Counselors must participate in graduate studies, workshops, institutes, and personal studies to maintain their certificates and licenses. Persons interested in counseling should have a strong interest in helping others and the ability to inspire respect, trust, and confidence. They should be able to work independently or as part of a team. Prospects for advancement vary by counseling field. Rehabilitation, mental health, and employment counselors may become supervisors or administrators in their agencies.
Some counselors move into research, consulting, or college teaching, or go into private practice.
Job Outlook Overall employment of counselors is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005. In addition, replacement needs should increase significantly by the end of the decade as a large number of counselors reach retirement age. Employment of school counselors is expected to grow because of increasing enrollments, particularly in secondary schools, State legislation requiring counselors in elementary schools, and the expanded responsibilities of counselors. Counselors increasingly are becoming involved in crisis and preventive counseling, helping students deal with issues ranging from drug and alcohol abuse to death and suicide. Despite the increasing use of counselors, however, employment growth may be dampened by budgetary constraints some counselors serve more than one school.