What do educational and vocational school counselors actually do?

I'm curious about what educational and vocational counselors do every day. I'm considering this career path and would love to know what their responsibilities are. What skills and qualifications are typically required for this job?

Educational and vocational counselors, often called school counselors or guidance counselors, play a crucial role in the development of students. They provide academic, career, college access/affordability/admission, and social-emotional competencies to all students through a school counseling program.

Their daily responsibilities might include:

1. Academic guidance: They advise students on academic requirements, help them schedule classes, and provide guidance on high school graduation and college admissions requirements.

2. Career counseling: They help students learn about various career paths and guide them towards suitable academic or vocational programs. They may organize career fairs, job shadowing experiences, or guest speaker sessions.

3. Personal and social counseling: They work with students to address any personal or social issues, such as bullying, adolescent anxieties, or relationship issues with peers.

4. College guidance: They assist students with college applications, financial aid applications, scholarship applications, and preparing for college entrance exams.

5. Individual and group counseling: Depending on the needs of the student body, they may conduct personal counseling sessions for students coping with issues in school or at home, or they might offer group sessions for students with similar challenges.

In terms of skills, effective school counselors often exhibit strong interpersonal skills, empathy, flexibility, and problem-solving abilities. They need to be able to understand and interact with people of different age groups and backgrounds. Moreover, they must be patient, especially when dealing with challenging situations.

As for qualifications, the exact requirements vary by state, but typically, a master’s degree in school counseling or a related field is required. This is often followed by a period of supervised experience in counseling. Finally, they must hold a state-issued credential to practice. This is often called certification, licensure, or endorsement.

Before embarking on this career path, it might be helpful to shadow a school counselor or seek internships in related fields. This can provide first-hand experience and knowledge about the field.