How long does it take to become a Youth Counselor?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a youth counselor. That is the time it takes to learn specific youth counselor skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 5 to 7 years years to become a youth counselor.

How To Become A Youth Counselor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a youth counselor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Juleen Buser Ph.D.,

Christopher Todd Belser Ph.D.

A youth counselor provides guidance to young people facing personal, social, or emotional challenges. They work to promote positive mental health and emotional well-being through counseling sessions, group activities, and educational programs. Youth counselors may specialize in addiction, behavioral issues, or family problems. They assess clients' needs, develop treatment plans, and offer ongoing support. Youth counselors use communication, empathy, and the ability to establish trust. They typically work in schools, community centers, or private practices.

What general advice would you give to a youth counselor?

Juleen Buser Ph.D.

Professor and Director, School Counseling and Coaching Programs, Rider University

Counseling Services (school counseling concentration) and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (we have a CMHC concentration and a Dance Movement Therapy concentration in this program). The general advice I would give to graduates starting positions in the counseling field would be to understand the critical importance of the work of helping professionals. Counselors optimally provide a safe space for clients to discuss their fears, worries, anxieties, joys, traumas, insecurities, accomplishments, etc. This ability to be an empathic, listening, accepting presence will be even more crucial for clients in our current situation.

ScoreYouth CounselorUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $36,754

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.4

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.38%

Asian 3.23%

Black or African American 11.28%

Hispanic or Latino 12.21%

Unknown 5.91%

White 67.00%

Gender

female 56.16%

male 43.84%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

8.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.9

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.8

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a youth counselor?

Pros

Opportunity to help with personal growth and development
Ability to be creative and innovative in programming and activities
Opportunities for professional development and advancement
Opportunity to be a positive role model
Flexibility in schedule and work environment

Cons

High levels of responsibility and liability
Emotional toll of working with troubled youth
Job can be physically demanding
Exposure to potentially dangerous situations or individuals
Burnout and compassion fatigue

Key steps to become a youth counselor

Explore youth counselor education requirements

Most common youth counselor degrees

Bachelor's

58.0 %

Associate

17.4 %

High School Diploma

11.6 %

Start to develop specific youth counselor skills

Skills	Percentages
Direct Care	8.43%
Mental Health	8.26%
Crisis Intervention	7.11%
CPR	6.90%
Social Work	6.58%

Complete relevant youth counselor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New youth counselors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a youth counselor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real youth counselor resumes.

Research youth counselor duties and responsibilities

Instruct students in course work including: reading, writing, mathematics, behavior modification, and social skills.
Train in physical restraint, conflict resolution, first aide, CPR, blood borne pathogen management and universal precautions.
Complete functional assessment evaluations of residents and write individualized rehabilitation goals that encourage community integration.
Monitor behavior, safety and location of juvenile residents that are court mandate, psychological/behavioral disorders, physical disabilities and autism.

Prepare your youth counselor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your youth counselor resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a youth counselor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable youth counselor resume templates

Build a professional youth 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 youth counselor resume.

Apply for youth counselor jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a youth counselor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

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

How did you land your first youth counselor job

Audrey Miroya

Youth Counselor, Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort & Spa

My journey began with a Bachelor's Degree in Gender and Development Studies, with a minor in Psychology. This academic background provided me with a solid foundation in understanding children's and women's rights, as well as the skills to advocate for them effectively.

I started my career as an intern at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where I was involved in rescuing children from risk-prone areas and relocating them to safe environments. In this role, I provided counseling services to both children and their families, helped rebuild familial relationships, and assessed whether homes and parents were fit for the children to return from foster care.

After my internship, I worked for a few years as a social worker at an NGO. My responsibilities included supporting vulnerable children and their families, advocating for their rights, and ensuring their well-being.

I later transitioned to the tourism and hospitality sector, taking on the role of a Kids Club Attendant and Youth Counselor. In this capacity, I develop fun and educational programs for children, ensure their safety during their stay, and assess their emotional and mental states to better cater to their needs.

This diverse experience has given me a unique perspective on the importance of a safe and supportive environment for children, and I am passionate about continuing to make a positive impact in their lives.

I hope my story can inspire others who are interested in pursuing a career as a Youth Counselor.

How do youth counselors rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Youth counselor reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2024

Pros

purpose, options 4 exponential learning

Cons

can be easy to get burnt out, pay is ok

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019

Pros

To help most people out of their respective concern.

Cons

I don't like people perishing, especially the teenagers.

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Cons

The over documentation required by DHS that robs the quality time needed in intervention and treatment. This lopsided demand makes the term “best practices” mere bureaucratic lip service without the means to actually deliver quality hands on services.

Pros

Change agent when people are stuck and need support in the process of restoration. One on one and group processing is powerful.

What is a youth counselor and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a youth counselor?

What are the pros and cons of being a youth counselor?

Youth counselor career paths

Key steps to become a youth counselor

Explore youth counselor education requirements

Most common youth counselor degrees

Start to develop specific youth counselor skills

Complete relevant youth counselor training and internships

Research youth counselor duties and responsibilities

Prepare your youth counselor resume

Choose from 10+ customizable youth counselor resume templates

Apply for youth counselor jobs

How did you land your first youth counselor job

Average youth counselor salary

How do youth counselors rate their job?

Youth counselor reviews

Youth counselor FAQs

How long does it take to become a Youth Counselor?

Search for youth counselor jobs

Youth counselor jobs by state