For Students
What is Counseling?
Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.
This definition of counseling was developed by the 20/20 Delegates in March 2010.
Professional Counseling as a Career Choice
What is professional counseling? Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.
People have many different reasons for deciding they want to become a counselor. Some people choose this career because they once had a good experience with a counselor during a difficult time in their own life and they want to “pay it forward.” Another person may have done some volunteer work at a crisis hotline and realized that they enjoyed both the challenges and joys of working with clients facing difficult times. Yet another person may have been told that they are a good listener and they ought to consider working as a mental health professional.
“I have always desired to become a counselor since I was five years old. I have always loved helping people A wonderful lady in our community who worked in the counseling field was instrumental in encouraging me to follow my dreams.” -Barbara Mceuen
Whatever the reasons, individuals that choose to seek a career in counseling usually have one thing in common – a desire to help people work through life’s challenges. Some individuals want to work primarily with children or teens. Others prefer to work with adults. Some want to work in specific settings, such as K-12 schools or college campuses. Others prefer to work in a community setting such as a mental health center or private practice setting.
Counseling can offer the right individual a rewarding career path in a health profession that is growing. It requires a strong desire to interact with people, exceptional communication skills, and an ability to complete a graduate degree. Choosing to become a professional counselor is a commitment to yourself, to others, and to society as a whole.
But choosing to become a counselor is just one of the choices that prospective students must make. Student will need to consider all of the different specializations in counseling with their varying work environments. School counselors work in K-12 educational environments (schools), while clinical mental health counselors may work in private practice, a hospital setting, or some other community agency.
Follow these links to learn more about the field of Counseling and the job outlook for counselors.
If you are already a professional counselor, please share with us your reasons for becoming one. Follow the link to the Contact Us site and choose “Why I became a counselor” in the contact type. We will feature these on this section of the website in the future.
Information on State Licensing Boards
Each State Board has different processes and requirements for obtaining a counseling license. Although graduation from a CACREP program does not guarantee you will be eligible for licensure, most states recognize what a CACREP degree contains. You will need to take the state’s licensure exam and complete the necessary number of post-graduate supervised hours in order to be fully licensed.
We have provided some resources below to help you contact the right office to get answers for your state.
For Licensure as a professional counselor, mental health counselor, marriage, couple and family counselor and/or addictions counselor:
The American Counseling Association publishes Licensure Requirements for Professional Counselors: A state-by-state report which lists licensing requirements in each state as well as contact information for the state board.
The American Association of State Counseling Boards has information about requirements in their member states.
The National Board for Certified Counselors also lists information about state licensure on its website.
For Licensure or Certification as a Professional School Counselor:
States regulate professional school counselors through their departments of education, in the same way they license or certify teachers. The American Counseling Association publishes a booklet called, A Guide to State Laws and Regulations on Professional School Counseling. You can call them at 1-800-347-6647 to purchase a copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Counseling as a Career
- About CACREP
- General Questions
- Programs
- Standards
- Accreditation, Licensure and Certification
- Counseling as a Career
- Find your answers on the CACREP FAQ.
Find a CACREP Program
Search for programs on Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational directory.