Function

• Career counseling programs teach students how to help others choose a profession that matches their strengths, interests and career goals. While some online certificate programs focus on developing vocational skills, others teach recommended prerequisites for certification through the National Board for Certified Counselors. Online certificate programs are available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and can be taken by practicing counselors as well as professionals who are new to the field.
  
  

Requirements

• Online certificate programs offered at colleges and universities often require full- or part-time enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program. Consequently, career counseling certificate courses are typically included in the curriculum for bachelor's and master's degrees. Participants who already hold a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited institution may also qualify. Admissions to some certificate programs require that applicants submit official transcripts, resumes and personal statements outlining their objectives for the course and afterwards. Other requirements might include standardized test scores, such as the graduate record examination (GRE), and letters of recommendation from professors or employers.
  
  

Curriculum

• Online career counseling programs such as the South Florida University College certificate program are based on educational standards established by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Students may take online courses ranging from career counseling theories and organizational behavior, to counseling administration and employee diversity. Depending on the program, applicants can obtain certificate course credit towards a graduate degree.
  
  

Potential

• Students who seek to earn certificates by taking online career counseling courses should expect positive job prospects following the completion of their program. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that, overall, counseling jobs will grow 18 percent through the year 2018. Jobs within the education sector are also projected to rise by 14 percent. Demand will be driven by cultural changes, since people switch jobs and change careers more often than in previous generations. Also, job applicants with professional certification will be able to position themselves more competitively than candidates without professional credentials.