How to Become a School Counselor in Georgia?

A career as a school counselor may be right for you if you enjoy dealing with children and want to help and support others. In Georgia, school counselors made $58,290 on average in 2020.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates faster-than-average job growth of 11% between 2020 and 2030, which is terrific news for anyone wishing to enter the sector.

Before you may be certified in this field, you must complete at least 5 years of school and then 3 years of clinical practice. But if you genuinely want to impact kids’ lives, the investment is worthwhile.

STEP 1

Obtain information from universities that offer associate or bachelor’s degree programs in psychology, counseling, or any other field in which you are now interested. You are not required to sign up right now for a therapy program. The sole prerequisite is starting your associate’s or bachelor’s degree program.

STEP 2

Search for volunteer organizations that assist children or young adults to see if you are interested in a career in social services, such as school counseling. The organizations listed below can help you find volunteer opportunities throughout the state of Georgia.

• Mentoring programs give aspiring teachers valuable practical experience working with students of all ages. It’s a terrific location to figure out if a career in education or counseling is right for you.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Athens County
• BBBS of Northwest Georgia (another section of BBBS in Georgia)
• Map of Georgia School Districts
• You can identify nearby schools and their contact details by using this link. If you’re interested in participating in any volunteer initiatives, get in touch with these schools.

In order to help pupils transition seamlessly from the often turbulent waters of youth to competent and confident citizens of the future, Georgia unquestionably needs more qualified school counselors.

STEP 3

Obtain Georgia school counselor certification first

In Georgia, initial certification applicants may receive either a professional certification or a provisional certification. Following are the prerequisites for both certification kinds.

1. Qualifications in Education

Professional Certificate of Ordinance

If you fit one of the following criteria, you are qualified for a Standard Professional Certificate in School Counseling:

Completion of a master’s degree-level or higher school counseling certification preparation program that has been approved by the state; the following institutions offer such programs online:

1. The University of West Alabama offers counseling programs at the masters and doctoral levels. To get in touch with the University of West Alabama and ask for details about their programs, click here.
2. Our Lady of the Lake University offers a Master of Arts in School Counseling. To get in touch with Our Lady of the Lake University and inquire about their courses, click here.
3. a Certificate in Guidance Counseling from Campbellsville University and an M.A. in Education in School Guidance Counseling (P-12) To get in touch with Campbellsville University and inquire about their courses, click here.
4. Master’s and doctoral counseling programs are available at the University of West Alabama. Click here to contact the University of West Alabama and request more information about their courses.
5. A Master of Arts in School Counseling is offered by Our Lady of the Lake University. To get in touch with Our Lady of the Lake University and learn more about their courses, click here.
6. an M.A. in Education in School Guidance Counseling and a Certificate in Guidance Counseling from Campbellsville University (P-12) Click here to contact Campbellsville University and enquire about their programs.

Having earned a master’s degree or higher in counseling and submitting a current National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) accreditation from the National Board of Certified Counselors

Obtaining a master’s degree or higher in counseling and presenting a valid Georgia professional counselor license to the Office of the Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards Division.

Additionally, you need to have earned at least three (3) semester hours of college credit in special education with a grade of B or higher. The special education criteria are satisfied by candidates who hold a current National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification.

Provisional Certificate

If you satisfy one of the following requirements, you may be eligible for a provisional certificate in school counseling:

• A master’s degree or higher in any counseling subject from a university accredited by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC); or
• A Master of Social Work degree must be earned; or
• Hold the current State of Georgia Clinical Social Work license granted by the Professional Licensing Boards Division or the Secretary of State’s Office.

The Provisional Certificate is granted for a period of one year while verification of participation in an educator preparation program that is recognized by the GaPSC and leads to certification in school counseling is awaited. The certificate will be extended for an extra two years once you’ve started the program.

When the following conditions are satisfied, the Provisional Certificate will be converted to the Professional Certificate.

completion of a master’s degree-level or higher school counseling certification preparation program allowed by the state; or

have earned a master’s degree or higher in counseling and submitting a current National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) accreditation from the National Board of Certified Counselors, or

Acquiring a master’s degree or higher in counseling and submitting a current Georgia professional counselor license from the Office of the Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards Division.

Additionally, you need to have earned at least three semester hours of college credit in special education with a grade of B or higher. The special education criteria are satisfied by candidates who hold a current National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification.

Visit the following GaPSC PDF document for further details on the educational criteria for candidates for the school counseling certification.

STEP 4

Submit a criminal history check

You are eligible for a clearance certificate after being hired by a Georgia Local Unit of Administration (LUA), which attests that you have successfully completed the fingerprinting and criminal background check requirements and have no convictions that would preclude you from employment.

Visit the following GaPSC link for further details on the clearance certificate, including the requirements and the completion process.

STEP 5

Examination specifications

The Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators is the name given to the subject test for school counselors (GACE). Visit the ETS website to learn more about the test and to sign up for one.

STEP 6

Application Submission

You submit your online application for Georgia school counselor certification. Visit the GaPSC website to create an account, register for the MyPSC portal, and submit your application materials.

• You can get the required forms from here if you would rather send your application.
• Applications should be mailed to the following address, along with all necessary supporting materials and fees.

Georgia Professional Standards Commission
200 Piedmont Avenue SE
Suite 1702, West Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334-9032

Further Information

If you require assistance with your Georgia school counselor certification application, please call the Professional Standards Commission at 404-232-2500. Applicants calling from outside the Atlanta metropolitan area should dial 800-869-7775.

The Certification All Center is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.

You can also contact a professional by email at [email protected].

Conclusion

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission’s qualifications for a Standard Professional Certificate are given above (GaPSC). Additionally, there are professional credentials that are Non-Renewable and provisional, as well as options to add school counseling to an existing certificate. The official website of GaPSC is www.gapsc.com, where you may find these.