Juvenile Counselors: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of juvenile counselors about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for juvenile counselors to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of juvenile counselors expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for juvenile counselors.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Juvenile Counselors?
Do juvenile counselors need a degree? What kind of experience do juvenile counselors typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for juvenile counselors to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Juvenile Counselors
Jobs Postings for Juvenile Counselors By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 7,665 (48%)
- High School or GED: 3,543 (22%)
- No Education Listed: 2,389 (15%)
- Master's degree: 1,875 (12%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 446 (3%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of juvenile counselors. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 48% of positions. In 22% of job listings a High School diploma or GED was required and in 15% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Juvenile Counselors
Jobs Postings for Juvenile Counselors By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,922 (27%)
- 2-3 Years: 3,133 (45%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,710 (24%)
- 7-9 Years: 125 (2%)
- 10+ Years: 106 (2%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for juvenile counselors. In 45% of job postings for Juvenile Counselors, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 27% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 24% of job postings for juvenile counselors.
What Kind of Degree Do Juvenile Counselors Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for juvenile counselors, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 6 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective juvenile counselors, and in 2023 a total of 148,765 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective juvenile counselors.
Top Degree Programs for Juvenile Counselors
Top 5 Degree Programs for Juvenile Counselors (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Social Work. | 58,001 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Sociology, General. | 33,034 |
| Criminology. | 10,562 |
| Corrections. | 3,449 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Social Work. | 58,001 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Sociology, General. | 33,034 |
| Criminology. | 10,562 |
| Corrections. | 3,449 |
| Juvenile Corrections. | 56 |
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Degree Options for Juvenile Counselors
Maintain social order and earn credentials for a leadership role in police, corrections, security, or court administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Acquire specialized knowledge while developing a holistic view of the criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 6
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Tackle critical issues facing individuals and communities with advanced leadership and management skills ideally suited for a complex criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Juvenile Counselors Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by juvenile counselors to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for juvenile counselors, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Juvenile Counselors
Based on 13,157 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Juvenile Counselors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation | 6,432 | 49% |
| Social Work | 5,601 | 43% |
| Psychology | 4,185 | 32% |
| Criminal Corrections | 3,958 | 30% |
| Case Management | 3,295 | 25% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Juvenile Counselors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 5,095 | 39% |
| Management | 3,711 | 28% |
| Investigation | 3,610 | 27% |
| Writing | 2,755 | 21% |
| Planning | 2,698 | 21% |
Based on 13,157 job postings related to juvenile counselors, probation was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 49% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for social work, psychology, criminal corrections, case management and sociology were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for juvenile counselors, followed by management, investigation, writing, planning and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation | 6,432 | 49% |
| Social Work | 5,601 | 43% |
| Psychology | 4,185 | 32% |
| Criminal Corrections | 3,958 | 30% |
| Case Management | 3,295 | 25% |
| Sociology | 3,094 | 24% |
| Law Enforcement | 2,805 | 21% |
| Juvenile Justice | 2,687 | 20% |
| Legal Hearings | 2,561 | 19% |
| Mental Health | 2,338 | 18% |
| Substance Abuse | 1,828 | 14% |
| Rehabilitation | 1,801 | 14% |
| Human Services | 1,772 | 13% |
| Behavioral Science | 1,663 | 13% |
| Risk Analysis | 1,307 | 10% |
| Social Sciences | 1,305 | 10% |
| Criminology | 1,300 | 10% |
| Treatment Planning | 1,284 | 10% |
| Crisis Intervention | 1,278 | 10% |
| Juvenile Delinquency | 1,164 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 5,095 | 39% |
| Management | 3,711 | 28% |
| Investigation | 3,610 | 27% |
| Writing | 2,755 | 21% |
| Planning | 2,698 | 21% |
| Operations | 2,291 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 2,057 | 16% |
| Report Writing | 1,940 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 1,470 | 11% |
| Clerical Works | 1,225 | 9% |
| Research | 1,200 | 9% |
| Time Management | 1,196 | 9% |
| Leadership | 1,181 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 1,134 | 9% |
| Accountability | 1,118 | 8% |
| Information Gathering | 1,069 | 8% |
| Filing | 985 | 7% |
| Scheduling | 953 | 7% |
| Decision Making | 936 | 7% |
| Administrative Functions | 935 | 7% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about juvenile counselors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for juvenile counselors.
What do juvenile counselors do?
How much do juvenile counselors make?
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The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.