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North Dakota School Counselors
North Dakota’s school counselors foster academic and social excellence in every student. Working alongside school administrators, teachers, parents, and communities, school counselors ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed, not only in the PreK-12 school system, but well beyond.
North Dakota school counselors are valuable members of the educational system and are committed to providing unwavering support and guidance to students, families, schools, and communities.
- 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.
A New Bill Looks to Bolster the School Counselor Pipeline in North Dakota
School counselor shortages are nothing new across the nation. But in North Dakota, they’re not settling for this reality. Instead, Senator Kevin Cramer is hitting back through a bill that’s designed to attack the school counselor shortage head-on.
Called the Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act, the bill, which also includes authors Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN), is designed to address school counselor shortages early on in the pipeline – at schools where students earn graduate degrees to become school counselors, school psychologists, and social workers.
The bill, which was introduced on May 22, 2025, is awaiting approval in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. If passed, the bill will authorize the U.S. Department of Education to cover the cost of specific graduate programs through partner academic institutions.
It is the hope of Senator Cramer and others that the funds will inspire many students to pursue the graduate degree that will allow them to become school counselors and other school mental health professionals.
This type of assistance for aspiring school counselors couldn’t come at a better time for North Dakota, which currently has a ratio of one psychologist per 1,204 students (as of the 2023-24 school year); the National Association of School Psychologists recommends a ratio of one psychologist per 500 students.
The Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act has been endorsed by the nation’s largest mental health organizations, including the National Association of School Psychologists, the American Counseling Association, the School Social Work Association of America, and the American Psychological Association.
What do North Dakota school counselors do?
Comprehensive school counseling programs, delivered by North Dakota school counselors, are essential to schools in North Dakota and beyond. Because of the great need for school guidance counseling, professionals in this arena are highly valued members of their educational teams.
Here are few things North Dakota school counselors are expected to accomplish within their school systems:
Academic and college/career planning
Through programs and activities, school counselors assist students in reaching their academic, career, and personal/social goals. This may include individualized planning, and/or classroom instruction aimed at achieving higher education goals. School counselors also help students and families search for the best colleges or universities and locate scholarship opportunities and financial aid.
Future goals and opportunity training
Whether a student is college-bound or not, North Dakota school counselors provide students with the tools and opportunities to identify strengths, weaknesses, and specialized interests to help students reach their full potential. Ultimately, school counselors provide students with the guidance and resources needed to become educated, productive, and well-rounded members of society.
Behavioral health promotion
Through prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery, North Dakota school counselors are trained and equipped to support behavioral health. In-class sessions, as well as student/family guidance, are some of the ways counselors inform, educate, and evaluate potential challenges.
Helpful collaboration with teachers, administration, and families
School counselors work closely with administrators, teachers, students, and parents to close learning gaps, intervene when conflicts arise, and collaborate effectively to ensure students reach their future goals.
Why should someone consider becoming a school counselor in North Dakota?
Job Market Trends
North Dakota School Counselor Salary (median) 1
$60,330/year
Number of School Counselors Employed 1
770
Projected employment growth in North Dakota 2
6.9% from 2022-2032
School counselors have the opportunity to make a tremendous impact on schools, students, and their families. With this in mind, educators often start their careers as teachers but move to the profession of school counseling. North Dakota’s licensure system may be an incentive for teachers looking to shift into counseling. For people who love the idea of helping shape America’s youth into positive, productive citizens, the school counseling profession might be the ideal fit.
Here are a few more reasons someone should consider becoming a school counselor in North Dakota:
- School counseling is a stable, rewarding career that helps America’s youth succeed.
- The need for school counseling professionals continues to grow in North Dakota, which indicates career stability and growth.
- Most school counselors work full-time with summers off, which lends to an ideal schedule for personal travel.
North Dakota school counselors guide the next generation of students to be prosperous, productive members of society. Their work also includes developing new and innovative school counseling programs that ensure the academic and social well-being of all students in the state.
Contact schools offering school counseling or mental health counseling programs and learn how you can begin a career as a North Dakota school counselor.
Whether you are from Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, 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.