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Psychology & Human Services
Career Counselor and Career Life Coach
Outlook & Growth
This career is expected to grow 13 percent—about as fast as average—through 2016. Demand for vocational or career counselors will grow as job changes and layoffs become more common.
In addition, state and local governments will employ growing numbers of counselors to help current welfare recipients and laid-off employees find jobs. Counselors also will find work in private job-training and placement centers.
Salary & Wages
In 2006, career counselors and career life coaches earned an average salary greater than $48,000. The middle 50 percent earned $36,000 to $61,000. The highest 10 percent earned more than $76,000.
What is a Career Counselor or Career Life Coach?
Career counselors or career life coaches provide career counseling outside the school setting. Their chief focus is helping individuals with career decisions. They explore and evaluate the client’s education, training, work history, interests, skills and personality traits. They may arrange for aptitude and achievement tests to help the client make career decisions.
Career counselors also work with individuals to develop their job-search skills and assist clients in locating and applying for jobs. In addition, they provide support to people experiencing job loss, job stress or other career transition issues.
Education & Degree Path
Carefully check the education and licensing requirements in your state. Counselors working in certain settings or in a particular specialty may face different licensure requirements. For example, a career counselor working in private practice may need a license, but a counselor working for a college career center or private employment firm may not.
Licensing: Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia have some form of counselor licensure that governs the practice of counseling. Requirements typically include the completion of a master’s degree in counseling, the accumulation of two years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience beyond the master’s degree level, and the passage of a state-specific exam.
Life coaches do not need licensure in most states. Many life coaches practice with only a bachelor’s degree or with private certification. Many private training institutes claim to offer courses and certificates in life coaching online. Be very careful as many of these “institutes” are unaccredited. There is little oversight of credentialing for life coaches as opposed to counselors.
Many professional counselors elect to be certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc., which grants a general practice credential of National Certified Counselor.
Entering the Field: A master’s degree is often required to be licensed as a counselor by any state. Some states require counselors in public employment to hold a master’s degree; others accept only a bachelor’s degree with appropriate counseling courses.
If you have no background in counseling services you can begin exploring this field by earning a certificate or associate degree in human services, counseling, psychology or the general social sciences.
Career Changers: Those with training in human resources often choose to specialize in career or life counseling. Anyone who has worked in social services, correctional services or another helping profession might consider this career. Mental health and substance abuse counselors and psychiatric aides sometimes move into career and life counseling to reduce the emotional burn-out that can accompany working with the mentally ill.

Find online degrees for Psychology and Human Services now. >>

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Source for salary and growth data is the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information on careers in career counseling and life coaching, salaries, and job prospects visit: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Counseling, at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm.
  
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Q I’m looking for an online MBA. I’ve found several that fit my budget but none are accredited by the AACSB. What is the AACSB? Do I really need a distance MBA degree that is accredited by them? —Roberta, Gary, IN
A The AACSB is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. It is considered the gold standard of business school accreditation. But not every student needs an AACSB-accredited MBA...
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Q I was laid off from my job as a real estate agent and want to be a high school math teacher, but my bachelor’s degree is in psychology. Do I need a new degree in education? Will an online bachelor’s in education qualify me to become a licensed teacher? —Willis, Houston, Texas
A If you didn’t earn a bachelor’s degree in education years ago and you now want to teach in the public schools, don’t fret. Every state maintains what are termed “alternative teacher certification” programs...
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American Intercontinental University Online
AIU Online is the web-based virtual campus of American InterContinental University, an international university with residential campuses located in Georgia, California, Florida and England; offers graduate degree programs in Information Technology, Business Administration and Education completely online via rich, multimedia course delivery. American InterContinental University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees.
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Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Bowling Green State University’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice, delivered fully online, has established itself as one of the most valuable programs of its kind in North America. It is designed to help you accelerate success in your career by providing the knowledge and skills that are needed in today’s dynamic and complex criminal justice environment. Contact an admissions advisor today! 1-866-432-3854 Ext. 3540
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More than half of military students use online education. What do you need to know to find schools that best fit your needs? How can you find the best financial aid and scholarship package at your online school? Answers are here.

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The field of online education is growing and so is the need for teachers who can teach online. Check out our regularly updated list of online job opportunities, post your job availability, and visit our Online Resource Center, with tips, advice and free downloads for online educators.

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