprocity. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards also offers a voluntary certification that recognizes K-12 professionals who demonstrate skill with standards-based evidence.

Accrediting agencies establish a minimum standard of quality for educational institutions. Other universities, licensing boards, and employers use these standards to verify that students have been trained properly. Regional accrediting agencies are generally considered more prestigious than national accrediting agencies, which typically only accredit trade and specialty schools.

Transferring to another institution may prove difficult if your school is not regionally accredited, so it’s important to check the accreditation status of your institution. There are six regional accrediting agencies. Additionally, students may want to compare state licensing requirements to ensure they qualify to take the exam upon graduating.

Students should also consider programmatic accrediting agencies to verify the quality of a particular school counseling master’s degree. For school counselors, these agencies include the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council.

The counseling field demands ongoing research to solve modern problems. School counselors benefit from memberships in professional organizations, which provide active global networks and access to cutting-edge research and practices. Additionally, professional organizations allow graduates to collaborate with seasoned practitioners and receive mentorship.

Both K-12 and postsecondary schools typically require school counselors to hold an unencumbered state license, which requires applicants to earn a master’s degree.

Students can earn an online master’s in school counseling in two years with full-time attendance. Part-time students should anticipate earning their degrees in four years.

School counselors make the most in California, with an average annual salary of $85,820, followed by Washington ($81,280), Massachusetts ($79,670), New Jersey ($79,030) and Maryland ($76,250), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). School counselors make the most in elementary and secondary schools ($74,910), junior colleges ($67,420), and at colleges, universities, and professional schools ($58,390).

Typical admission requirements for the best online master’s in school counseling programs include a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA and an application with an essay or statement of purpose. While most programs do not have specific requirements for your type of undergraduate major, coursework or a major in a related field, such as psychology or child development, show interest and commitment to your career choice.