A counselor goes through various training schedules and grasps various academy qualifications which he puts into practice to cure a mentally sick person through his medical attention. A counselor can hold his rank after his lower education but he is authorized to get a license only after his master’s degree.
Training and Qualification: A counselors qualification requirements can vary from State Licensure to occupational specialty. A counselor must hold a master’s degree to get a license to practice his work. The education programs of a counselor can be easily seen in some departments of psychology, education and human services.
This department may be seen in various fields such as marriage, family therapy, mental health problem, addictions to various drugs, counseling in education and various other fields. These courses are often grouped into different areas which may include social and cultural diversity, relationships, group efforts and many more. The counselor has to go through 48 to 60 semester hours during his graduation study which also includes a supervised clinical experience in counseling.
Some employers are also provided training for the newly hired counselors. Others may also offer time off or tuition assistance to complete a graduate degree. Counselors can also maintain their certificates and licenses by participating in different graduate studies, personal studies and workshops.
Licensure: A counselor may hold a license but this differs from work setting, occupational specialty or may be by State. Some states require school counselors who can hold a State school counseling certification and for which the counselors must have completed their graduation whereas, some states require counselors who have cleared their master’s degree.
On the other hand some public schools require counselors who can handle both counseling and teaching certificates and also having some kind of teaching experience. A counselor who deals with marriage related problems and family stress problems must hold a master’s degree in counseling family or marriage therapy. However, if a counselor is working in certain fields or if he is specialized with his department may face a different licensure requirement.
For example, if he is a career counselor and if he is working for a private practice then he may need a license whereas a counselor working for a college center may not require a license. In addition to it counselors who deal with criteria such as addiction, behavior disorder is often governed by different State agency or board which are much different from other counselors. In getting a license the counselor may need a high school diploma to practice his own subject.
Other Qualifications: People dealing with counseling session should possess a strong positive desire to aid others and should be able to respect their clients and should be confidence about their profession. The counselors must be able to work independently or they can also work in groups. A counselor must also have strong will power to handle different people who are affected with different mental and psychological problems because dealing with these problems may cause mental stress to the counselor.