Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Phone counselor education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a phone counselor. Phone counselors usually study psychology, social work, or business. 68% of phone counselors hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 424 real phone counselor resumes to see exactly what phone counselor education sections show.
The most common colleges for phone counselors are the University of Florida and the University of Florida.
There are also many online phone counselor courses to help get the education required to be a phone counselor.
What education do you need to become a phone counselor?
What degree do you need to be a phone counselor?
- Bachelor's, 68%
- Master's, 14%
- Associate, 9%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a phone counselor?
- Psychology, 40%
- Social Work, 11%
- Business, 6%
- Sociology, 6%
- Other Majors, 37%
Most common colleges for phone counselors
| Phone counselor common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Florida | 31.40% |
| College of Charleston | 8.14% |
| SUNY Buffalo State | 6.98% |
| San Jose State University | 4.65% |
| University of Central Florida | 4.65% |
Best majors for phone counselors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychology | 40.5% |
| 2 | Social Work | 11.3% |
| 3 | Business | 6.5% |
| 4 | Sociology | 6.1% |
| 5 | Criminal Justice | 4.5% |
Best colleges for phone counselors
The best colleges for phone counselors are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A phone 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 phone 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 phone counselors.
1. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
2. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Enrollment
16,205
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
7. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
8. SUNY at Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$10,011
Enrollment
13,434
9. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,796
Enrollment
27,125
10. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
20 best online courses for phone counselors
Advertising disclosure
1. ERPO: A Civil Approach to Gun Violence Prevention Teach-Out
Evidence shows that 1 life is saved for every 10-20 Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) issued. ERPOs are legally issued civil orders that allow people on the front lines to ask a court to prevent a person at imminent risk of harm to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms during a critical period of risk. As of October 2020, ERPO laws have been enacted by nineteen states and the District of Columbia and while some aspects differ by state, the general process for applying...
2. Crisis Intervention Seminar
The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...
3. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...
4. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
5. Winning Communication Skills for Telephone, Conference Calls
Improve Communication Skills - Use the Telephone Effectively! Avoid Phone Etiquette Blunders that Annoy...
6. Certified Spiritual Counselor & Psychology EmpathACCREDITED
Use a humanistic, soul care approach using strategy, positive psychology, emotional/impulse responses & natural empathy...
7. Professional Certification in Counseling - Fully Accredited
Become Professional Counselor (Counsellor)...
8. Cisco CUCM Quickstart Guide To Admin Services Phones Users
Cisco Call Manager Guide For Cisco CCNP Collaboration CLCOR CCT CUCM Cisco Unified Communication Manager CLCOR CLACCM...
9. [Accredited] Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Counselor
Learn DBT in depth, start conducting sessions with ready to use templates, and set up counseling practice within weeks!...
10. Speaking on the Telephone: Confidently Speak on the Phone
Tips and tricks to sound comfortable, confident and relaxed on any phone call...
11. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives
Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...
12. Public Relations: Media Crisis Communications
Public Relations: You Can Shape and Control Your Media Messages at The Worst Possible Times...
13. Customer Service English Essentials
Learn the English phrases, sentences, and tips you'll need to handle customer service situations over the phone...
14. Getting Started with Call Center Training
Call Center Training is essential for both new hires and existing staff to sharpen their skills and feel motivated...
15. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience
Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...
16. Mental Health First Aid Skills -
This course is designed to provide the tools and knowledge for learners to help and support those experiencing MH issues...
17. Business Communication Skills: Handling Clients & Customers
Soft Skills Training Social Skills Business Etiquette Business English Customer Service Training...
18. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...
19. Step by Step Mobile Phone Travel Videos
Smart Phone Video Creation made Easy...
20. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate
Be a leader in improving society's mental health and learn to provide mental health first aid...
Top 10 most affordable universities for phone counselors
The most affordable schools for phone counselors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for phone 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 phone counselors.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
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. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
6. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
7. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
10. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for phone counselors
The hardest universities for phone counselors to get into are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for phone 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 phone 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
5. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
8. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
9. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
10. Fordham University
Bronx, NY • Private
Admissions rate
46%
SAT average
1,354
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for phone counselors
The easiest schools for phone counselors to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, mount saint mary's university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a phone 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 phone counselors.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
5. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
6. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
7. Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,059
8. College of New Rochelle, The
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
982
9. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
10. Rosemont College
Rosemont, PA • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,026
Average phone counselor salary by education level
| Phone counselor education level | Phone counselor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $40,870 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $36,544 |
Phone counselor education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.
Search for phone counselor jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025