Diploma Program: Counseling Degree and Programs

Diploma in Counseling Coursework

A diploma in counseling provides students with necessary career training to assist people with personal, family, educational, and career problems. Core courses in counseling typically focus on marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, substance abuse education, psychology, and career counseling. A diploma in counseling helps students expand their knowledge and experience with personal relationships, individual development and growth, and diverse social studies. With a diploma in counseling, you are taking the first step on a path that offers a lot of room for growth.

With a college degree in counseling, job opportunities may be found in elementary and high school systems, government, healthcare counseling groups, and relationship counseling. State and local licensure requirements may differ slightly, but a master's degree is typically required to become a licensed counselor.

Salary and Job Growth

Depending on your level of certification, the salary ranges anywhere from $22,000 to $59,000 per year. Self-employed counselors who have well-established practices, as well as counselors employed in group practices, usually have the highest earnings. Getting to this higher level requires numerous certifications, the first of which is a diploma in counseling. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mental Health counselors earn anywhere from $22,000 to $34,000 per year. For substance abuse, mental health, and rehabilitation counselors, government employers generally pay the highest wages, followed by hospitals and social service agencies. Residential care facilities often pay the lowest wages. School counselors can earn additional income working summers in the school system or in other jobs. The BLS predicts a stronger than average growth for counselors until 2016--with a 34 percent expected growth for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors.