If you have a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of children and their families, the role of either a school counselor or a school social worker may be an ideal career choice. Both support positions require a person with unique qualities, such as analytical, interpersonal, and listening skills, along with a healthy dose of compassion.

While there are overlaps between the job responsibilities for both careers, differences exist. To help you select the best career path between a school counselor and a school social worker, we offer a closer look at education and licensure requirements, salaries, and job descriptions for both.

A school counselor’s main goal is to help students succeed in school by supporting their academic, career, and social/emotional development.  Because school counselors work in partnership with teachers, families, and other school staff, their role includes both direct student services and indirect support for students. American School Counselor Association ASCA describes school counselors as professionals who design, implement, and assess school counseling programs that promote students’ life-readiness and academic success.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook: School and Career Counselors and Advisors, May 2024,  typical job duties for a school or career counselor may involve:

This list is not exhaustive, and responsibilities vary by school setting and student population. ASCA also notes that school counselors provide developmentally appropriate services for students across grade levels through instruction, appraisal, and advisement, counseling, consultation, collaboration, and referrals. (PDF, 206 KB).

Usually employed by a school district or by an agency that provides services to a district, a school social worker helps students, families, and school staff address social, emotional, behavioral, and environmental issues that can affect a student’s well-being and academic success. The School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) describes school social workers as trained mental health professionals who connect home, school, and community and provide both direct and indirect services to support students’ academic and social success. 

According to SSWAA, responsibilities for a school social worker may include:

Like school counselors, school social workers may perform a wide range of duties depending on the school setting and students’ needs. Their role is often focused on mental health support, family-school-community coordination, and reducing barriers to learning.

Although degree requirements vary by state, students interested in becoming school social workers should generally expect to complete a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. CSWE notes that most jurisdictions require a degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program for licensure eligibility or to sit for a licensing exam, though specific school-based credentialing requirements vary by state.

The most common undergraduate degree for this career path is a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). However, many students earn a baccalaureate degree in a related field before they obtain a Master of Social Work (MSW). 

Students should look for coursework that incorporates multiple disciplines. For undergraduates, that may include anthropology, communication, and philosophy. Common MSW coursework in CSWE-accredited programs often includes the following:

Field education is a required part of social work training. Under CSWE’s 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, accredited baccalaureate programs must provide a minimum of 400 hours of field education, and accredited master’s programs must provide a minimum of 900 hours (PDF, 527 KB).

Like school social work, school counseling typically requires a master’s degree. Students often major in counseling, psychology, education, or a related field before pursuing graduate study in school counseling. Program and credential requirements vary by state, but the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) recognizes school counseling as a specialized entry-level practice area within counselor education.

Common programmatic accreditors for school counseling degrees include the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). The American Counseling Association notes that CACREP is a CHEA-recognized accreditor of counseling master’s programs and that MPCAC is also a CHEA-recognized programmatic accreditor for counseling and psychology master’s programs. 

Typical coursework you will find in a recognized program includes:

A master’s degree in school counseling also includes supervised fieldwork. For CACREP-accredited entry-level programs, students complete a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship; other programs may structure field experiences differently depending on accreditation model and state requirements (PDF, 308 KB).

Both school counselors and school social workers must meet state-specific credentialing requirements, but the responsible agencies, required credentials, and terminology vary by profession and jurisdiction. For students who want to understand the broader professional framework behind those requirements, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is a useful resource for school counseling standards and state requirement guidance, while the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) is a key resource for learning how social work licensure is regulated across jurisdictions. Because states set the specific legal requirements, prospective students should verify the current rules with the appropriate state agency before choosing a program or pursuing licensure.

In addition to a master’s degree, school counseling students typically need to obtain state licensure, certification, or credentialing, depending on the state. ASCA notes that school counselors are licensed or credentialed by the state or territory where they work, and requirements commonly include documented school counseling education and coursework, completion of a practicum and internship in a K–12 setting, and, sometimes, passage of a state or national exam such as the Praxis. Because requirements vary by state, prospective school counselors should check with their state department of education or other official state educator-credentialing agency for current rules.

Professional associations may also offer voluntary credentials. For example, ASCA offers the ASCA-Certified School Counselor (ACSC) credential, but this does not replace state licensure or certification requirements. Renewal of state credentials may also require continuing education or professional development, depending on state rules. 

School social work requirements also vary by state and employer. Depending on the jurisdiction, a school social worker may need a social work license, a school-based credential from the state education agency, or both. ASWB notes that social work licenses are issued at the state level and that applicants typically need to visit their state board website for licensing information.

Because school-based requirements vary by state, candidates should review both the official state social work licensing board and the official state education agency, as applicable. It is safer not to say that an LCSW is required for school social work in general, because clinical licensure requirements vary by state and are not universal across all school social work positions.

To understand licensure in your area, access the ASCA’s State/Territory Certification and Degree Programs page for school counseling information. 

Based on figures from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for May 2024, the median annual salary for school counselors was $65,140. The National Center for O*NET Development reports a lower median annual wage for school social workers, based on BLS data, of $58,570. 

Employment of school and career counselors and advisors is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.

School counselors and school social workers both support student well-being and academic success, but they are trained through different professional pathways and may be credentialed by different state agencies. School counselors are generally credentialed through state education systems, while school social workers may need a social work license, a school-based credential, or both, depending on the jurisdiction.

Both career paths require graduate education, supervised field experience, and state-specific credential review before practice. School counseling preparation is typically grounded in school counseling graduate education and supervised practicum and internship, while school social work preparation is typically grounded in CSWE-accredited social work education and state social work licensure frameworks.

Whether you choose a career as a school counselor or as a school social worker, both roles can contribute meaningfully to students’ academic progress, well-being, and access to support services in school settings. 

Information last updated: March 2026