Summary. We reviewed real candidate profiles to learn the best path to become an education counselor. We'll guide you through the education, experiences, and skills hiring managers look for in an education counselor.

  • Most companies require a education counselor to have a bachelor's degree degree in a related field, such as psychology or business.

  • It's important to have relevant work experience, with typical job requirements ranging from 2-4 years in related fields.

  • Common job titles before becoming an education counselor include internship, counselor, and teacher.

  • Hiring managers expect an education counselor to have soft skills such as analytical skills, compassion, and interpersonal skills.

  • Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of 6-12 months of job training to become an education counselor.

  • Getting a certification as a Pastoral Counseling Certification will help you to earn more as an education counselor.

How to become an Education Counselor in 5 steps:

  • Step 1: Explore education counselor education
  • Step 2: Develop education counselor skills
  • Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
  • Step 4: Research education counselor duties
  • Step 5: Prepare your resume
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Key Steps To Become an Education Counselor

  1. Explore Education Counselor Education

    If you're interested in becoming an education counselor, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 62.6% of education counselors have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 20.3% of education counselors have master's degrees. Even though most education counselors have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become an education counselor. When we researched the most common majors for an education counselor, we found that they most commonly have psychology, business and school counseling.

    Education Counselor Degrees

    Bachelors

    62.6 %

    Masters

    20.3 %

    Associate

    8.9 %

    Education Counselor MajorPercentages
    Psychology23.70%
    Business8.00%
    School Counseling6.60%
    Social Work6.40%
    Other Degrees55.30%

  2. Develop Education Counselor Skills

    It'll be a good idea to develop education counselor skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in education counselor job descriptions:

  3. Complete Relevent Training/Internship

    Education counselors spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new education counselors learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as an education counselor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real education counselor resumes.

    Average Amount Of Time At Training

    None

    Less than 1 month

    1-3 months

    3-6 months

    6-12 months

    1-2 years

    2-4 years

  4. Research Education Counselor Duties

    When you decide to become an education counselor, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most education counselor jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:

    • Provide consultation and in-service to teachers, administrators and parents regarding IEP's, guidance and counseling practices and programs.
    • Collaborate as member of IEP teams, with school and district representatives and families, to identify specific student needs areas.
    • Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
    • Participate in special education meetings as administrator, coordinate state testing and assist with RTI identifications.
    • Facilitate RTI process on caseload through identification, implementation, and through monitoring progress for further referrals for at-risk students.
    • Ensure client safety and provide necessary intervention toward adolescent teens admit into an inpatient drug and mental health treatment facility.

  5. Prepare Your Resume

    Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Education Counselor Resume templates

    Build a professional Education Counselor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Education Counselor resume.

    Education Counselor Resume
    Education Counselor Resume
    Education Counselor Resume
    Education Counselor Resume
    Education Counselor Resume
    Education Counselor Resume
    Education Counselor Resume
    Education Counselor Resume
    Education Counselor Resume

  6. Apply For an Education Counselor Job

    With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

    Education Counselor Jobs

  7. How To Become an Education Counselor
    How To Become an Education Counselor Career Overview