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West Virginia School Counselors
“Always Free” is the simple yet profound state motto of West Virginia and may adequately describe the professional school counseling initiative within its educational system. With a proactive approach to guiding students towards the freedom to learn, school counselors are instrumental in the lives of West Virginia students.
According to the West Virginia School Counseling Model:
“All West Virginia students will acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to reach their fullest potential and successfully manage their lives as healthy, responsible, competent and productive citizens who respect themselves and others.”
- 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.
By promoting positive attitudes, proper knowledge, and productive skills, school counselors in West Virginia maximize student success and prepare them for a variety of postsecondary opportunities. These professionals work tirelessly to ensure all students in the state have equal access to rigorous academics, college/career opportunities, and social/emotional guidance for a bright and productive future.
The Push to Increase the Number of School Counselors in West Virginia
West Virginia is prioritizing mental health by making a push to get more school counselors in the schools.
Governor Patrick Morrisey’s approval of House Bill 3209 is set to improve the school environment by providing more school counselors. More specifically, the bill will require all public and charter schools throughout the state to have at least two counselors per 1,000 students. Schools may have a ratio of 400-450:1 in elementary and middle schools and 250-300:1 in high schools.
Now the question remains whether the state is meeting the demand in its preparation of school counselors. Preparing, recruiting, and retaining school counselors in the Mountaineer State will likely take priority in the coming years to ensure a solid pipeline of qualified professionals to assume these positions.
A former program called Mountaineer School-Based Mental Health Fellows Program, which helped bolster the number of school counseling grads in high-needs public schools in Harrison County, was recently discontinued after five years.
Funding has become a major focus. It is expected that state government funds will be required to ensure that HB 3209 succeeds.
More counselors in West Virginia can’t come soon enough. A new policy in West Virginia (SB 199) was recently adopted that provides educators with a process for removing a disruptive or violent elementary school student from their classrooms. In these instances, the student would need immediate behavioral interventions. Putting a policy like this into action will require the work of school counselors who would need to be immediately available to see the child and put a plan in place to correct the behavior.
School counseling professionals have become increasingly important in recent years due to the rise in socioemotional and behavioral challenges. A November 2023 survey by the West Virginia Education Association revealed that 71 percent of all members said that student behavior was a “very” serious problem.
What do West Virginia school counselors do?
While the list of school counseling programs and services seem endless, there are a few key things these professionals do:
They offer responsive services.
As unexpected events and situations arise, West Virginia school counselors are prepared to offer responsive services and support. Not only are they ready to respond, they are proactive in educating students and staff to be prepared for crisis and emergency events. School counselors are also equipped to identify everyday issues and challenges that might impede a student’s learning. They guide at-risk students and students with social challenges to help prevent academic setbacks. This may include individual and small group counseling, academic and behavior intervention, and consultation with parents or school staff.
They offer college/career guidance and support, as well as point students towards trade school and workforce options.
With the overarching goal of supporting every student towards college/career achievement, school counselors remain sensitive to those who aren’t college-bound and simply need resources to help guide them towards trade schools and workforce opportunities. With individualized planning, students and their families get the guidance and support they need to find the best path for the future. This includes matching students with the best colleges and universities for their interests and strengths. It also means guiding students through the financial portion of college readiness and acceptance.
They offer in-class instruction.
Depending on the particular school climate and culture, school counselors in West Virginia create specialized programs and courses to instruct students regarding higher education, social/emotional issues, bullying prevention, sex education, and more. They assist teachers and faculty to provide engaging and informative classes for the most comprehensive education in their school systems.
They use data-driven, competency-based, and standard-driven assessment.
West Virginia school counselors evaluate every student based on data and standard-driven assessment. It is their top goal that no student is left behind in their academic pursuits and have equal opportunity to succeed. Counselors assist teachers in implementing these assessments and work hard to take into account the whole child in determining the best course of learning moving forward.
Why should someone consider becoming a school counselor in West Virginia?
Job Market Trends
West Virginia School Counselor Salary (median) 1
$55,420/year
Number of School Counselors Employed 1
1,390
Projected employment growth in West Virginia 2
7.2% from 2022-2032
People who enjoy working with youth and want to make a difference in the academic and social success of America’s students would most likely thrive in the school counseling profession.
Here are a few reasons why someone should consider becoming a school counselor in West Virginia:
- School counseling in the Mountain State is a good fit for purpose-driven individuals seeking a stable, in-demand career.
- School counselors are integral parts of the educational system by serving as liaisons and advocates for students in the school system.
West Virginia school counselors are leaders in their schools and communities and uphold their “Always Free” motto with every opportunity for students to learn, grow, and succeed.
Contact schools offering school counseling or mental health counseling programs and learn how you can begin a career as a West Virginia school counselor.
Whether you are from Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Morgantown, 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.