Florida School Counselors

Historically, Florida adopted the nickname “Sunshine State,” not only because of its tropical climate, but because it surpassed other states with its beachside tourism and popular theme parks. Today, however, Florida could be called the “Sunshine State” because of the way it outshines other education systems with its vibrant school counseling endeavors.

Florida students are provided with solid academic and career options, as school counseling programs are created with contemporary curriculum choices and modern learning methods. Because of this, Florida educators are patting themselves on the back for their rise in the ranks of public education.

Many educators in the Florida school system, as well as people looking to change careers, are seriously looking at the school counseling option. It comes as no surprise, as Florida education advocates work tirelessly to improve academic benchmarks and lead the way for others.

What do Florida school counselors do?

There’s no doubt that Florida school counselors pour everything they have into guiding students towards the best academic opportunities. And the time they invest in Florida’s youth, is time they believe is well-spent.

Here are even more essential roles Florida school counselors play:

  1. They promote equity among students of all socioeconomic backgrounds.

    No matter what socioeconomic background students in Florida have experienced, school counselors work hard to help them overcome past, current, and potential challenges that might interfere with their academic success.

  2. They impact students’ social/behavioral development.

    Today’s schools have become far more than basic educational centers. Many students need guidance in emotional, social, and behavioral development in order to complete their educational goals successfully. Florida’s school counselors are there to address the whole student and direct them towards healthy social and behavioral decisions that will greatly impact their academic success.

  3. They guide students into college/career options and opportunities.

    Without the direction of school counselors, students would be vulnerable to making poor college and career decisions that could possibly waste valuable time and money. Florida school counselors work hard to find the best options and opportunities for every student, by guiding them towards the path that fits their individual goals.

  4. They work with other school officials and administration to further strengthen counseling programs in Florida schools.

    With the mission to excel in education, Florida school counselors work closely with administration to further develop their programs and reach even more students with individualized help.

  5. They implement safety awareness and violence prevention for both students and faculty.

    Prevention, as well as early intervention, are key focal points for Florida school counselors. They rightly assess that many student crises can be prevented if safety skills are taught beforehand.

Why should someone consider becoming a school counselor in Florida?

Job Market Trends

Florida School Counselor Salary (average) 1

$52,770/year

Number of School Counselors Employed 1

18,590

Projected employment growth in Florida 2

13.1% from 2018 - 2028

1.) May, 2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market and salary figures for Educational, Guidance and Career Counselors and Advisors represents state data not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed July, 2021.

2.) School Counselor projections data pulled from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections in collaboration with Florida State Employment Projections. Data accessed July, 2021.

Florida’s school counseling services are enhanced by collaborative educational agencies that work together to provide the best resources possible. Establishing a common vision, mission, and expectation of outcome is important for Florida’s education department and school counselors across the state.

Here are a few strong points of becoming a school counselor in Florida:

  • Many positive changes are happening around the school counseling initiative in the state of Florida.
  • Counselors play a key role in academic advisement for Florida youth-a much-needed role in today’s national climate.
  • There is room for growth as school counseling services continue to change with school reform and modern student needs.

As Florida school counselors continue to implement comprehensive programs and sound assessments for every student, they improve the odds of student success by leaps and bounds. Continuing to shine in their area of expertise, they plan to rise even further in the ranks by helping more students transition into college or the workforce. Other states in the nation can look forward to this Sunshine State making a big impact on student achievement in the future.

Contact schools offering school counseling or mental health counseling programs and learn how you can begin a career as a Florida School Counselor.

Whether you are from Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale or anywhere else across the state, you will find the school counseling career a highly rewarding and respected career.

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