Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

• Summary

• Details

Work Activities

• Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
• Refer students to outside counseling services.
• Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.
• Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
• Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments.
• Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
• Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services.
• Provide special services such as alcohol and drug prevention programs and classes that teach students to handle conflicts without resorting to violence.
• Observe students during classroom and play activities to evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Observe students during classroom and play activities to evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.
• Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.
• Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.
• Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.
• Observe students during classroom and play activities to evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Refer qualified counselees to employers or employment services for job placement.
• Establish and enforce administration policies and rules governing student behavior.
• Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.
• Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.
• Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
• Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.
• Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.
• Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.
• Evaluate students' or individuals' abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.
• Provide information for teachers and staff members involved in helping students or graduates identify and pursue employment opportunities.
• Plan and promote career and employment-related programs and events, such as career planning presentations, work experience programs, job fairs, and career workshops.
• Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
• Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
• Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.
• Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns.
• Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.
• Establish and supervise peer-counseling and peer-tutoring programs.
• Establish and supervise peer-counseling and peer-tutoring programs.
• Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns.
• Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
• Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
• Attend meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops, and serve on committees.
• Collaborate with teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs and in the preparation of master schedules for curriculum offerings.
• Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
• Plan and promote career and employment-related programs and events, such as career planning presentations, work experience programs, job fairs, and career workshops.
• Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment and enrollment activities.
• Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.
• Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.
• Interview clients to obtain information about employment history, educational background, and career goals, and to identify barriers to employment.
• Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.
• Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.
• Establish contacts with employers to create internship and employment opportunities for students.
• Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.

Skills

• Monitoring
  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
• Learning Strategies
  • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
• Science
  • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
• Management of Material Resources
  • Managing equipment and materials.
• Installation
  • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
• Programming
  • Writing computer programs.
• Operation and Control
  • Using equipment or systems.
• Speaking
  • Talking to others.
• Service Orientation
  • Looking for ways to help people.
• Quality Control Analysis
  • Testing how well a product or service works.
• Equipment Maintenance
  • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
• Writing
  • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
• Systems Analysis
  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
• Persuasion
  • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
• Technology Design
  • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
• Systems Evaluation
  • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
• Complex Problem Solving
  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
• Judgment and Decision Making
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
• Coordination
  • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
• Critical Thinking
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
• Social Perceptiveness
  • Understanding people's reactions.
• Troubleshooting
  • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
• Instructing
  • Teaching people how to do something.
• Repairing
  • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
• Operations Analysis
  • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
• Active Listening
  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
• Mathematics
  • Using math to solve problems.
• Management of Financial Resources
  • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
• Active Learning
  • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
• Reading Comprehension
  • Reading work-related information.
• Time Management
  • Managing your time and the time of other people.
• Management of Personnel Resources
  • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
• Negotiation
  • Bringing people together to solve differences.
• Equipment Selection
  • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
• Operations Monitoring
  • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.

Abilities

• Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
• Number Facility
  • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
• Control Precision
  • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
• Mathematical Reasoning
  • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
• Finger Dexterity
  • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Speech Clarity
  • Speaking clearly.
• Deductive Reasoning
  • Using rules to solve problems.
• Multilimb Coordination
  • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
• Static Strength
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
• Fluency of Ideas
  • Coming up with lots of ideas.
• Manual Dexterity
  • Holding or moving items with your hands.
• Inductive Reasoning
  • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
• Response Orientation
  • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
• Perceptual Speed
  • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
• Reaction Time
  • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
• Far Vision
  • Seeing details that are far away.
• Auditory Attention
  • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
• Visual Color Discrimination
  • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
• Sound Localization
  • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
• Hearing Sensitivity
  • Telling the difference between sounds.
• Glare Sensitivity
  • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
• Oral Comprehension
  • Listening and understanding what people say.
• Written Expression
  • Communicating by writing.
• Memorization
  • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
• Explosive Strength
  • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
• Flexibility of Closure
  • Seeing hidden patterns.
• Rate Control
  • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
• Written Comprehension
  • Reading and understanding what is written.
• Originality
  • Creating new and original ideas.
• Selective Attention
  • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
• Stamina
  • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
• Near Vision
  • Seeing details up close.
• Gross Body Equilibrium
  • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
• Extent Flexibility
  • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Spatial Orientation
  • Knowing where things are around you.
• Visualization
  • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
• Speed of Closure
  • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
• Time Sharing
  • Doing two or more things at the same time.
• Night Vision
  • Seeing at night or under low light.
• Speech Recognition
  • Recognizing spoken words.
• Dynamic Flexibility
  • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Gross Body Coordination
  • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
• Depth Perception
  • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
• Peripheral Vision
  • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
• Oral Expression
  • Communicating by speaking.
• Category Flexibility
  • Grouping things in different ways.
• Trunk Strength
  • Using your lower back and stomach.
• Information Ordering
  • Ordering or arranging things.
• Dynamic Strength
  • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
• Problem Sensitivity
  • Noticing when problems happen.
• Speed of Limb Movement
  • Quickly moving your arms and legs.

