RN to Counselor??

Register Today!

  1. This is a discussion on RN to Counselor?? in Nursing Career Advice ... Hello. I am considering going from a hospital RN to hanging my shingle and working in counseling. I...

    by Jul 30, '12
    Hello. I am considering going from a hospital RN to hanging my shingle and working in counseling. I have two degrees (one being my BSN degree). Do I still need to get a degree in Counseling?? Anyone know?? One can open their own counseling center right?? Mulling over the idea... what do you think?? THANKS!
    Read Online


    Print and share with friends and family.
    Compliments of allnurses.com.
    http://allnurses.com/showthread.php?t=764573

    by Epona Jul 30, '12 11:29 am
    ©2013 allnurses.com INC. All Rights Reserved.
  2. 804 Views
    Click Tags to Find Similar Topics

  3. 7 Comments so far...

  4. Jul 30, '12 by
    I'm not sure I understand the question.... Your degrees are not in counseling? What type of counseling service would you offer? Is it related to nursing somehow?
  5. Jul 30, '12 by
    Counseling for what? Like, a licensees professional counselor? If so, you must be licensed by going through a professional program (as the title LPC implies.). I'm not sure where you live, but in my neck of the woods, that means a Masters or Doctoral degree in psychology + internship.
    loriangel14 and roser13 like this.
  6. Jul 30, '12 by
    Quote from Stephalump
    Counseling for what? Like, a licensees professional counselor? If so, you must be licensed by going through a professional program (as the title LPC implies.). I'm not sure where you live, but in my neck of the woods, that means a Masters or Doctoral degree in psychology + internship.
    It is the same in my area. You need at least a Masters degree in psychology with an emphasis in the type of counseling you want to do.
  7. Jul 30, '12 by
    That's why I felt that I was misunderstanding the question. I've not heard of being able to hang a shingle as "counselor" without the educational background. Perhaps OP means some type of health-based counselling which would utilize her RN degree.

    Quote from Stephalump
    Counseling for what? Like, a licensees professional counselor? If so, you must be licensed by going through a professional program (as the title LPC implies.). I'm not sure where you live, but in my neck of the woods, that means a Masters or Doctoral degree in psychology + internship.
  8. Jul 30, '12 by
    Quote from Stephalump
    Counseling for what? Like, a licensees professional counselor? If so, you must be licensed by going through a professional program (as the title LPC implies.). I'm not sure where you live, but in my neck of the woods, that means a Masters or Doctoral degree in psychology + internship.
    Funny, I was just researching this topic for myself. I feel done with nursing and that I would be a much better counselor. Then I saw how much much education I needed..... I don't have the time or money
  9. Aug 5, '12 by
    Thanks everyone! Yes! You answered my questions.... I was not sure if I could just counsel without a degree in counseling or if I had to be certified in that... was wondering if the RN degree alone would suffice.

    Thanks all!!
  10. Aug 5, '12 by
    No way. Whole different field.