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North Carolina School Counselors
School counselors within North Carolina’s public school system are dedicated to the academic, social, and emotional wellbeing of every student in the educational system. These professionals serve as mentors, advisers, counselors, and educators. They collaborate with the educational team, other mental health professionals like social workers and school psychologists, school administration, and the community to provide outstanding support and guidance to students of all abilities.
The over-arching goal of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is to increase the number of school counselors and lower the student/counselor ratio to provide individualized guidance for every student in the state. Armed with professionalism and purpose, North Carolina counselors are committed to the success of all students.
- Top Picks
Featured Universities with School Counseling Programs
#1
Walden University
MS in School Counseling - General Program. Click here to contact Walden University and request information about their programs.
#2
Grand Canyon University
M. Ed in School Counseling (leads to initial Licensure) Click here to contact Grand Canyon University and request information about their programs.
#3
New York University (NYU)
NYU Steinhardt's accredited master of arts program in Counseling and Guidance: School and Bilingual School Counseling. Through this online program, you will gain the skills you need to become a professional Pre-K-12 school counselor, working with children and families in your community to foster academic achievement and success. Click here to contact New York University and request information about their programs.
#4
University of Denver
Earn a Master's degree in School Counseling online from the University of Denver. Learn from doctoral-level faculty in live classes and gain experience through mock counseling and in-field training. No GRE required. Click here to contact University of Denver and request information about their programs.
What do North Carolina school counselors do?
The North Carolina School Counselor Association (NCSCA) promotes excellence in the development of school counseling programs and personal achievement of all students.
Here are a few key things North Carolina counselors do:
Offer responsive services
Ready to implement school counseling interventions, North Carolina counselors seek to help students with their immediate needs and concerns. Through effective instruction and practiced techniques, school counselors teach and incorporate responsive services to everyday issues, as well as emergency situations.
Ensure preparation for the transition out of high school
From basic study skills and learning habits to online research of college and career opportunities, school counselors prepare students for the transition out of high school. They help students address obstacles that may prevent them from continuing their education and steer them towards the best college/career paths. For students who choose a different path, school counselors can effectively guide them towards workforce opportunities and help encourage independent living beyond high school as positive, productive members of society.
Foster a positive school culture
Every school has its challenges to maintain a positive school culture, and school counselors are some of the best at fostering a healthy and supportive environment. Not only are they trained to educate and inform, they are equipped to deal with issues such as bullying, drug/alcohol abuse, and school safety. School counselors in North Carolina work closely with teachers and faculty to advocate for positive learning environments and productive classroom instruction.
Address behavioral and emotional challenges in the classroom
North Carolina school counselors are advocates for students, teachers, and school administrators alike. Often acting as liaisons between students and staff, counselors identify possible behavioral challenges and step in to counsel when needed. They are trained to guide students who are struggling emotionally or socially to handle conflict appropriately.
How North Carolina Schools Are Addressing the Need for More Mental Health Services
As rising numbers of children across the country are reporting feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and even suicide, schools are scrambling to provide the services and resources needed to address this mental health epidemic head on.
In North Carolina, they’ve turned to school-based health, which is focused on providing services to children in the school, thereby eliminating issues with travel or school absences.
School leaders throughout North Carolina have placed a larger focus on providing care to children where they spend most of their time – in school. To do so, some North Carolina schools have formed partnerships with mental health providers who have dedicated staff that handles school referrals. Once the family consents to the services, the child is seen by a provider at some point during the school day.
For example, Triangle Family Services has a full-time therapist that travels among the four schools of the Johnston County Public Schools system to counsel some 22 students each week. The services are billed, and whatever isn’t covered by insurance is covered by a grant from Aetna. They’ve recently expanded their school-based mental health services to include five partners. They served nearly 400 students last year alone.
The story is similar in Wake County, where school-based therapists provide mental health services to children of the state’s largest school system. Schools have reported better attendance and more positive student outcomes as a result of the school-based therapists.
Just some of the other efforts to expand mental health services to children throughout North Carolina include:
- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is investing $7 million to provide care for students with behavioral health needs. This investment will also provide mental health first aid to educators and students.
- Chatham County Schools, Guilford County Schools, Harnett County Schools, and Durham County Public Schools have all implemented/expanded mental health telehealth services. The state health department has funded about $3.5 million toward virtual mental health services, and more school districts are expected to be added.
- Some school systems have begun screening under Project Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education, the state’s pilot program, which seeks to provide mental health care through a continuum of education, universal screening, and services.
- East Carolina University’s Healthier Lives at School and Beyond program uses telemedicine to provide care to students in rural areas. Their services include nutrition education and counseling, behavioral health, and minor medical services. They currently serve schools within medically underserved communities in rural eastern North Carolina.
- The Carolina School-Based Telehealth Learning Collaborative brings together healthcare, education and nonprofit leaders to create school-based clinics in high-needs schools.
The Whole Child NC Advisory Committee at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has made improving access to school-based health services a statewide priority.
Why should someone consider becoming a school counselor in North Carolina?
Job Market Trends
North Carolina School Counselor Salary (median) 1
$57,100/year
Number of School Counselors Employed 1
9,630
Projected employment growth in North Carolina 2
11.6% from 2022-2032
School counselors are valuable members of the educational team whose goal is to guide and counsel America’s youth.
Here are a few reasons why someone should consider becoming a school counselor in North Carolina:
- The median salary for a school counselor in North Carolina is $57,100 per year.
- School counselors serve fierce advocates for students. They are bridge-builders and cheerleaders for every child.
“Effective leadership through action” may be the best description of a North Carolina school counselor. These professionals advocate for every student in the state and work hard to implement necessary changes for the success of their educational programs.
Contact schools offering school counseling or mental health counseling programs and learn how you can begin a career as a North Carolina School Counselor.
Whether you are from Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, or anywhere else across the state, you will find school counseling to be a highly rewarding and respected career.
1.) May 2024 U.S. 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 May 2025.
2.) School Counselor projections data retrieved from Projections Central, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. Data accessed May 2025.