Knowledge

• Education and Training
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Physics
  • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
• Foreign Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
• Therapy and Counseling
  • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
• Sales and Marketing
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Transportation
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Chemistry
  • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
• Geography
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• Philosophy and Theology
  • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
• History and Archeology
  • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
• Public Safety and Security
  • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Engineering and Technology
  • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Fine Arts
  • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
• Mechanical
  • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Food Production
  • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
• Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Production and Processing
  • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Biology
  • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Sociology and Anthropology
  • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
• Mathematics
  • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Administrative
  • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
• Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Design
  • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Communications and Media
  • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Telecommunications
  • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
• Economics and Accounting
  • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Computers and Electronics
  • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Personnel and Human Resources
  • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
• Building and Construction
  • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
• Law and Government
  • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Education

Education

Master's degree

Work Experience

No work experience

Training

No on-the-job training

Education and Training Opportunities

×

Education and Training Opportunities

• Central Washington University
  400 East University Way, Ellensburg WA 98926
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  10,000 - 19,999

  Financial Aid 509-963-1111
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.cwu.edu/
  Program Name
  School Psychology
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Post-master's certificate
  Save

  ---

• City University of Seattle
  521 Wall Street, Suite 100, Seattle WA 98121
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 888-422-4898
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.cityu.edu/
  Program Name
  Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree
  Save

  ---

• Eastern Washington University
  526 5th Street, Cheney WA 99004-2496
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  10,000 - 19,999

  Financial Aid 509-359-6200
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.ewu.edu/
  Program Name
  School Psychology
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate
  Save

  ---

• Gonzaga University
  E 502 Boone Ave, Spokane WA 99258-0001
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 800-986-9585
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://www.gonzaga.edu/
  Program Name
  Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  School Psychology
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree, Doctor's degree - professional practice
  Save

  ---

• Saint Martin's University
  5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey WA 98503-7500
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 360-491-4700
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://www.stmartin.edu/
  Program Name
  Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree, Post-master's certificate
  Save

  ---

• Seattle Pacific University
  3307 3rd Ave W, Seattle WA 98119-1997
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 206-281-2000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://spu.edu/
  Program Name
  Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
  Save

  ---

• Seattle University
  900 Broadway, Seattle WA 98122-4340
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 206-296-6000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.seattleu.edu/
  Program Name
  School Psychology
  Length
  Less than one year
  Award Level
  Post-master's certificate, Master's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
  Length
  Less than one year
  Award Level
  Post-master's certificate, Master's degree
  Save

  ---

• University of Puget Sound
  1500 N. Warner Street, Tacoma WA 98416
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 253-879-3100
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://www.pugetsound.edu/
  Program Name
  Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree
  Save

  ---

• University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
  1900 Commerce St, Tacoma WA 98402-3100
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 253-692-4400
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/
  Program Name
  School Psychology
  Length
  Less than one year
  Award Level
  Post-master's certificate
  Save

  ---

• Washington State University
  French Administration Building, Pullman WA 99164-5910
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  20,000 and above

  Financial Aid 509-335-3564
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://wsu.edu/
  Program Name
  Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
  Length
  Less than one year
  Award Level
  Postbaccalaureate certificate
  Save
  Program Name
  School Psychology
  Length
  Less than one year
  Award Level
  Postbaccalaureate certificate
  Save

  ---

• Western Washington University
  516 High Street, Bellingham WA 98225-9008
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  10,000 - 19,999

  Financial Aid 360-650-3000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://wwu.edu/
  Program Name
  Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree
  Save

  ---

• Whitworth University
  300 W Hawthorne Rd, Spokane WA 99251
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 509-777-1000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.whitworth.edu/
  Program Name
  Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
  Length
  Less than one year
  Award Level
  Post-master's certificate, Master's degree
  Save

  ---

Close

Pay

Washington Annual Salary

83930/yr

Washington Hourly Wage

40.35/hr

Washington Employment Trends

Currently Employed

7,460

Yearly Projected Openings

710

Personality

Social: People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking. They do well at jobs that need:

• Concern for Others
• Cooperation
• Social Orientation
• Dependability
• Integrity
• Self Control

Tools

• Desktop computers
• Digital camcorders or video cameras
• Digital video disk players or recorders
• Digital voice recorders
• Instant messaging platform
• Liquid crystal display projector
• Notebook computers
• Overhead projectors
• Personal computers
• Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers
• Photocopiers
• Video cassette players or recorders
• Videoconferencing systems

Technology

• Analytical or scientific software
• Cloud-based data access and sharing software
• Computer based training software
• Customer relationship management CRM software
• Data base reporting software
• Data base user interface and query software
• Desktop communications software
• Desktop publishing software
• Development environment software
• Document management software
• Electronic mail software
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software
• Graphics or photo imaging software
• Human resources software
• Information retrieval or search software
• Instant messaging software
• Internet browser software
• Medical software
• Mobile messaging service software
• Network conferencing software
• Network monitoring software
• Office suite software
• Presentation software
• Project management software
• Spreadsheet software
• Video conferencing software
• Video creation and editing software
• Web page creation and editing software
• Web platform development software
• Word processing software