Post job

Cancer genetic counselor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a cancer genetic counselor. Cancer genetic counselors usually study mental health counseling, biology, or genetics. 45% of cancer genetic counselors hold a master's degree, and 41% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 38 real cancer genetic counselor resumes to see exactly what cancer genetic counselor education sections show.

The most common colleges for cancer genetic counselors are the Brandeis University and the Brandeis University.

There are also many online cancer genetic counselor courses to help get the education required to be a cancer genetic counselor.

What education do you need to become a cancer genetic counselor?

What degree do you need to be a cancer genetic counselor?

The most common degree for cancer genetic counselors is master's degree, with 45% of cancer genetic counselors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 41% and bachelor's degree degree at 7%.
  • Master's, 45%
  • Bachelor's, 41%
  • Doctorate, 7%
  • High School Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a cancer genetic counselor?

You should major in mental health counseling to become a cancer genetic counselor. 19% of cancer genetic counselors major in mental health counseling. Other common majors for a cancer genetic counselor include biology and genetics.

Most common colleges for cancer genetic counselors

Cancer genetic counselors often get their degrees at Brandeis University, Winthrop University, and New York University. Here are the most common colleges for cancer genetic counselors in the US based on their resumes.
Cancer genetic counselor common collegePercentages
Brandeis University9.52%
Winthrop University4.76%
New York University4.76%
Washington State University4.76%
University of Massachusetts Amherst4.76%

Best majors for cancer genetic counselors

RankMajorPercentages
1Mental Health Counseling18.8%
2Biology12.5%
3Genetics6.3%
4Psychology6.3%
5School Counseling6.3%

Best colleges for cancer genetic counselors

The best colleges for cancer genetic counselors are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

A cancer genetic counselor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for cancer genetic counselors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become cancer genetic counselors.

1. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

6. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

7. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

8. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

10. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

20 best online courses for cancer genetic counselors

Advertising disclosure

1. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

coursera

This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

2. Understanding Prostate Cancer

coursera

Welcome to Understanding Prostate Cancer. My name is Ken Pienta, Professor of Urology and Oncology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. I have been studying prostate cancer and treating patients with prostate cancer for over 25 years. Over 1,000,000 men worldwide and 230,000 men in the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. Three hundred thousand men worldwide and 30,000 men in the US are dying from prostate cancer every year. As people live longer, the incidence of...

3. Cancer Biology 101

udemy
4.4
(705)

Risk factors, how cancer grows, and how to treat it...

4. Machine Learning Optimization Using Genetic Algorithm

udemy
4.1
(341)

Learn how to optimize Machine Learning algorithms' performances and apply feature selection using Genetic Algorithm...

5. Introduction to the Biology of Cancer

coursera

Over 500,000 people in the United States and over 8 million people worldwide are dying every year from cancer. As people live longer, the incidence of cancer is rising worldwide and the disease is expected to strike over 20 million people annually by 2030. This open course is designed for people who would like to develop an understanding of cancer and how it is prevented, diagnosed, and treated. The course introduces the molecular biology of cancer (oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes) as well...

6. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative

coursera

Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...

7. Biotechnology: Antibodies & their role in Therapeutics

udemy
4.5
(260)

Learn about Antibodies: Their Structure, Types, Functions and Role in Therapeutics & Diagnostics Immunology Biology...

8. Risk Management: Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment

udemy
4.3
(741)

Risk Management: Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA), Hazard Control & Mitigation, Risk Evaluation Techniques...

9. Computing for Cancer Informatics

coursera

One of the key cancer informatics challenges is dealing with and managing the explosion of large data from multiple sources that are often too large to work with on typical personal computers. This course is designed to help researchers and investigators to understand the basics of computing and to familiarize them with various computing options to ultimately help guide their decisions on the topic. This course aims to provide research leaders with awareness and guidance about: Basic computing...

10. Kids with Cancer Still Need School: The Providers Role

coursera

This course will help you understand and address the challenges parents and families face regarding schooling after a cancer diagnosis. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families can be overwhelmed learning about and managing this new and frightening reality. As they adjust to the new normal of ongoing treatment, school may be the farthest thing from their mind. However, as their oncology health care provider, you have a critical role in starting conversations about schooling. Even for...

