How to Become a Georgia School Counselor

Where are you on your quest to become a Georgia School Counselor?

• I’m a High School Graduate…
• I have already earned a college degree…
• I’m a certified counselor from another state…

Explore the information below and learn how you can become a school counselor in Georgia. Some of the information below may be subject to change. In order to make sure you have the most current information, please feel free to contact your school counseling education program advisor or contact the Georgia Department of Education licensing department at (404) 232-2500.

I’m a High School Graduate…

As a high school graduate, you are in a great place to begin exploring career options in the field of education and school counseling.

Before being qualified to apply for a school counseling certification in Georgia, you will need to earn your Master’s degree. This may sound daunting, but right now all you have to do is begin earning your associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in any field you like! You may wish to have an emphasis in counseling or psychology, however, specialization is not mandatory until you reach a graduate level.

The following are recommended steps for you to best prepare yourself mentally and with regard to fulfilling qualification requirements as a Georgia school counselor.

Step One:

Gather information from schools offering associate degree programs or bachelor degree programs in psychology, counseling or any type of program you are currently interested in. It is not imperative you enroll in a counseling program at this point. The only necessity is that you begin earning your associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree.

Step Two:

A great way to find out if you are interested in a social service type of career, like school counseling, is to find volunteering organizations who work with children or young adults. The following are links to organizations who can place you in volunteering positions across the state of Georgia:

• Mentoring programs offer the aspiring educator great hands-on experience in working with student aged individuals. It is a great place to learn whether a career in counseling or education is for you.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Athens County
• BBBS of Northwest Georgia (another section of BBBS in Georgia)
• Map of Georgia School Districts
  • Use this link to find schools near you as well as each school’s contact information. Contact these schools to find out if there are any volunteer programs you may participate in.

Georgia is definitely in need of quality school counselors to help students transition smoothly from the always turbulent waters of youth to competent and confident citizens of tomorrow.

So, go ahead and see how you can be a part of Georgia’s future.

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I have already earned a college degree…

The following are the steps necessary for earning your school counseling certification in Georgia:

Step One:

Fulfill educational requirements through one of the following avenues:

• • Earn a Master’s degree in School Counseling
    
    
  • Or find school counseling programs in Georgia here.

• Earn a Master’s in any other field and then make sure you have been accepted in a school counseling program prior to applying for certification.

Step Two:

You will need to successfully complete the school counseling assessment of the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE). You can more information about this exam, the test dates, locations, etc. on their website.

Step Three:

You will need to request official transcripts of all post-secondary education you have completed be sent to the Georgia Department of Education.

Step Four:

You will need to complete an application. You may download and mail an application or complete the application online at the following webpage. You can also find more information on the school counseling certification requirements in Georgia by clicking on the “school counseling” link under the heading of “Service Fields” on this webpage.

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I’m a certified counselor from another state…

If you currently hold a professional school counseling certification in another state, you may be eligible for a school counselor certification in Georgia through reciprocity agreements.

However, certification is granted on an individual basis and your certification and experience will need to match specific Georgia Department of Education requirements for school counseling certification, or you will need to complete any deficit of qualifications you currently have.

On this webpage you will find information and links to more information on the procedure and requirements for earning your Georgia school counseling certification.

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