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This is a guide to becoming a school counselor in California.
School counselors are the backbone of the education system, helping students and teachers alike navigate the challenges of school life. School counselors help students with everything from studying for tests to dealing with bullying and mental health issues. They also work closely with teachers and administrators to come up with new ways to improve student performance in the classroom.
If you’re interested in becoming a school counselor, follow these steps:
- Get your degree! You’ll need a bachelor’s degree before taking any of the other steps on this list. Your degree can be in any field; however, it’s important that your major includes courses focused on psychology as well as education. If you don’t have any experience working with children or teens, consider getting some volunteer experience at a local high school or middle school before applying for an internship or entry-level position. Most states require that you complete at least one year of professional experience before applying for certification; this requirement may vary depending on where you live so make sure to check out your state’s rules before applying!
- Enroll in an accredited program! There are several programs offered at both two-year institutions as well as four-year universities across California.
How To Become A School Counselor In California
- You can be a school counselor in California by following these steps:
- What is a school counselor?
- Why you might want to become a school counselor.
- How long it takes to become a school counselor.
To become an LA County School Counselor, you must have one of the following degrees and meet the minimum requirements: School Counseling Degree (Master’s degree) or Higher Education Certificate with School Counseling Major – Equivalent of 1 year experience as an LAUSD School Counselor (Master’s Degree) or Master’s Degree from other U.S.-accredited University – Equivalent of 2 years experience as an LAUSD School Counselor
Step 1: Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree
All school counselors must have a bachelor’s degree. Typically, you’ll complete your undergraduate degree in a field related to counseling, such as psychology or social work. You must also meet basic state requirements for education and testing:
- The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST). This test assesses reading comprehension, writing skills and math ability. It can be taken online or at one of several locations throughout the state.
- The California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET). This exam measures subject-specific knowledge in English language arts and mathematics; it may be taken online or at one of several locations throughout the state.To become certified by the State Board of Education as a school counselor, you must also pass two additional exams:
Step 2: Complete Teacher Assistance Program
The Teacher Assistance Program is designed to prepare you as a school counselor by providing you with the skills and knowledge needed to provide guidance and support to students. This program usually takes place over the course of one academic year, depending on your availability and schedule.
Once you have completed this training program, it is time to take your next step!
Step 3: Earn A Master’s Degree
- Earn a master’s degree
You must choose a master’s program with an emphasis in school counseling. If you are not working as a counselor at the time, some schools may allow you to complete your internship while enrolled in your coursework. In other cases, interns must complete their work after they have graduated and received their license. However, if you have already worked as a school counselor for some time, most programs will allow you to apply credits toward your master’s degree program (up to 20).
In addition to completing 60 semester hours of coursework in counseling, human development and educational psychology; you will also need to take specific courses such as Child & Adolescent Development or Assessment & Evaluation for School Counselors among others. Some universities also require students to complete an internship during their last year of study or upon graduation from the school counseling master’s program itself—this can range from 100 hours up into 500 hours or more depending on how many credits were earned before enrolling into graduate studies again! Additionally speaking from personal experience here: Maintaining good grades is crucial because without them nobody wants hire someone who isn’t qualified enough for something like this.”
Step 4: Obtain Professional License
You’re almost there! Now, you just have to complete an application for a license and pass the exam. Then, you can start working as a School Counselor in California.
To apply for your professional license:
- Complete the application for a license by submitting all required documents. If you are working outside of California, you will need to submit documentation proving that you have completed two years of post-graduate work experience in school counseling at an accredited institution within five years prior to starting your employment with [school district name]. You will also need to submit fingerprints at this time.
- Pay $130 fee online at [pay website] within 30 days of submitting your application materials if they are not already included in another one of its fees (like fingerprinting). It could take up to 90 days after submitting everything before receiving notification from [agency/organization name] whether or not they will grant your application; however, it usually takes no longer than 30 days for them to respond back with their decision about what needs fixing before making their final decision about whether or not they approve your request (which is why paying early helps).
Once you have completed all of these steps, you can begin your new career as a counselor.
Once you have completed all of these steps, you can begin your new career as a counselor. Keep in mind that, as with any other profession, you may need to take continuing education courses to qualify for renewal when it comes time to renew your license.