* Bachelor's Degree: A bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field is usually the minimum requirement. This takes 4 years.
* Master's Degree: A master's degree in school counseling or a related field is almost always required. This typically takes an additional 1-2 years.
* State/Provincial Licensure/Certification: After completing the required education, you'll need to meet the licensing or certification requirements of your specific state or province. This often includes passing exams and completing supervised fieldwork or internships. The time required for this varies.
Therefore, it typically takes at least 5-6 years (and possibly longer depending on the specific licensing requirements), but this doesn't consider any prior relevant experience that may influence the time frame.