11. Risk Management: An Introduction

udemy
4
(697)

An essential guide to understanding Risk Management...

12. Introduction to Compliance Risk Management CRM

udemy
4.1
(300)

Compliance risk management CRM for Compliance, Risk Management, Internal Audit and IS Security Professionals...

13. The Little Stuff: Energy, Cells, and Genetics

coursera

In this course, we will explore the smaller side of biology: molecular biology. We’ll cover basic topics including cell biology and how cells can go “rogue” and turn into cancer, how energy from the sun is transferred to fuel our bodies, basics of genetics and inheritance, and genetic technologies. At the end of this course, we will discuss ethical and moral implications of several exciting and new genetic technologies...

14. Immunology: Immune Failures and Cancer Immunology

coursera

Our immune system is a powerful network. It protects us from external threats, such as harmful substances and pathogenic agents, as well as cellular changes which could lead to diseases. Complications emerge when our natural defences do not function properly, which can result in immune disorders. These can take the form of less severe issues such as insect allergy. Others are more harmful, such as auto aggressive immune reactions, that lead to localised or systemic tissue damage. In this...

15. A Beginner's Guide To Machine Learning with Unity

udemy
4.4
(1,948)

Advanced games AI with genetic algorithms, neural networks & Q-learning in C# and Tensorflow for Unity...

16. Introduction to Genetics and Evolution

coursera

Introduction to Genetics and Evolution is a college-level class being offered simultaneously to new students at Duke University. The course gives interested people a very basic overview of some principles behind these very fundamental areas of biology. We often hear about new "genome sequences," commercial kits that can tell you about your ancestry (including pre-human) from your DNA or disease predispositions, debates about the truth of evolution, why animals behave the way they do, and how...

17. Classical papers in molecular genetics

coursera

You have all heard about the DNA double helix and genes. Many of you know that mutations occur randomly, that the DNA sequence is read by successive groups of three bases (the codons), that many genes encode enzymes, and that gene expression can be regulated. These concepts were proposed on the basis of astute genetic experiments, as well as often on biochemical results. The original articles were these concepts appeared are however not frequently part of the normal curriculum of biologists,...

18. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes

coursera

COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...

19. The Emergence of Oncofertility (Past, Present & Future)

coursera

Oncofertility is a new interdisciplinary field at the intersection of oncology and reproductive medicine that aims to provide effective fertility options to young cancer patients undergoing gonadotoxic anticancer therapy through several fertility preservation and restoration strategies. This course aims to provide participants with an exciting learning curve to ensure they understand the fundamentals of oncofertility and help them advance their career. This course is offered by the...

20. Case Studies in Personalized Medicine

coursera

Learn how advances in biomedicine hold the potential to revolutionize drug development, drug treatments, and disease prevention: where are we now, and what does the future hold? This course will present short primers in genetics and mechanisms underlying variability in drug responses. A series of case studies will be used to illustrate principles of how genetics are being brought to bear on refining diagnoses and on personalizing treatment in rare and common diseases. The ethical and...

Top 10 most affordable universities for cancer genetic counselors

The most affordable schools for cancer genetic counselors are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for cancer genetic counselors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for cancer genetic counselors.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

9. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

10. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for cancer genetic counselors

The hardest universities for cancer genetic counselors to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for cancer genetic counselors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for cancer genetic counselors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

4. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

7. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

8. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for cancer genetic counselors

The easiest schools for cancer genetic counselors to get into are Barry University, notre dame de namur university, and d'youville college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a cancer genetic counselor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for cancer genetic counselors.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

4. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

5. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

6. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

7. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

8. Marymount University

Arlington, VA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,065

9. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

10. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

Average cancer genetic counselor salary by education level

According to our data, cancer genetic counselors with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $79,846 annually. Cancer genetic counselors with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $66,832.
Cancer genetic counselor education levelCancer genetic counselor salary
Master's Degree$79,846
Bachelor's Degree$66,832
Some College/ Associate Degree$57,827

Cancer genetic counselor education FAQs

Search for cancer genetic counselor jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs