Counselors who wish to to establish themselves in full-time practice working with the public are required to have a master's degree in most states. A bachelor's degree is regarded as "a good starting point," according to All Psychology Schools website, but having a master's degree in counseling means that the practitioner can work unsupervised in the community, and can gain registration by counseling-regulating bodies, which recognize their suitability to practice.
A bachelor's degree is regarded as a good overview of mental health and emotional issues that a counselor is likely to encounter in her clients. An advanced degree such as a master's gives the counseling student a chance to gain experience in more choice of placements, and then to focus on an area that she is particularly interested in. It gives her the opportunity to gain some expertise in key areas, rather than having a broad, general knowledge of several areas.
An advanced degree in counseling gives the counseling student time to work at a more involved level in key areas of her interest, while having the support of experienced professionals and tutors. It is an opportunity for the student to explore her strengths, identify her weaknesses, and to really hone her skills under expert guidance.
Counselors are needed in a huge number of areas: schools, colleges, universities, addiction treatment centers, mental-health support organizations, bereavement organizations, hospitals, the military, employment centers, and many more. A counselor who holds an advanced degree in counseling can seek employment in a huge variety of areas; she is also regarded as more employable because she has studied counseling at an advanced level.