How to become An Elementary School Counselor

• Guidance Counsellor 
• Academic Counsellor 
• Student Services Counsellor

What do Elementary School Counsellors do?
An Elementary School Counsellor would typically need to: 

• Develop and implement an elementary school counselling program that fits and fulfils students’ needs, supports the value and goals of education, and ties in with the mission and vision of the school
• Observe students to identify their strengths and areas for improvement; offer guidance to students, teachers, and parents; monitor students’ progress to assess the quantity and quality of change
• Carry out a comprehensive appraisal by administering suitable tests of ability, achievement, and interests, meeting students, and interviewing associated adults; analysing, interpreting, and explaining results to students, teachers, staff, and parents
• Work with students who have special needs or disabilities
• Collaborate with teachers to foster the overall development of students, emotional, behavioural, and academic
• Consult with parents to understand a child’s performance at home and the impact, if any, of the home environment on the child’s overall personality; advise parents on how they could help their child
• Work as part of an interdisciplinary student support services team; liaise with other professionals, including administrators, special education teachers, school social workers, and psychologists; refer students to psychologists or other professionals as needed
• Maintain and update student records, transcripts, and files; ensure confidentiality of information
• Help with open house days, enrollment and student orientation; help with school events, including concerts, sports days, athletics, student recognition assemblies, and graduation ceremonies
• Assist educational planning by contributing to the development of the school curriculum and instructional practices
• Work in ways that support the value of education and the mission and vision of the school you work for
• Ensure that all activities abide by recommended legislative guidelines and policies, including health and safety
• Carry out other assigned or administrative tasks, such as getting school leadership approval on activities and expenses; adapt constructively to any changes
• Work with the community and local organisations; stay up to date with the latest theories and developments in the field

Elementary School Counsellors typically work from their office, conducting meetings with students and their caregivers indoors. However, they may also observe students in the classroom and the playground or in other school situations and settings.

Elementary School Counsellors may work full- or part-time. Most who work in schools may typically follow the school calendar, such as during the summer break, but may need to put in extra hours of week or days around the opening and closing periods.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Elementary School Counsellors can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. In some areas, you may be assigned to the school where you were certified or completed an internship.

Elementary School Counsellors are generally employed by:

• Public Elementary Schools
• Private Elementary Schools
• Nonprofit Organisations
• Rehabilitation Centres
• Medical Facilities

Professional associations and organisations, such as the International School Counselor Association (ISCA), are crucial for Elementary School Counsellors interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Stressful and emotionally draining to help students find strategies to overcome their behavioural, emotional, and academic challenges daily 
• Staying objective and keeping work separate from personal life; practising stress management techniques
• Overburden due to the number of students under their charge
• Dealing with troubled, and possibly violent, students
• Being on the receiving end of the anger of dissatisfied parents during conflicting situations
• Investing time and money in acquiring further academic qualifications and licensing
• Thinking, speaking, and acting differently to suit students of different ages
• Forging relationships with students, teachers, caregivers, and other adults connected with the students
• Risk of catching infections, such as colds and influenza, and exposure to loud sounds and noise levels from working in close contact with young children
• Intense competition in the field

While specific requirements vary by location and job, more experienced candidates hold a competitive edge in the job market for Elementary School Counsellors, particularly in highly successful schools.

Aspiring Elementary School Counsellors may begin early in high school and continue in college to develop their people skills. They may do so by taking elective courses in communications, joining theatre or debating clubs, conducting social service projects, taking up tutoring assignments for younger students, or joining school, campus, or community organisations.

Field experience that you acquire during your bachelor’s degree program, through voluntary or through structured internships, demonstrates your commitment and interest, setting you apart from other applicants for admission into master’s degree programs. For the same reason, build a solid network as admissions need excellent scores and recommendation letters from faculty or professionals.

Some academic programs that an aspiring Elementary School Counsellor undertakes may incorporate a period of supervised experience, such as a practicum or an internship.

A practicum fosters the knowledge, skills and experiences that qualify students to enter an internship placement in counselling, focusing on children or teenagers. It stresses helping students progress in their counselling skills, self-awareness, and the general competencies that ethical practice demands. Evaluation is carried out continuously as well as formally when students complete the practicum.

An internship aims to provide training in selecting and applying counselling and guidance techniques in a real-life academic setting. The field experience prepares students to take on the role of Elementary School Counsellors and fulfil any licensing requirements.

As in any career, reading as much as possible about the profession and interviewing those working in elementary school counselling are other important ways to explore your interest.

While specific requirements may differ by location, a master’s degree in school counselling, counselling psychology or related fields is typically required to become an Elementary School Counsellor. While most majors from accredited institutions are acceptable for entry into a master’s program, majoring in psychology, counselling, or education at a bachelor’s degree level is helpful for aspiring Elementary School Counsellors.

Some master’s degree programs prefer applicants who have experience working with students. Certified teachers may enrol in programs that facilitate a shift into counselling.

A master’s degree program typically focuses on counselling theory, research analysis, student affairs, and ethical issues, teaching you to work with diverse students, both in groups and individually. Your coursework would include counselling practices, childhood development, and multicultural counselling. Fieldwork may be an essential component of the program, bringing you in touch with students and working counsellors in an academic setting before formally entering the workplace. To conclude the program, students may need to pass exams and submit a thesis.

Licensure may be mandatory in some locations for Elementary School Counsellors and may require you to have completed a master’s program in school counselling.

