I'll be obtaining my bachelor's degree soon in Human Services! What should I do next?
I would like to work in a school counseling kids, discussing the importance of education.
Motivate them to stay in school etc. What should my next step be? Is there anything I can
get involve with now that can help me later in the future? #college #education #degree #human #services
2 answers
Leslie Finger
Leslie’s Answer
You should consider getting a masters in either teaching or social work. These will allow you to be a school counselor, which is what it sounds like you want to be. For now, you might consider trying to get involved with an extracurricular activity that allows you to mentor or teach kids. A lot of colleges have programs like that. Good luck!
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi Alexis! School Counseling is a very rewarding career, I am in my 4th year as a school counselor and I love the work. I would like to expand upon Leslie's suggestion....
Being able to do the work of school counseling requires a specific credential called a Type 73 certificate. Leslie is right, you can have a Masters Degree in either teaching or social work that will allow you to get the post grad Type 73 certification. (Although this is starting to change in most states for people with a teaching degree). A teacher with a Type 73 can act as a school counselor, performing the job description that you've written about (but I don't recommend the teaching degree as soon you won't be able to use this to obtain a Type 73). A Social Work Degree with a Type 73 operates in similar capacity to a School Counselor but focuses less on gearing kids toward college etc. and more on helping students who are in crisis (setting up housing assistance, directing suicidal students toward treatment etc). It sounds like what you'd like to do is traditional School Counseling and your best route to that career is to get a Masters Degree in Counseling with a School Counseling specialty, a degree which comes with the Type 73 endorsement.