Educational Requirements

• When you wish to become a counselor, you have to go through a rigorous educational and training process. While the educational requirements vary from one job to the next in this field, most counselors are expected to at least have a master's degree in a related area. For instance, you might find a degree program specifically in counseling or you could get a degree in psychology or family therapy. You must get some kind of degree in the social sciences in most cases.
  
  

Getting Your License

• In most states, you must be licensed before you can actually begin counseling. Even if you have a master's degree in your respective field, you must first complete a licensing process. Most states require you to have the master's degree to take the licensing exam. If you plan on working in a school system as a counselor, you must have a special school counseling license that is provided by your state after taking the appropriate examination.
  
  

Counselor Certification

• Besides being licensed, you can also elect to get a certification as a counselor. You are not necessarily required to be certified in this field, but it does help you get a job and it provides you with a more positive reputation. In the field of counseling, you can be certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors. You can choose to get a general counselor certification or you could specialize in a particular area such as school counseling or clinical mental health counseling.
  
  

Finding Employment

• Once you have the necessary education, licensing and certification, you can begin looking for a job as a counselor. In this field, you could work in a number of facilities. One of the most common areas where counselors work is in the school systems. You could also choose to work in a mental health facility or in a rehab center. Many counselors also choose to work in a substance abuse center and help those with this type of problem.