Individual government entities, such as education departments or boards, conduct the licensing process. It typically requires the passage of an examination in addition to the fulfilment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship. However, confirm the licensing requirements applicable to where you plan to work.

You may maintain or renew your counsellor’s license by fulfilling continuing education requirements periodically.

While not compulsory, registration as a member of relevant professional bodies demonstrates that you meet prescribed educational standards and abide by a code of ethics.

Certification demonstrates an Elementary School Counsellor’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. Acquiring accredited credentials may expand your job opportunities and lead to salary increases, allowing you to work as an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Typically, you must pass a background check and possess certification in first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to work as an Elementary School Counsellor.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years.

Within a public school, your opportunities to extend the scope and influence of your work may grow as the local authorities tap into grants and other funding sources or initiate prevention and early initiation projects.

You may engage in direct intervention or take up a wider range of activities. You could conduct a comprehensive evaluation of students’ needs, consult with teachers and parents about student issues, and train faculty, parents, students and community members in problem-solving and managing disability and risk factors.

Formal qualifications as an Elementary School Counsellor broaden your scope of employment within and outside school settings. You may work in community mental health centres, pediatric departments of private and public clinics and hospitals, or correction centres.

You may research in applied settings if you are taking up a doctoral program.

Elementary School Counsellors may also progress in their careers by taking on administrative duties in education or behavioural health. With appropriate qualifications and adequate experience, they may take on middle or high school or college-level student support.

With experience working in a school, you could work as a Post-Secondary Education Administrator who provides student support across departments in public or private colleges, focusing on university life beyond the classroom.

Your role as an Elementary School Counsellor may lead you to become a Director of Special Education and work in an administrative position. You would carry out tasks such as coordinating testing procedures to check if students need special education services and whether they are adequately available to those who need them. You would need to build an understanding of relevant laws and also liaise with special education teachers to promote good practices

You could become a Behavioural Health Director, planning and coordinating inpatient or outpatient care for the clients of a behavioural health facility. `

With enough experience and an extensive network, you could become self-employed and freelance, become an active member in the field, and influence policies and best practices.

You could also diversify into the private sector, to work as a consultant who gives education advice to families and individuals. While you would have some responsibilities similar to your job at school, remuneration may be higher if you are successful.

Aspiring Elementary School Counsellors with a master’s in school counselling and those who have acquired field experience to foster their counselling techniques and people skills have the best job prospects.

Work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, and self-directed learning contribute to the continuing professional development (CPD) of an active Elementary School Counsellor.

Continuing education (CE) serves to meet requirements for maintaining certification or renewing licensure as well as acquiring knowledge of the latest developments and research in your field and learning new skills and techniques to advance your career. Elementary School Counsellors may take courses in diverse areas of education, including drug abuse prevention, family collaboration techniques, and educational assessment. Professional counselling organisations may offer continuing education credits.

Professional associations are a valuable resource for counsellors to find support and tools to help Elementary School Counsellors abide by standards and ethics while furthering their competencies by acquiring certifications or speciality training.

Maintaining and growing in flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances is a crucial aspect of professional development for Elementary School Counsellors. Devising online counselling programs in recent times has helped them continue providing much-needed support to students, parents, and staff.

Making the Most of Your Internship

Make sure to time your internship requirements following the school calendar. Equip yourself with school statistics about the student population and performance records, correlating achievement gaps with the needs of high-risk people. Ensure that you know the procedures to report possible abuse or neglect and that you have informed other stakeholders as well. 

During your internship in an academic setting, aim to volunteer - and enjoy - at least one extra activity, such as helping with the annual play. Join committees, a creative way to become a part of the team and advocate your counselling program. Learn how to carry out educational development planning for elementary school.

Create and implement student behaviour plans in liaison with students, teachers, and parents. Also, gain experience in various unique education plans for individual students. Hold individual and group sessions to practise your skills at building rapport, planning goals, intervention, monitoring progress, and closure. Take notes through the process and reflect.

Learn from your mentor how to deal with paperwork, documentation, and office organisation efficiently. Use your internship time to master classroom management in various grade levels and on diverse topics. Familiarise yourself with the attendance/truancy program at the school as attendance is a critical predictor of school success, completion, and participation and thereby overall student wellbeing.

Dress Code

Dress casually to put young children at ease and to ensure free movement for yourself as you get on and off the floor doing play therapy. Formal attire may intimidate children and inhibit their interaction with you.

Teamwork

Depending on school size, you may be a member of an interdisciplinary student support services team. You would collaborate with relevant professionals, including special education teachers, administrators, psychologists, and school social workers.

Research

If you are engaged in research in your role, you may observe the interactions students have with their teachers, parents, and caregivers or how they react to positive and negative experiences. You would also observe the behavioural differences between students with and without mental illnesses. 

Young children learn 10+ new words daily. The median vocabulary of 55 words at 16 months develops to over 6000 by age six. The range of 0 to over 500 words at age two implies a likely need for support.

An Elementary School Counsellor’s career rests upon recognising individual differences among young children and allowing each student to build a strong foundation in their early years and achieve their goals in their academic, personal, and working lives. Using your specialised knowledge and experience, you apply skills and techniques to assess the students and equip them with constructive tools and strategies so that they are better able to steer their journey forward.

Be visible both physically and through the counselling programs you develop for the school. Keep meticulous records and fine-tune your classroom management skills. Above all, remember to consult mentors and more experienced professionals. There is always more to learn or new ways to apply what you already know.