In order to become an education counselor, you must pass your state's certification program for counseling children and young adults. In addition, some states require both a counseling and teaching certification in order to work in their public schools. In some cases, a master's degree plus five years of teaching experience will be required to even be considered for a counseling position. At a minimum, you will need a bachelor's degree and some knowledge of social studies and psychology. Counselors sometimes teach classes as well, so a strong educational knowledge may also be necessary.
The specific courses vary depending on the specific program you enroll in. However, several areas of study might be covered. These areas include counseling and development, applied school counseling, multicultural counseling, psychopathology and developmental Issues, group interaction theory and process, psychological assessment and principles of community counseling and consultation.
The educational counselor's job is to help students, regardless of age, deal with personal, social and behavioral issues. A counselor should work closely with parents and teachers, administration and medical staff to find the best way to help the student. At the high school level, much emphasis is on college preparation. This means helping the student to understand admissions and financial aid requirements. Counselors help students for whom college is not an option learn how to search for a job. The elementary level requires more assessment of strengths, weaknesses and and special problems or gifts the child may have.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics believes that employment prospects for education counselors will grow faster than other fields through 2014. This increase will be due to an increasing number of students in colleges and state requirements that elementary schools employ counselors.