Residential Counselors

Career summary

Residential counselors may also be called residential advisors, residence life coordinators, or residence directors.

Residential counselors support residents. They help with personal problems or problems with other residents. They plan activities for residents, such as:

• Health and education programs
• Learning skills workshops
• Social functions
• Study hours
• Trips

Residential counselors may work at:

• Boarding schools
• College dorms
• Fraternities
• Sororities

Residential counselors may also work at care and treatment facilities. Most facilities specialize in one age group, such as adults or teenagers. Residential counselors may work with emotionally disturbed children or teenagers who have committed minor crimes or residents who have developmental disabilities.

Residential counselors work with health care staff and family members to understand residents' needs and background. They help set goals for clients to achieve. They help their clients to be as independent as possible. They teach skills in basic grooming and housekeeping.

Some counselors monitor the physical needs of residents. They make sure residents are taking their medications. They set up medical appointments and escort residents to them if they notice problems. They keep daily records of residents' activities.

Counselors may also have maintenance duties. They may hire and supervise people who clean the house. They may plan menus and do grocery shopping. Other duties include:

• Answering phone calls
• Assigning rooms
• Ordering supplies
• Sorting mail

Related careers

This career is part of the Human Services cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers
• Probation Officers
• Recreation Workers
• Social and Human Service Assistants
• Teacher Aides

Military careers

• Caseworkers and Counselors

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to residential counselors.

• Make sure rules and regulations are followed.
• Provide emergency first aid and get medical assistance when necessary.
• Recommend and enforce disciplinary actions.
• Communicate with other staff to resolve problems with students.
• Help residents identify and resolve social and other problems.
• Monitor buildings to make sure residents are safe and secure.
• Observe students and report unusual behavior.
• Notify maintenance staff when buildings are in need of repair.
• Meet with counselors to develop programs that will help students.
• Hold regular meetings with residents.
• Assign rooms to students.
• Provide information on students' progress to superiors.
• Talk with families or doctors to learn clients' background and needs.
• Answer the telephone.
• Supervise work and study programs.
• Prepare paperwork for residents who are leaving.
• Sort and distribute mail.
• Plan and lead group-sponsored trips and social activities.
• Supervise activities of housekeeping staff.
• Order supplies.

Common work activities

Residential counselors perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Assist and care for others
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Get information needed to do the job
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Document and record information
• Evaluate information against standards
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Perform administrative tasks
• Schedule work and activities
• Process information
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Develop and build teams
• Use computers
• Coach others
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Perform for or work with the public
• Develop goals and strategies
• Teach others
• Think creatively
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Analyze data or information
• Monitor and control resources

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, residential counselors:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of contact with residents and coworkers. Communicate daily by telephone, e-mail, or in person.
• Are placed in conflict situations daily with or between residents.
• Are greatly responsible for the health and safety of residents.
• Are greatly responsible for the work done by staff.
• Often deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous residents.
• Often speak in front of large groups of people.
• Write letters and memos on a weekly basis.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Mostly work indoors. May sometimes lead outdoor activities.
• Are often exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable.
• Work somewhat close to other people.

Work performance

• Must be exact in their work.
• Make decisions on a weekly basis that affect residents. They rarely consult a supervisor before making a decision.
• Are able to set most tasks and goals for the day without talking to a supervisor.
• Must meet strict deadlines on a weekly basis.

Hours/travel

• Generally have a set schedule each week.
• Sometimes work more or less than 40 hours a week, depending on where they work.
• May work evenings and weekends. Some residences require round the clock care.
• May travel to different residences in the same town. One agency may manage several group homes.

Physical demands

Residential counselors frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for residential counselors to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for residential counselors to be able to:

• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.

Skills and abilities

Residential counselors need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study to consider

• Child Care Services Management
• Child Development
• Family Resource Management
• Human Services
• Psychology, General
• Social Work
• Sociology

Training

To work as a residential counselor, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

The training required varies by type of facility and resident. Some counselors provide only basic supervision and do not need special training or qualifications. Others teach residents correct behaviors, supervise other workers, and prepare reports. These counselors need specialized training and qualifications.

While a high school diploma is the minimum requirement, many residential counselors have some college or a bachelor's degree. It is more common for residential counselors in certain settings to have master's degrees.

Recommended areas of study include social work, human services, psychology, and sociology. Community colleges and universities offer degrees in these areas.

Work experience

Experience as a camp counselor is good background for this occupation.

On-the-job training

New counselors receive training on the job. As a new counselor you learn to observe patients and record information. You also learn to conduct patient interviews, and follow treatment plans. In addition, you learn to perform crisis intervention and use proper case management methods. Training typically lasts up to one month.

Employers in this field tend to offer seminars and workshops for all employees to improve their skills.

Military training

The military trains people to work as caseworkers and counselors. This training lasts from eight to ten weeks. Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Child Development
• Computer Applications
• Psychology
• Safety and First Aid
• Sociology

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Many employers look for residential counselors who have related work experience or education beyond high school. A bachelor's degree is not required for this field. However, counselors who have more education are usually given more responsibility. Some employers now seek those with master's degrees.

Employers who hire counselors for group homes have more requirements. They may require applicants to pass a criminal background check and drug-screening test. They may also require applicants to have a driver's license.

Employers look for people who have good communication skills and a strong sense of responsibility. They also look for people who are able to manage time and complete multiple tasks. Residential counselors must be patient, understanding, and have a strong desire to help others.

Many employers require current CPR and first aid certification. Training or experience as a nursing assistant can be helpful for some jobs. Some counselor positions require workers to have a valid state driver's license.

#State juvenile rehabilitation counselor job requires driver's license, 4/11/11, cj.

Tips

Conduct an informational interview with a counselor at a group home to see if you would like this type of work.

Costs to workers

Residential counselors may wish to join a professional association, which may have annual dues.

Licensing/certification

Some employers require workers to be registered with the State of Washington as an agency affiliated counselor. Affiliated counselors can only provide counseling for an approved agency such as a university or community college. To become registered, they are required to answer personal data questions and complete four hours of HIV/AIDS training. However, registration is not a state requirement.

For more information on registration, contact:

Washington State Department of Health
Health Systems Quality Assurance
Agency Affiliated Counselor Program 
PO Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504
360.236.4700

#Added statement regarding registration requirements & updated fees, 3/18/19 cj. 2/11/20

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Residential Advisors 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Pay varies by the counselor's level of experience and training. Pay also varies by employer. Private agencies tend to pay more than not-for-profit agencies.

Residential counselors who work full time usually receive benefits. Social service agencies may not be able to pay well, but they sometimes make up for it with benefits. Benefits may include tuition assistance and generous vacation plans. They also may include health and dental insurance, sick leave, and paid vacation. Some employers also provide retirement plans.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Residential care facilities
• Colleges, universities, and boarding schools
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Social services agencies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will remain strong. Factors such as the increase in the aging population mean that residential counselors will be needed for group homes and assisted-care centers. Increases in other types of treatment facilities such as drug and alcohol centers will also increase demand.

Job openings occur as people leave this occupation. The work can be emotionally draining and the pay is low. 

Other resources

American Counseling Association 
6101 Stevenson Avenue, Suite 600
Alexandria, VA 22304
800.347.6647
703.823.0252

NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education 
111 K Street NE, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20002
202.265.7500

References

Career cluster

• Human Services

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Residential Advisors (39-9041.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupation

• Residence Supervisor (187.167-186) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Social/Enterprising/Conventional

COPSystem

• Service Skilled