How to Become a Career Counselor

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral, social science, or human services field
  2. Earn a master’s degree in counseling
  3. Complete graduate and postgraduate internship experience for certification/licensure requirements
  4. Pass any required exams for certification/licensure
  5. Apply for and earn additional certifications
  6. Continue your education and stay up to date on career counseling trends and changes

For vocational and academic planning, some individuals may seek the assistance of a career coach or counselor. By applying career development theories, facilitation skills, informal and formal assessment, and case management, career counselors provide students, job seekers, and professionals with the support and guidance needed to reach their career goals.

Career development can be a lifelong process with ongoing opportunities to improve. Career counseling helps individuals understand themselves and the world of work, enabling them to make sound occupational, educational, and life decisions. Skills learned through career counseling can become long-lasting tools that help clients make independent future career and life decisions.

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What does a Career Counselor do?

By using tools, assessments, and skill-level evaluations, career counselors help individuals make career decisions, teach job-search skills, and develop conflict-resolution techniques for application in the workplace. Working with a wide array of clients at various stages of their lives, counselors with a career specialty may also support those already in the workforce who want to improve or change their careers.

From the start, career counselors help college students explore their interests, strengths, and skills in relation to academic majors and degree paths. As with other career development professionals, they should practice in accordance with the NCDA Code of Ethics and standards for practice. 

Services that career counselors provide typically involve:

  • Individual and group counseling sessions
  • Promotion of self-advocacy and self-determination
  • Teaching decision making, conflict resolution, and job-search skills
  • Providing support for job stress, conflict, loss, and career transition
  • Making appropriate referrals
  • Engaging in career development issues affecting social policies and legislation
Counselor

Using assessments and tests, career counselors evaluate clients’ skills and strengths in relation to career options and pathways.

vs.
Coach

Career coaches generally focus on a client’s career in the present and future, with a focus on advancement or transition.

Steps to Become a Career Counselor

Step 1: Complete a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral, social science, or human services field.

Earning your bachelor’s degree in a counseling or human services related field can lay the foundation that allows you to learn about human development, counseling skills, and even career development.

Step 2: Earn a master’s degree in counseling.

Career counselors obtain their master’s degree in counseling or career services with coursework concentrations on career theories, career development, counseling theories, and the psychology of human development.

Step 3: Complete graduate and postgraduate internship experience for certification/licensure requirements.

As a crucial aspect of accredited counseling degrees, graduate and postgraduate supervised counseling experience allows students to dive into their future licensed role as a career counselor.

Step 4: Pass any required exams for certification/licensure.

Some states and/or counseling programs require the passing of a counselor exam for graduation or certification/licensure such as the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and/or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Check the available licenses and required examinations for counselors in your state through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).

Step 5: Apply for and earn additional certifications.

The National Career Development Association (NCDA) offers credentials for traditionally trained counselors and others to pursue education as a career development facilitator, career services provider, master of career services, career counselor, and clinical supervisor of career counseling, and career counselor educator. These certifications fine tune graduate coursework to best assist clients seeking career guidance and planning.

Step 6: Continue your education and stay up to date on career counseling trends and changes.

To maintain state licensure as a professional counselor, career counselors must obtain continuing education credits through workshops, conferences, presentations, and/or research to name a few formats. In addition, those with NCDA certifications are also required to pursue professional development in the field of career services.

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What should you look for in an online master’s in counseling program?

Discover the important factors to your online counseling degree with these guides.

Online Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Programs Online Master’s in School Counseling Programs

What are the certification and licensure requirements?

Similar to other counseling careers, certification and licensure requirements vary from state to state. Some employers may prefer that career counselors be certified by the NCDA, as the credentialing programs provide extended, specialized learning in career resources, transferable facilitation skills, assessment administration and evaluation, case management, and job search skills.

Career Outlook for Career Counselors

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that school and career counselor positions will increase by four percent from 2024 to 2034 – bringing about 31,000 openings for school and career counselors and advisors each year, on average, over the decade. With increasing student populations at all educational levels, the need for these counselors is also higher. The BLS notes that growth in employment opportunities may be strained by budget constraints in state and local governments.

Counselors in the career sector are often employed by schools, universities, vocational rehabilitation services, and individual/family services. The following states report the highest median annual wages for career and related counselors. Learn how to become a licensed counselor in:

Learn more about counselor salaries in all 50 states.

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Master’s in Career Counseling Programs

California State University of Sacramento

College of Education

Master of Science in Career Counseling

Sacramento, California

Name of Degree: Master of Science in Career Counseling

Enrollment Type: Full-Time

Length of Program: 2 years

Credits: 60

Concentrations: N/A

Admission Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • CV/resume
  • Personal essay
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • TOEFL/IELTS and transcript evaluation (for international applicants)
Learn more about the Master of Science in Career Counseling from California State University of Sacramento

North Carolina Central University

School of Education

Master of Arts in Career Counseling

Durham, North Carolina

Name of Degree: Master of Arts in Career Counseling

Enrollment Type: Full-Time

Length of Program: 1.5 years

Credits: 48

Concentrations: N/A

Admission Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • College graduate
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • CV/resume
  • Proof of proficiency in English (for international applicants)
Learn more about the Master of Arts in Career Counseling from North Carolina Central University

Information last updated: March 2026

Source Index

  1. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. (2024). 2024 CACREP standards. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.cacrep.org/for-programs/2024-cacrep-standards/
  2. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. (n.d.). Section 4: Professional practice. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.cacrep.org/section-4-professional-practice/
  3. National Career Development Association. (2024). NCDA Code of Ethics. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/asset_manager/get_file/3395
  4. NCDA Credentialing Commission. (n.d.). Certified Career Counselor (CCC). Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.ncdacredentialing.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/credentialing_ccc
  5. National Career Development Association. (n.d.). NCDA Credentialing home page. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/credentialing_home_page
  6. National Board for Certified Counselors. (n.d.). NCE. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.nbcc.org/exams/nce
  7. National Board for Certified Counselors. (n.d.). NCMHCE. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.nbcc.org/exams/ncmhce
  8. National Board for Certified Counselors. (n.d.). State board directory. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.nbcc.org/search/stateboarddirectory
  9. American Counseling Association. (n.d.). Beyond licensure for professional counselors. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.counseling.org/resources/licensure-requirements/beyond-licensure
  10. American Counseling Association. (n.d.). Continuing education. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.counseling.org/events-education/continuing-education
  11. California State University, Sacramento. (2025-2026). MS in Counseling (Career Counseling). Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://catalog.csus.edu/colleges/education/graduate-professional-studies-education/ms-in-counseling-career-counseling/
  12. North Carolina Central University. (n.d.). Career Counseling, MA. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.nccu.edu/academics/graduate-programs/career-counseling-ma
  13. North Carolina Central University Counselor Education Program. (2021). Career Counseling plan of study (for students admitted Fall 2021 and beyond). Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.nccucounseling.com/student2/index.php/plans-of-study?download=15%3Acareer-counseling-plan-of-study
  14. Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. (n.d.). CRC certification. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://crccertification.com/crc-certification/
  15. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). School and career counselors and advisors. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm
  16. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm
  17. North Carolina Central University Online. (n.d.). Career counseling. Retrieved March 26, 2026, from https://nccuonline.nccu.edu/programs/career-counseling/