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Genetic Counselor

Overview and Key Facts

woman counselor
Education
Education
Master's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$98,910
Job Growth
Job Growth
9.30%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
4,300

What Do They Do?

A genetic counselor could...

 
cancer cells
Research a heritable disease to discover causal mutations and prevention.
family with baby
Help people with a family history of genetic disorders have healthy babies.
DNA graphic
Advise lawmakers about laws to protect people against genetic discrimination.
counseling session
Counsel patients, who are at risk of inheriting a genetic disease, about their options.
 
cancer cells family with baby DNA graphic counseling session

Overview Listen to this section

Many decisions regarding a person's health depend on knowing the patient's genetic risk of having a disease. Genetic counselors help assess those risks, explain them to patients, and counsel individuals and families about their options.
Watch this video from NOVA scienceNOW to learn how personal DNA sequencing may revolutionize healthcare.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbDgxZWyAZQ

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Genetic Counselor?


  1. Reading Comprehension: ?
  2. Active Listening: ?
  3. Complex Problem Solving: ?
  4. Social Perceptiveness: ?
  5. Writing: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Genetic Counselor might do:
  • Interpret laboratory results and communicate findings to patients or physicians.
  • Analyze genetic information to identify patients or families at risk for specific disorders or syndromes.
  • Discuss testing options and the associated risks, benefits and limitations with patients and families to assist them in making informed decisions.
  • Provide counseling to patient and family members by providing information, education, or reassurance.
  • Write detailed consultation reports to provide information on complex genetic concepts to patients or referring physicians.
  • Provide genetic counseling in specified areas of clinical genetics, such as obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology and neurology.
  • Determine or coordinate treatment plans by requesting laboratory services, reviewing genetics or counseling literature, and considering histories or diagnostic data.
  • Interview patients or review medical records to obtain comprehensive patient or family medical histories, and document findings.
  • Assess patients' psychological or emotional needs, such as those relating to stress, fear of test results, financial issues, and marital conflicts to make referral recommendations or assist patients in managing test outcomes.
  • Provide patients with information about the inheritance of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and various forms of cancer.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in genetics.
  • Prepare or provide genetics-related educational materials to patients or medical personnel.
  • Explain diagnostic procedures such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS), ultrasound, fetal blood sampling, and amniocentesis.
  • Refer patients to specialists or community resources.
  • Design and conduct genetics training programs for physicians, graduate students, other health professions or the general community.
  • Evaluate or make recommendations for standards of care or clinical operations, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, ethics, legislation, or policies.
  • Engage in research activities related to the field of medical genetics or genetic counseling.
  • Collect for, or share with, research projects patient data on specific genetic disorders or syndromes.
  • Identify funding sources and write grant proposals for eligible programs or services.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state
No data available for some states (white on the map)

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Genetic Counselor Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Genetic Counselor jobs (9.30%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Genetic Counselor

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

The majority of genetic counselors practicing today are board certified. Board certification to become a Certified Genetic Counselor (CGC) is available through the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC). Requirements include documentation of the following: a graduate degree in genetic counseling from an accredited program; clinical experience in an ABGC-approved training site or sites; a log book of 50 supervised cases; and successful completion of both the general and specialty certification examination.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Master's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

Students interested in genetic counseling careers should be sure to take all the high school biology, chemistry, and math courses available to them. Good written and communication skills are also important and can be gained in English, foreign languages, and sociology classes.

In college, students should continue to study biology, chemistry, statistics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology.

Students interested in pursuing this career should also seek ways to gain experience in counseling. This can be done in a number of ways, including applying for peer-counseling positions, or volunteering with a crisis center or hotline.

Genetic counselors need to complete a master's degree in genetic counseling. Coursework typically includes clinical genetics, population genetics, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics, coupled with psychosocial theory, ethics, and counseling techniques. Clinical placement in approved medical genetics centers is an integral part of the degree requirement.

Companies That Hire Genetic Counselors

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Read this interview with Barbara Biesecker, a genetic counselor at the National Human Genome Research Institute.
I chose to become a genetic counselor because I loved genetics and wanted a career combining the life and social sciences. 
Barbara Biesecker

Nature of the Work

In clinical settings, genetic counselors provide information and support to individuals who have or are at risk of having birth defects or genetic conditions, as well as to their families. They analyze family history information, interpret information about specific disorders, discuss the inheritance patterns, assess the risk to individuals, and review available options for testing or management with families. In addition to informative counseling, genetic counselors also provide supportive counseling to help individuals and families cope with and adapt to their altered circumstances.

Some genetic counselors also work in research settings, where they use the same diagnostic skills to discover how disorders are inherited and evaluate what can be done to treat them.

Genetic counselors often have teaching roles, in addition to their clinical or research work. They are involved in educating medical residents, medical students, genetic counseling students, physicians, other health care providers, and the general public, about human genetics.

Work Environment

Genetic counselors can work in a wide variety of settings. The most common setting is a clinical practice. Genetic counselors work in prenatal, pediatric, adult, and cancer clinics, where they serve to inform and counsel patients about their genetic risks.

Genetic counselors also work in laboratories. Some counselors are now working for agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state Departments of Health. Others are working for pharmaceutical companies in the area of pharmacogenetics.

Additionally, many genetic counselors are involved in educating health care providers at medical or nursing schools.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Additional Resources

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