guidance counselors

[jen428]

I currently work monitoring kids home on parole which I love however I need a career change. I am extreamly underpaid for the amount of work I do. I would like to get into high school guidance counseling. Does anyone know what the requirements are for that? Thanks!

[cheshrcarol]

You'd have to find out what your state requires. Here in NY you have to have a masters. Also, guidance counseling jobs are really competitive here, so you might want to check out the job prospects in your area to see if it's a smart change.

[winneythepooh7]

I think it's a specialized Master's degree. In any event, not to sound preachy, I'd really look into the need and vacancies for this in your area. One of my friend's got her degree in this area. She looked for over a year for a job and then just gave up and took an entry-level human services position because she couldn't find anything. Thank goodness she's married so she has the extra income of her husband. Honestly, and this could just be me being bias cuz I am one, but I really recommend people to consider Social Work who want to be in the "helping professions". Having an MSW degree makes you more marketable and there are so many different populations you can work with. One of my other close friend's from college has her degree in School Psychology. She can't find a job either. She has told me that she keeps finding out they hire Social Workers instead..........

[jen428]

but I really recommend people to consider Social Work who want to be in the "helping professions".

yes i am also applying for a social worker job as well.

[winneythepooh7]

yes i am also applying for a social worker job as well.

Do you have a BSW or MSW? Or is it a human services position?

[jen428]

Do you have a BSW or MSW? Or is it a human services position?


here in MA you can be apply to be a social worker with the department of social services without you social work license. once hired, you get trained and they pay for the test. the company i work for works hand in hand with dss so they take a lot of my companys employees looking to "move on"

[winneythepooh7]

here in MA you can be apply to be a social worker with the department of social services without you social work license. once hired, you get trained and they pay for the test. the company i work for works hand in hand with dss so they take a lot of my companys employees looking to "move on"

I see, but do you have your degree in Social Work? Because honestly, it's not really a "Social Worker", you'd probably be something like a Case Manager or such......just making a point........I don't have my license either because I am not providing therapy.

[jen428]

I see, but do you have your degree in Social Work? Because honestly, it's not really a "Social Worker", you'd probably be something like a Case Manager or such......just making a point........I don't have my license either because I am not providing therapy.

nope you dont have to have your degree in social work and yes you are a social worker. the job title is "social worker". i know it sounds crazy and doesnt make much sense. my boss' wife works there.. she told me all about it

[winneythepooh7]

nope you dont have to have your degree in social work and yes you are a social worker. the job title is "social worker". i know it sounds crazy and doesnt make much sense. my boss' wife works there.. she told me all about it

Not to get in a debate, but this is the reason the SW field is problematic. In my eyes however, a Social Worker is someone who has rightfully earned the degree and experience. Any PERSON and AGENCY that lets someone who is NOT a Social Worker call themself one is doing the profession, and their clients a huge disservice. A doctor or a lawyer wouldn't call themselves one without rightfully earning the title, it shouldn't be any different for MY field.

[wordsmith]

In the state where I got my teaching degree (Minnesota, and no, I don't teach), at the time the certification was conferred, at least, you could not become a guidance counselor without first being a classroom teacher. It was required that you have hands-on teaching experience prior to moving into guidance counseling...I'd have preferred guidance counseling to teaching, but I had to do one to get to the other, and it wasn't worth it to me to put in the time as a classroom teacher, something I truly didn't want to do.

[mgoblue424]

I think it's a specialized Master's degree. In any event, not to sound preachy, I'd really look into the need and vacancies for this in your area. One of my friend's got her degree in this area. She looked for over a year for a job and then just gave up and took an entry-level human services position because she couldn't find anything. Thank goodness she's married so she has the extra income of her husband. Honestly, and this could just be me being bias cuz I am one, but I really recommend people to consider Social Work who want to be in the "helping professions". Having an MSW degree makes you more marketable and there are so many different populations you can work with. One of my other close friend's from college has her degree in School Psychology. She can't find a job either. She has told me that she keeps finding out they hire Social Workers instead..........


school psychologist and school social worker are two different things. the psychologist is the one who does the testing- IQ, achievement tests, and the like. the social worker does the "socio-emotional" stuff- family studies, etc. and theyre the ones who go to family's homes for intereviews, and also usually organize IEPCs.

sheesh, i still know alot about all this.....

[winneythepooh7]

school psychologist and school social worker are two different things. the psychologist is the one who does the testing- IQ, achievement tests, and the like. the social worker does the "socio-emotional" stuff- family studies, etc. and theyre the ones who go to family's homes for intereviews, and also usually organize IEPCs.

sheesh, i still know alot about all this.....

I am aware of that too. But I still personally feel that a lot of places will hire, say one Psychologist for the district and still have the Social Workers do a bulk of the Psychologist's work to save money. They just get the Psychologist to "sign off" on it. I've done this in my past when I worked in a mental health program. I did a lot of the Psychiatrist's paperwork, but he just signed it all for me.

[Deni81]

School Counseling is a specialized Masters degree. I am currently looking into getting my masters in it. Right now I am working as a middle school language arts teacher.

[mgoblue424]

I am aware of that too. But I still personally feel that a lot of places will hire, say one Psychologist for the district and still have the Social Workers do a bulk of the Psychologist's work to save money. They just get the Psychologist to "sign off" on it. I've done this in my past when I worked in a mental health program. I did a lot of the Psychiatrist's paperwork, but he just signed it all for me.


yeah, thats true. when i was at a field placement, the psychiatrist would come on once every two weeks and sign a boat load of forms. none of which he read.



from my understanding, schools are looking to eliminate as many of the psychs. as they can. sad really.

[winneythepooh7]

I strongly recommend anyone who is looking into working in a school setting to do your homework before you start a grad program. From what I see in NYC, in Social Work alone, school positions are next to impossible to get. And just from talking to my mom who was a teacher, these are often the positions that are stretched amongst all the schools (ie. one SW/counselor for elementary, middle and highschool) AND the first to be cut when budget issues come into play. Plus, just from knowing students when I was in grad school, the only little bit of an "in" you can get to work in a school setting is if you are lucky enough to have your placement in a school setting. From what I have learned as well, to be a School Social Worker, it is another special certification. I think it also involves a certain number of years experience in the school setting as well before you can get certified. Again, this is what I mean about doing your homework. A lot of schools are not going to be upfront about this kinda stuff. But talking to people who are actually doing it, will.

[mgoblue424]

i think it varies from state to state, but there are usually three classes that you need to take specifically for cert. as a school social worker. schools often bundle these to other professionals in weekend courses.


they are competitive. a guy i know though is a school social worker, and he got me an interview set up witha school and i hadnt even completed the full courseload yet. shows you just how powerful networking can be.