School counselors provide academic, personal and developmental support to school-age children. These professionals used to be referred to as "guidance counselors," but that term doesn’t scratch the surface of the chalkboard when it comes to the duties of the profession.

Elementary school counselors interact with young kids, either individually or in small groups, acting as a sounding board for all their day-to-day activities. They may also assist teachers in assessing students’ abilities and interests, and they ensure that children with different needs receive proper care and education. High school counselors have similar responsibilities, but they also help teens transition from secondary school into the workforce or collegiate life. They could assist students with college application materials, coordinate study trips, proctor entrance tests and chaperone college visits. They may also help a young person pick a career path and help him or her enter an apprenticeship. "It is one of the best professions in the world," says Gail M. Smith, a retired school counseling director for the Cobb County School District in Georgia and former board member with the American School Counselor Association. "We get to work with students and see them achieve."

With the increasing amount of on-site campus career centers opening to help students prepare and develop skills for the workforce, school counseling jobs are in demand.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.4% employment growth for school counselors between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 18,400 jobs should open up

Working in counseling requires a significant amount of training. Specific requirements to earn a practicing license or certificate vary by state, but most school counselors must have at least a master’s degree. During their time at an accredited degree program, an aspiring counselor will most likely get supervised experience in the field, and some states require applicants to have one to two years of classroom teaching experience before receiving certification. Some public school systems may prefer candidates to have both counseling and teaching certificates.