One requirement of the professional school counselor is to maintain their certification through professional development and continuing education credits. While requirements vary from state to state, professional development in both counseling and education is essential for staying current with emerging trends, new research on effective practice, and evolving techniques. Continuing education credits are offered by several professional counseling organizations.

Ultimately, it is the role of the school counselor to develop and implement a school counseling program that best meets students’ needs and aligns with the school’s mission. As with other counseling careers, professional school counselors must also adhere to standards, competencies, and ethics. By encompassing these responsibilities and demonstrating competence, professional school counselors can further expand their knowledge and experience through additional certifications or specialty training.

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What Do School Counselors Do?

A Look Into the Professional School Counselor’s Role

Even though school counselors do not hold the exact title, they are educators for their students. According to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), professional school counselors support students’ academic achievement, career planning, and social/emotional development to help them reach their full potential. To become a school counselor, one must complete a master’s degree program in school counseling, which prepares them to address these concerns and present matters from their students. Through the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program, collaboration with other student support personnel, and working with outside agencies, a school counselor’s role encompasses guiding students and the school toward success. School counselors are leaders, advocates, collaborators, and educators, roles that often intertwine and occur simultaneously.

ASCA recommends a student-to-school-counselor ratio of 250:1 and that school counselors spend 80% or more of their time providing direct and indirect services to students. Research continues to show that lower ratios and well-implemented school counseling programs improve student achievement, attendance, and behavior outcomes across all grade levels.

All professional school counselors support students by providing:

Professional School Counseling Organizations

Begin Your Student/Professional Membership

Joining a professional organization is one of the most valuable steps a school counselor can take, whether still in a graduate program or well into a career. Memberships offer access to research, networking, liability insurance, and continuing education opportunities that support both professional growth and day-to-day practice. 

American School Counselor Association

ASCA’s mission is to represent school counselors and to promote professionalism and ethical practice. As the national organization that defines and upholds school counseling professional standards, ASCA developed and maintains the ASCA National Model — now in its fifth edition — to unify the profession under a common framework.

American Counseling Association

ACA’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in society by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the counseling profession and practice to promote respect for human dignity and diversity.

State School Counselor Associations

Each state and the District of Columbia has its own school counseling organization that handles in-state support, professional development, and advocacy for school counselors and their students.

International School Counselor Association

ISCA provides advocacy, professional learning, and leadership for school counselors in international schools. Through their international model for school counseling and their ISCA Academy, the organization promotes culturally competent, comprehensive school counseling programs. Through its global network, ISCA brings international school counselors together to exchange ideas, attend workshops and annual conferences, earn professional development hours, and develop their professional identity to best serve their diverse students.

Continuing Education for School Counselors

Staying current through continuing education is not just a certification requirement; it is how school counselors keep pace with evolving student needs, emerging research, and changes in ethical and legal standards. A range of options exists, from self-paced online courses to national conferences, allowing you to find formats that fit any schedule or budget.

Remember, continuing education requirements vary State-By-State. Always confirm the requirements in your state and any specific requirements for your specialty certifications or designations. 

ASCA U Specialist Trainings

Through self-paced online professional development, ASCA offers a growing catalog of specialist trainings, each worth 5 CEUs or 50 contact hours. These trainings are approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as continuing education providers. Current ASCA U Specialist trainings include:

Beyond specialist trainings, ASCA also offers webinars (free to members), ASCA@Home virtual programming, Ignite training for new school counselors, and the annual ASCA Conference.

American Counseling Association Continuing Education

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Digital Engagement for School Counselors

Digital technology plays an increasingly important role in school counseling, from delivering virtual lessons and communicating with families to connecting with professional peers online. However, these tools also introduce ethical, legal, and safety considerations that school counselors must navigate carefully.

ASCA’s position statement on The School Counselor and Student Safety with Digital Technology (revised 2023) affirms that digital technology is a useful tool for enhancing student academic, career, and social/emotional development, but emphasizes that school counselors have a responsibility to protect students from its potential risks. According to the position statement, school counselors should consider the ethical and legal implications of all technological applications, including confidentiality concerns, security issues, and the importance of managing appropriate boundaries with students.

Key guidance from ASCA includes:

The ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors (updated 2022) further address virtual and electronic communication, reinforcing the expectation that school counselors manage appropriate professional boundaries across all digital platforms. Before using any social media or digital communication tool in a professional capacity, school counselors should also review their district’s policies and any applicable state standards.

Many school counselors use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) to share resources, post deadline reminders, communicate with families, and participate in professional learning communities. When choosing a platform, consider your school community’s preferences and always ensure your use aligns with both ASCA ethical guidance and your district’s social media policies.

Common professional uses include:

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American School Counselor Association (ASCA) School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies: Highlights

The ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies outline the mindsets and behaviors school counselors need to meet the rigorous demands of the profession and address the needs of pre-K–12 students. These standards help ensure that both new and experienced school counselors are equipped to establish, maintain, and enhance a school counseling program that addresses academic achievement, career planning, and social/emotional development.

The ASCA National Model — now in its fifth edition (2025) — is organized into four components: Define, Manage, Deliver, and Assess. ASCA offers a free downloadable copy of the full publication, and a summary of changes in the fifth edition is also available. The following highlights are drawn from these resources and ASCA’s position statement on School Counseling Programs.

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Information last updated: April 2026