Required Education to Be a Counselor

Education Counselors

Education counselors work with K-12 students or in colleges. They help students succeed both academically and personally. Education counselors work alongside teachers, administrators and school psychologists. A master's level training in education counseling includes courses such as multicultural counseling, human development in adolescence and young adulthood, career development education and advanced child development. Students receive their training from licensed faculty. The coursework in education counseling is designed to help students meet their state and national licensing requirements.

Rehabilitation counselors work with people who have disabilities. They are trained to provide personal and vocational counseling. Graduate training for rehabilitation counselors includes coursework on topics such as the psychosocial and environmental aspects of disability, social and cultural diversity, counseling and consultation and counseling theory and techniques. Students are required to successfully complete their core course requirements as well as direct clinical hours. Most graduate training for rehabilitation counselors also includes internship training in a rehabilitation setting where students work with patients who come from diverse social backgrounds.

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors work with clients who have problems with alcohol, drugs, gambling or eating disorders. Substance abuse counselors generally enroll in a master's degree program in psychology and earn a certificate in substance abuse prevention. The certificate training includes coursework in topics such as professional ethics, alcohol, alcoholism and drug abuse, clinical writing and drugs and behavior. Students who successfully complete the training will be prepared to counsel individuals with substance abuse problems, conduct research and explain personal, interpersonal and social factors that promote substance abuse.

Marriage and family therapists train in psychology and specialize in family systems theory. They work with individuals, couples or groups. A master's training in marriage and family therapy is designed to prepare students for state licensure. In addition to their classroom training, students must complete their clinical instruction under the supervision of licensed counselors. Course highlights include the theoretical foundations of marriage and family systems, professional ethics, clinical practice and specialized research. Students are required to complete the clinical portion of their studies by conducting independent field research.