Re: School counseling job outlook

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Job outlook for counselors varies by area, so depending on
where you go you will experience different levels of
difficulties in finding a job. Also, moving from state to
state will effect your retirement. I earned my degree in NC,
but I work just across the border in SC...if I switch to a
school in NC then I will loose what SC state has put into my
retirement! You will likely run into issues like that by
moving around. In NC school counselors can get jobs in
mental health/community, but mental health counselors can't
get jobs in schools (unless they earn a school counseling
certificate). So school counseling gives you more flexibity
than community counseling in NC, but that varies by state.
Social work and counseling are two different careers, and
while they may overlap in some areas, you need to consider
what you want to be doing day to day and what will make you
happy. Good luck in your search!

On 11/17/09, Diana wrote:
> I am planning to begin a school counseling MA program this
> January. I'm very excited about it, but one issue still
> nags at me: the job outlook for school counselors. I know
> this issue has been brought up numerous times before, but I
> am still confused because the Occupational Outlook Handbook
> says that school counseling jobs "may increase" but that
> budget constraints will "dampen job growth of school
> counselors." Plus, I have heard numerous horror stories
> about how hard it is to find a job. However, people have
> also said that school counseling jobs will increase once the
> economy recovers and current school counselors finally
> retire. I'm not sure what to believe... I'm just nervous
> about spending $25k on a degree that gets me nowhere. There
> isn't a particular region of the US that I'm planning to
> work in, since my partner is in the Coast Guard so we'll be
> moving around every few years. (That's another concern of
> mine; how will the constant moves affect my career?)
>
> Please help! Thanks so much!
 

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