The Guidance CounselorINTRODUCTIONAccording to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook, counselors are defined as individuals who "assist people with personal, family, educational, mental health and career. Their tasks depend on the people they serve and the environments in which they work” (169). Examples include mental health counselors who help people deal with everyday life issues such as marital, family, stress management, or addiction problems. These consultants mostly work in private offices. Rehabilitation counselors help people deal with different aspects of their physical disabilities, these counselors generally work in medical facilities. Career counselors help people make wise career choices, and most of these counselors work in community agencies. Therefore counseling is a diverse field that encompasses a range of situations and contexts. This report will focus on high school guidance counselors. The main objective will be to discuss the educational requirements needed to apply for jobs in the sector, the necessary skills and abilities desired by employers and the main duties of the job. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS Requirements vary by state for specific types of qualifications and/or licenses and certifications that guidance counselors must possess. Missouri law requires all high school guidance counselors to have secondary counselor certification. The criteria for certification are listed below and were obtained from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. People who want to become guidance counselors must understand that acquiring certification requires a tremendous amount of time, dedication, and education. Initial Certification The professional certificate is valid for five years from the effective date on the certificate and is issued to individuals who meet the following criteria: · A valid Missouri teaching certificate · A minimum of two years of classroom teaching experience · A minimum of one year of experience working in a field other than teaching or counseling · Completion of a course in Education and/or Psychology of the Exceptional Child worth two or more semester hours · Completion of a master's degree with a specialization in guidance and advising from a college or university with approval from the Missouri Department of Elementa...... middle of document ...... ctices. Bibliography: Works Cited “Certification Requirements for Secondary Counselor (Grades 9-12).” Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. March 6, 1998. (November 02, 1998). Chiles, Donna. School Guidance and Counseling. best practices and procedures for pupil personnel services. Springfield: Illinois State Board of Education, 1983. Ellis, Thomas I. The Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Model. Ann Arbor: ERIC Clearinghouse, 1990. Feller, Richard and Daly, J. Role of the Counselor and Educational Change: Planning, Integration, and Core Skills: Book 5 - Comprehensive School Counseling and Guidance Programs Fort Collins: Colorado State University, 1992. King, Gloria. Louis. Telephone interview. October 27, 1998. Thomas, Preston. Director of Student Services, Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory School. Personal interview. November 4, 1998. Renewing school counseling: Strategies for the twenty-first century. Muncie: Accelerated Development Inc., 1992. U.S. Department of Labor. Manual on., 1998.