Counselor Eligibility Application 2024-25

This is a PFT union represented position. The salary currently ranges from $53,085 to $94,283, depending on level of education and years of experience. The salary you receive in your offer letter will be a quote. In order to receive the salary quoted, your educational institution(s) and previous employer(s) must verify your credentials and experience. This is non-negotiable. You can start verifying your credentials and/or experience at any step of the hiring process. Click here to review the prior experience policy, and click here to download the prior experience form.

There are two (2) different counselor classifications – School Counselor and Behavioral Health Counselor. Should you meet minimum requirements, you will be screened by The Office of Prevention & Intervention to determine eligibility for both classifications. Please note, you MUST pass the screen with Prevention & Intervention to be hired into a School Counselor or Behavioral Health Counselor role.

This application is for external hires interested in joining the School District as a counselor, and current employees who are interested in reclassifying to become a counselor. If you are a current School Counselor who wants to be screened for the Behavioral Health Counselor classification, please submit your request here: GoogleForm

Job Summary

Provides counseling services that foster the academic, personal, social, and career development of all students. Provides individual/group counseling and guidance for students and implements broad based programs that deal with decision making, conflict resolution, self esteem, coping strategies, and other issues. Serves as both the primary agent for addressing issues that impact students at risk of failing to attain their full academic potential and the school-based resource for dealing with child abuse/neglect and crisis prevention/intervention. Acts as a liaison between the school and various community/governmental agencies that may provide services to students and their families and participates on the school’s multidisciplinary committee.

Essential Functions for all School Counselors

• Provides general school counseling and guidance programs/services including individual and group counseling and guidance;
• Implements broad based programs dealing with decision-making, conflict resolution, self esteem, coping strategies, and other issues;
• Plans and provides classroom guidance focusing on social and emotional issues, family and/or peer relationships, and decision-making;
• Provides formal and informal counseling services to students and their parents concerning issues that are affecting or may affect the students’ school adjustment;
• Serves as the primary agent for addressing issues that impact students at risk of failing to attain their full academic potential;
• Serves as the school-based resource for dealing with child abuse/neglect and crisis prevention/intervention;
• Participates in team interventions with other staff to support students;
• Participates on the school’s multidisciplinary committee that includes other staff members;
• Collaborates with parents, teachers, and other staff members in the planning and implementation of a comprehensive educational program for students;
• Makes referrals to outside agencies as needed and provides ongoing follow-up services to students and their families;
• Gathers and disseminates information on critical issues such as student substance abuse, child abuse/neglect, suicide prevention/intervention, preteen/teen pregnancy, and homelessness;
• Keeps abreast of current techniques and trends in school counseling and guidance for elementary, middle, and/or high school students;
• Prepares and maintains student counseling records;
• Prepares reports on students, correspondence, and statistical summaries;
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with representatives of various community/governmental agencies to facilitate the availability and accessibility of services to meet the needs of students and their families.

For Behavioral Health Counselors (in addition to the above)

• Provides behavioral health support and fosters a safe and successful learning environment for students;
• Participates in interagency team meetings to address student’s behavioral health needs;
• Provides direct and indirect counseling services to students and their families to address social, emotional, and behavioral health needs;
• Serves as the primary agent for addressing transition of students to and from psychiatric placement and participates in discharge planning meetings;
• Serves as primary liaison and collaborates with school-based behavioral health providers;
• Observes students who have behavioral concerns to inform behavior and safety planning and develops behavior, safety and crisis plans for students;
• Establishes a continuum-of-service resources guide for students and families to access behavioral health and other community-based supports that address social and emotional needs; Provides support to students and families to access behavioral health resources.

Minimum Requirements

For both School Counselor and Behavioral Health Counselors

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in school counseling, mental health counseling, human services with the school counseling specialization, psychology, or a related field

For Behavioral Health Counselors only

• Two (2) years of full-time, paid, professional post-Master’s experience working with children and youth in the behavioral health field, which could include behavioral health work performed as a school counselor

Certificates/Licenses

• Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania instructional specialist certificate endorsed for Elementary Counselor or Secondary Counselor (or Guidance Counselor Certificate issued prior to July 1, 1969) OR;
• Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Elementary and Secondary School Counselor (PK-12) certification OR;
• Meets requirements to obtain an emergency permit and ability to consistently meet emergency permit requirements until certificate can be issued

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• The principles, practices, and theories of individual/group counseling and behavioral intervention;
• The principles, practices, and theories or developmental/educational guidance;
• The current techniques and trends in counseling and guidance at the elementary, middle, and/or secondary level;
• Theories and principles of adolescent development, individual/group behavior, group dynamics, and interpersonal interactions;
• Communication skills and techniques;
• The current health, economic, and social problems experienced by urban families;
• The functions and resources of community/governmental agencies that provide support services for students and their families.

Demonstrated ability to:

• Provide counseling and guidance on an individual/group basis, and to conduct group support/guidance sessions;
• Employ tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment in dealing with sensitive or personal problems and hostile attitudes;
• Work effectively with students and their families and aid them in the constructive use of their capacities to address their specific problems;
• Identify the signs of substance abuse and students at risk for suicide;
• Understand and interpret standardized test scores, making guidelines and promotional policies;
• Participate in crisis intervention;
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Prepare and maintain student-counseling records, reports, correspondence, and statistical summaries;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships;
  • For Behavioral Health Counselors: identify and address needs of students transitioning from psychiatric treatment.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Nondiscrimination

The School District of Philadelphia provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 348 for further information regarding the District’s commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.