How to Become a College Counselor

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

Contrary to some beliefs, college counseling does not directly entail work in admissions or academic advising. A college counselor is typically an individual with at least a master’s level education in counseling, psychology, social work, or education. Each college counselor may have different responsibilities pertinent to the college counseling center's mission. Whether college counselors are providing individualized attention to a student, running a small-group session, or assessing risk for the student population, the college counseling center assists students by addressing their presenting concerns and promoting greater wellness.

It’s a powerful opportunity for professional counselors, as they can impact the lives of people on the cusp of adulthood, often facing a wide array of choices and opportunities.

What does a College Counselor do?

A college student may encounter several counselors during their studies. The first such professional they are likely to encounter is an admissions advisor who offers guidance on applying to the school and enrolling in classes. Next, the student may work with a financial aid advisor to apply for loans and scholarships. Throughout their schooling, most students will have access to an academic advisor who will help them select courses and a major, stay on track for graduation, and get support if they are struggling in a class. While these encounters are critical to a student’s college success, they are not the role of a college counselor.

Some universities have counseling centers that employ licensed counselors, social workers, and/or psychologists to help students experiencing emotional difficulties, depression, mental illness, substance abuse, or other personal problems. Every college will entail different responsibilities for its college counseling centers. The American College Counseling Association (ACCA) describes three main roles that college counselors engage in: counseling, consulting, and assessing risk. College counselors attend to these roles within individual and group counseling sessions, conduct outreach and prevention activities (attending to mental health awareness, substance abuse awareness, and suicide prevention), and assess the risk of harm to self and/or others.

Steps to Become a College Counselor

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

Earning your bachelor's degree in a counseling-related field may help you explore helping professions in terms of foundational knowledge, basic skills, and different types of research with diverse populations, but a bachelor’s in any field will allow you to pursue a master’s degree, which is required to become a licensed counselor.

Step 2: Earn a master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or social work.

As a requirement for any licensed counseling career, a graduate degree in counseling from a CACREP-accredited university, or an accredited program in psychology, or social work furthers your undergraduate education to fine tune your counseling skills, theoretical approaches, understanding of systems, psychology of human development, and current trends grounded in past research.

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

To become a licensed professional counselor in any field, individuals must pursue graduate and postgraduate supervised clinical hours to apply for a state recognized license to practice.

Step 4: Pass any required exams and apply for licensure.

Some counseling graduate programs and states require the passing of the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and/or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) as well as other types of exams.

Step 5: Apply for and earn additional certifications.

Additional certifications are available in a wide array of specialties such as theoretical approaches, work with different populations, or provide additional learning opportunities.

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

Maintaining your licensure for professional practice as a counselor is required by most states to remain licensed. Attending workshops, presentations, conferences, or even participating in research helps to further your career as a college counselor and assists in your approaches to your work with students.

What are the licensing and certification requirements?

Professional licensure and/or certification are required for college counselors providing services in a counseling center. Counseling licensure requirements typically include the completion of a counseling master’s degree program from an accredited university, two years of supervised clinical experience, and a passing score on a state-administered licensing exam. Practicing college counselors may also be required to take continuing education to maintain licensure. Specific licensure requirements vary by state. See state counseling license requirements.

Certification is offered through the National Board for Certified Counselors and, for doctoral-level psychologists working in college counseling centers, through the American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation and state psychology licensure boards. Certification demonstrates your experience, education, and level of counseling skills. Association membership with the American College Counseling Association (ACCA) includes access to advocacy resources, conference invitations and materials, discounted services, and continuing education programs for college counselors. Requirements and fees vary based on the organization and membership level you select.

Career Outlook for College Counselors

College counselors are drawn from several professions: mental health counselors (licensed professional counselors), psychologists, and social workers. As such, the job outlook for each will vary within the post-secondary setting. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the following: For mental health counselors, employment is expected to rise (17%) between 2024 and 2034, and earn a median salary of about $59,190 per year.

Telehealth and hybrid counseling models have become increasingly integrated into college counseling centers. According to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health 2024 Annual Report, colleges across the U.S. are expanding access to virtual mental health services to meet growing student demand. College counselors are now expected to navigate both in-person and digital service delivery models as part of their professional practice.