Career Counselor Certification and Certificate Program Information

Prospective career counselors can enroll in certificate programs to enhance their skills in vocational assessment and advising. Certification is also available for practicing career counselors; although certification requires strict, extensive prerequisites, counselors may gain professional benefits from being certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

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Career Counselor Certificate Programs

Students in both undergraduate and graduate counseling programs often have access to career counseling certificate programs. Programs involve a series of classes that focus solely on career counseling and award students a certificate of completion. Certificate programs are typically 1-6 classes long and are sometimes available online.

Many certificate programs focus on recommended competencies outlined by the National Career Development Association (NCDA), which include career counseling theory, organizational behavior and administration, career development in special populations, vocational assessment and resource development.

Students in these programs learn primarily how to assess clients' interests and help them explore career options in both the short and long term. Clients can be individuals or groups and can be from any demographic. Students learn about career counseling as it relates to diversity and the relatively new Internet job marketplace.

Educational Prerequisites

Career counseling certificate programs are almost always parts of counseling degree programs. Because of this, certificate programs share the prerequisites of their parent degree programs. For an undergraduate program, requirements might include high school transcripts, standardized test scores and a personal essay. For a graduate program, application materials might include college transcripts, GRE scores, a resume, letters of recommendation and a personal statement.

Program Coursework

Coursework focuses on various aspects of career counseling and often revolves around the essential skills detailed by the NCDA. The following are some class topics that might appear in the curriculum:

  • Assessment tools
  • Workplace diversity
  • History of counseling
  • Organizational behavior
  • Counseling administration

Career Outlook and Salary Information

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that employment for vocational (career) counselors will grow by 14% between 2008 and 2018, which is faster than the national average (www.bls.gov). Vocational counselors made a median annual salary of $51,050 in May 2008, according to the BLS. The lowest-paid counselors made less than $29,360, while the highest-paid earned upwards of $82,330.

Certification and Continuing Education Information

Practicing career counselors who wish to get certified can take the National Certified Counselor (NCC) exam administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). NCC certification is open to all types of counselors. It is important to note that this certification is not required to practice independently as a career counselor, being a voluntary certification sought by career counselors who have met the requirements.

It is also important to note that this certification is not a substitute for state licensing; however, the NCC certification is a requirement for many states' licensing exams. State licenses represent a state's permission for a career counselor to practice. Some states require career counselors to get a single license, while others use a 2-tier system.

One advantage to NCC certification is that, unlike state certifications, it can be used as a credential no matter where the career counselor goes, even overseas. It represents a national standard. Additionally, NCC certification allows access to the NBCC's counseling referral service, qualifies the career counselor for discounts on liability insurance and helps counselors develop a professional network of colleagues.

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