In all of these jurisdictions, counselors are required to obtain graduate education in guidance and counseling as an entry-level prerequisite for state credentialing. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia require attainment of a master's degree in counseling and guidance or a related field. Across the country, counseling professionals are stretched thin, and often students do not get the help they need. In states like California or Minnesota, one counselor typically serves more than 1,000 students. Yet in some schools, no counselor is available to assist students in times of crisis, or at any other time.
School counselors are typically responsible for both guidance and student services activities.
In addition, many school counselors are charged with miscellaneous administrative or paperwork duties. According to a recent survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, on average counselors spend roughly 20 percent of their time doing clerical and administrative work. The number of school students is expected to grow by leaps and bounds over the next few years. During this time, many counseling professionals who currently serve our nation's youth will retire. This investment would pay for itself, through reduced incidences of death, violence, and substance abuse, and through improvements in students' academic achievement, graduation rates, college attendance, and employment.