Career Counseling Cost

Typical costs:

• Career counseling sessions typically cost $75-$150 per hour. Someone seeking resume help or general career advice may settle on one or two sessions, while a person looking for a career change might attend 4-8 career counseling sessions. For example, the Career Management Institute^[1] in University Place, WA, provides career counseling for $95 per hour. Counselor Ruthann Reim McCaffree also offers a package of eight personal assessments for an additional $240, which helps define the client's interests, personality and values.
• Written and graded assessments are often billed separately from career counseling and typically cost $125-$450 for a package of tests. Popular assessments include the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator^[2] and Strong Interest Inventory^[3] . For $125, Professional Career Counseling^[4] of Lakewood, CO, offers a personalized testing package to help identify a client's suitable occupations.
• Many colleges or universities offer career counseling and other services for free or at a discount to alumni. Augusta State University^[5] in Georgia offers alumni a package of three career counseling sessions, two written assessments and a results packet for $99.

• Counselors should be certified through the National Board for Certified Counselors^[6] and hold a master's degree in counseling.
• A career counselor should provide an initial consultation to discuss the services available. For example, Linda Rolie of Career Services^[7] in Ashland, OR, gives the client an initial questionnaire and offers her first consultation in-person, over the phone, or via email.
• Career counselors are trained to help people identify their talents as well as career goals. If a person is unhappy in their current vocational path, a career counselor will ask questions to find out why and may use a variety of tools to suggest a career change. Likewise, a career counselor may advise a student who is trying to determine the best course of study or help an employee transition into retirement.
• The counselor can typically offer practical advice on how to implement a career change. This may or may not include services such as resume writing or job searching. However, a career counselor's job is not to offer career placement services; this is the job of an employment agency.
• Career assessments should include testing as well as a printout of the results. The counselor should be available to analyze and discuss the results with the client.

• The National Career Development Association^[8] offers a searchable database of career counselors who hold master's degrees and are certified.
• Ask the Headhunter^[9] explains what job seekers should look for in a career counselor, and advises that a client should check the counselor's references and look for a "pay-as-you-go" deal rather than buy a large counseling package all at once.

1.  www.careermi.com
2.  www.myersbriggs.org/my%2Dmbti%2Dpersonality%2Dtype/
3.  /www.cpp.com/products/strong/index.aspx
4.  www.professionalcareercounseling.com
5.  www.gru.edu/admin/counseling/
6.  www.nbcc.org/OurCertifications
7.  www.lindarolie.com/
8.  associationdatabase.com/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/consumer_find
9.  www.asktheheadhunter.com/hacounselors.htm

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