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Assessment specialist vs licensed professional counselor

The differences between assessment specialists and licensed professional counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an assessment specialist and a licensed professional counselor. Additionally, a licensed professional counselor has an average salary of $94,675, which is higher than the $64,402 average annual salary of an assessment specialist.

The top three skills for an assessment specialist include social work, patients and edition. The most important skills for a licensed professional counselor are patients, social work, and LPC.

Assessment specialist vs licensed professional counselor overview

Assessment SpecialistLicensed Professional Counselor
Yearly salary$64,402$94,675
Hourly rate$30.96$45.52
Growth rate9%6%
Number of jobs90,625153,612
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Master's Degree, 48%
Average age4541
Years of experience44

What does an assessment specialist do?

An assessment specialist is an administrative professional who is responsible for designing and conducting assessment tests for a variety of academic clients. Assessment specialists are required to coordinate and implement the student testing program, which includes assessing an individual child's needs, potentials, and limitations. They must monitor special education or talent and gifted (TAG) staff to ensure that objectives are met. Assessment specialists must also need to know state laws and federal that pertain to educational assessments.

What does a licensed professional counselor do?

A licensed professional counselor is a healthcare professional who specializes in providing therapy and counseling to patients with emotional and mental health issues. They listen to their patients and utilize various techniques to address concerns and help through the healing procedures. Their duties entail conducting interviews and evaluations, performing research and assessments, studying the patients' medical histories, providing consultations, and developing treatment plans that suit every patients' needs. Additionally, a licensed professional counselor monitors and records their patients' progress, adjusting treatments and medications as necessary.

Assessment specialist vs licensed professional counselor salary

Assessment specialists and licensed professional counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assessment SpecialistLicensed Professional Counselor
Average salary$64,402$94,675
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $86,000Between $73,000 And $122,000
Highest paying CityTrenton, NJNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew York
Best paying companyMicrosoftBloomberg
Best paying industryTechnologyReal Estate

Differences between assessment specialist and licensed professional counselor education

There are a few differences between an assessment specialist and a licensed professional counselor in terms of educational background:

Assessment SpecialistLicensed Professional Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Master's Degree, 48%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaNorthwestern University

Assessment specialist vs licensed professional counselor demographics

Here are the differences between assessment specialists' and licensed professional counselors' demographics:

Assessment SpecialistLicensed Professional Counselor
Average age4541
Gender ratioMale, 31.6% Female, 68.4%Male, 28.8% Female, 71.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage15%15%

Differences between assessment specialist and licensed professional counselor duties and responsibilities

Assessment specialist example responsibilities.

  • Screen, identify, diagnose using DSM nomenclature, treat and manage mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
  • Collaborate with clinical staff regarding patient care during testing and any accommodations or adjustments require for patients being test.
  • Work with school assessment coordinators; train and evaluate staff.
  • Examine EMR documentation to determine resident's needs as required by CMS' MDS regulations.
  • Comply with CMS guidelines for Medicaid residents for admission, quarterly and significant change updates as appropriate.
  • Research and create original content for monthly SOE meetings; PowerPoint with synchronous live web camera interactions with faculty.
  • Show more

Licensed professional counselor example responsibilities.

  • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
  • Provide clinical supervision to LPC candidates, contract clinicians and counseling psychology practicum/internship students.
  • Assign, direct, and provide supervision of screening assessment complete by LPC and LCSW.
  • Conduct intakes and assessments on new admissions and recommend placement into services base on ASAM criteria.
  • Coordinate with the patient's family, attending physician, other hospitals and agencies following HIPAA standards.
  • Specialize in OCD and animal assist psychotherapy.
  • Show more

Assessment specialist vs licensed professional counselor skills

Common assessment specialist skills
  • Social Work, 21%
  • Patients, 18%
  • Edition, 7%
  • Professional Development, 3%
  • Mental Health Assessments, 3%
  • Crisis Intervention, 3%
Common licensed professional counselor skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Social Work, 12%
  • LPC, 10%
  • Real Estate, 10%
  • Individual Therapy, 8%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%

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