If you feel called to work with troubled youth, the first step in the process of how to become a youth counselor is to research the requirements for the state in which you plan to work. Every state establishes its own particular requirements, some of which are stricter than others. The typical youth counselor requirements pertain to academic credentials and state licensure.
States may enact stricter requirements for juvenile counselors who wish to work in private or clinical practice. In addition, aspiring counselors can generally expect that they will need to pass a background check. Having a criminal history may not automatically prevent a person from becoming a counselor, although violent convictions will.
Some counseling jobs are civil service positions. In order to be considered for these positions, you will need to pass a civil service examination. Depending on the geographical jurisdiction, some civil service exams may be offered only once or twice per year — you should check the test dates as soon as possible so you can plan accordingly.
Nearly all behavioral health counselors are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Look for a degree in counseling or behavioral health science. It is ideal to choose a degree that offers a specialization option that emphasizes childhood and adolescent counseling, although not every college will offer this.
If your school does not offer a specialization option in childhood and adolescent disorders, you may want to use your electives to take courses in childhood development and similar subjects. Some elective options include communications, criminal justice, sociology and minority studies. If you plan to establish your own counseling practice, you may want to declare a minor in a business subject, such as entrepreneurial studies.
Aside from your electives and classes for your minor, if applicable, you can expect to take a deep dive into human development, abnormal psychology and counseling theories. You will be taught the professional ethics of the counseling field and explore issues pertaining to cultural and social diversity. The curriculum will vary from one school to the next, but in general, it may include any of the following topics:
- Childhood and adolescent disorders, including anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders and conduct disorders
- Childhood trauma and the effects of traumatic experiences with a look at physical, emotional, cognitive and sociological consequences
- Family dynamics and systems, including parenting styles, cultural influences and generational patterns
- Evidence-based research and documentation styles in the behavioral health field
- Physical, cognitive and socioemotional development across the lifespan
Depending on your school, you may be required to complete a capstone project in your senior year. Your capstone project will be the culmination of your academic achievements.
There are entry-level, non-clinical behavioral health counseling positions and some state licensure boards that do not require a graduate degree. However, if you do plan to go into clinical counseling, you will need to earn a graduate degree. Be sure to carefully research the requirements for the state where you would like to work before deciding whether you need to pursue an advanced degree. If you do need to enroll in graduate school, you may decide to gain some experience as an entry-level counselor first or head straight into a master’s degree program after graduating with your bachelor’s.
Your state may have specific requirements regarding the type of graduate degree you should earn. Other states may be more flexible. For example, you might decide to earn a master’s in social work or counseling with an emphasis on youth populations.
As part of your master’s degree program, it is likely that you will need to complete a certain number of practicum hours or clinical internship experience. This allows you to learn through practice under the close supervision of a licensed counselor or social worker. These hours may also count toward a clinical experience requirement established by your state licensure board.
In addition to your coursework on the theories and practice of youth counseling, you can generally expect to complete a master’s thesis (although this is not necessarily required by all degree programs). A master’s thesis is an in-depth research project culminating in a paper that is typically 40 to 80 pages long. Unlike a doctoral dissertation, a master’s thesis does not require you to conduct your own original research.
The last step in becoming a youth counselor is to acquire your professional license, if needed. You may be able to take the licensing exam more than once if you do not pass it the first time. Register for your test as early as possible so you will know how long you have to prepare for it. You should plan on setting aside some time every day to review study materials.
When you receive your counseling license, if applicable, you should make a note of when it will expire. The length of time before a counseling license expires depends on the state or certifying body.
One typical licensure renewal requirement is ongoing professional development. It is easiest to meet this requirement by completing a few continuing education (CE) hours each year, rather than trying to complete all of them during the year when your license is up for renewal. You will also likely need to pay a fee to renew your license.