What is School Counseling?
Nevada is a state that's known for many things. Most people may first think of it as the home to Las Vegas, one of the country's top tourist destinations. And that association is wholly warranted since the Nevada economy is led by its outstanding performance in this area. In fact, Nevada ranks 6th nationwide for this economic super sector that spans arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services. That translates into $28 billion in annual revenue. The sector is also a huge employer, as over 400,000 people are needed to staff the world-class hotels, restaurants, and attractions. When one considers that most of this economic activity is generated in one small part of one city, The Strip, this feat is nothing short of astounding.
A school counselor is an education professional who focuses on the mental health and social well-being of students. They typically work in public schools, where they see students on an individual basis and help them overcome whatever may be holding them back from success in school. They may also arrange for group meetings for students with similar issues, such as LGBTQ students, students with disabilities, or students recovering from a similar sort of trauma, such as the loss of a loved one.
School counselors have at least a master’s degree and must be state licensed to conduct their profession. They undergo much of the same training as a mental health counselor, but they also have similar credentials to the teachers in their school. In fact, many school counselors these days may commute between campuses and serve several schools at once. Nevertheless, school counselors still enjoy the benefits of the school calendar, especially the summer and winter breaks. School counselors also must maintain their licensure to remain in good standing with their school district.
Online School Counseling Education in Nevada
Coming in at a close second is Nevada's real estate industry, which generates $25 billion in annual revenue, ranking it 27th nationwide. Again, much of this revenue may come from that small part of Las Vegas, where high rollers enjoy luxury accommodations close to their favorite casinos and entertainment venues. The state's third strongest economic sector is professional and business services, which is ranked 29th nationwide on $19 billion in annual revenues. The fourth strongest industry in Nevada is its retail trade, which generates upwards of $12 billion in annual revenues and is ranked 30th in the United States.
While most of Nevada's top five strongest industries are surely benefiting from the strength of Las Vegas, as well as Reno, the fifth is an industry focused on supporting the people of the state in a different way. The education, healthcare, and social assistance sector brings in $11 billion annually and is ranked 34th in the nation. This includes teachers and school counselors, which are a vital part of what makes Nevada great.
State legislators are well aware of the importance education has in the life of their state. This is part of the reason that the state government funds the state's colleges, community colleges, and universities amply, with enough to support the very best instruction possible. In turn, faculties at each funded institution allocate the funds in such a way that they can attract and maintain the very best faculties possible.
Every educational professional needs to have a state license, whether they work in the classroom, administration offices, or counselor’s office. School counselors, in particular, are mandated to have at least a master’s degree in school counseling, if not a PhD. The stringent requirements are because school counselors need advanced training to conduct sessions with students.
During their undergraduate years, school counseling students often study a related field such as psychology, sociology, or social work, to name a few options. They might even enroll in a teacher preparation degree program. In fact, it may be wise to take a few courses in education to have a base knowledge of the profession and Nevada's rules surrounding it.
Online Associates (AS)
An associate school counseling degree may not be available at the community college level. This is because a master’s degree is required to practice the profession. However, students may take these two years to form a strong academic background that leads to their desired profession. Students may choose an associate degree in addiction counseling, early childhood education, or psychology, for instance. Those fields can help students begin to get an understanding of the human psyche.
An associate degree from a Nevada community college can help students on their way to a career in school counseling. They may take their degree and land an entry-level position with a school, perhaps in the administration offices or as a teacher's aide. Either option can provide a terrific background for later work. Many schools prefer to hire school counselors who have experience working with children in the school environment.
Online Bachelors (BS)
Though undergraduate degree programs don't include school counseling, students who earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, addiction counseling, or social work are well on their way to success as a school counselor. Bachelor’s degree students who desire a career as a school counselor should start investigating the admissions requirements for a school counseling master’s degree program. Certain psychology courses are sure to be desired, as well as education or social work courses.
Students who complete their bachelor’s degree can find work in a school system as a teacher, teacher's aide, or on the administration support staff. It may even be helpful to seek out work as a substitute teacher, even if you didn’t earn a teaching degree. This way, you can gain more insight into the realities of working in a school. This experience will be better informed if you can land a long-term substitute teaching position, perhaps for a teacher taking maternity leave. Note that aspiring school counselors should strive to gain any and all possible in-school experience with the age group they intend to work with in their careers.
Online Masters (MS)
Students must complete their master’s school counseling degree to practice in their desired field. Often, master’s degree students are found in a Master of Education degree program that offers a special track for school counseling, or they enroll in a dedicated school counseling degree program. Either may be acknowledged by a state regulatory body or the Department of Education. Students should note that the Nevada Board will require them to be nationally certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors.
Students in a master’s school counseling degree program often undergo rigorous training in their profession including internships and other experiential learning. Upon graduating from a master’s counseling degree program, Nevadan students often must complete a 600-hour practicum in a school setting. Thankfully, most master’s school counseling degree programs are aligned with the Nevada Board of Education's rules and regulations such that any student should graduate with the requisite coursework and experiential learning credits under their belt.
Those earning a master's degree can also specialize their counselor or related educational programs on whatever type of counselor education most interests them. This includes options such as clinical mental health counseling, human services, school psychology, family counseling or couples counseling, etc.
Online Doctorate (PhD)
Though not necessary to become a school counselor in Nevada, a doctorate can be a help to any counseling professional, including school counselors. Not only do PhD level school counselors enjoy elevated status in their professional lives but they tend to receive higher salaries, too. This is because the Board of Education rewards professionals who earn advanced degrees. Master’s level school counseling professionals are already on a higher pay scale than teachers with a bachelor’s degree, so PhD counselors are some of the top paid professionals in the education system.
Professionals with a PhD also have an easier time if they decide to move into the private sector. As counseling professionals, they can charge insurance agencies more per hour and their status as PhDs helps them to attract clients. A PhD may also open the doors to teaching at the college or university level.