Last Updated: March 21st, 2022 by
Many factors influence our overall health. Aside from diets and environments, our genes also play a crucial role. As a genetic counselor, you’ll assess patients’ exposure to medical risks based on their genetics.
A lot goes into learning how to become a genetic counselor, and this guide will walk you through it all. So keep reading to see the responsibilities of a genetic counselor, how to become one, and what rewards you can enjoy in that role.
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Job Description
As a genetic counselor, your job is to assess a patient’s risk of genetic conditions. These can include inherited diseases and disorders and possible birth defects.
You’ll perform assessments and evaluations on patients to understand existing health conditions in their families. Beyond that, you will also perform genetic testing wherever necessary.
Once you’ve completed your assessment, you’ll present it to the patient and their other physicians.
That way, they’ll understand the influence of genetics on any medical conditions they’re experiencing.
What Does an Average Day for a Genetic Counselor Look Like?
The best way to learn how to become a genetic counselor is to spend a day with one and see what they do. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible for everyone, but don’t worry.
Here’s a list of tasks you can expect on an average day as a genetic counselor.
Perform Patient Interviews
On an average day, you’ll spend some time interviewing new patients. This part of your interaction with your patient lets you get a clear picture of their medical history.
But more importantly, since your work revolves around genetics, you’ll also ask questions about the patient’s family medical history as well.
During this stage, the information you collect will give you clues as to what signs or tests are necessary for this patient.
Carry Out Genetic Evaluations
After you complete your in-depth patient interviews, you’ll then carry out genetic evaluations.
That means you’ll use the clues you’ve collected to identify the patient’s genetic disorders and diseases risks.
Perform Genetic Tests
The patient’s personal and family medical histories are helpful, but they never paint a complete picture.
That’s why some patients will also want to perform genetic tests to understand their genetic risks to specific disorders.
Before you perform any of these tests, you’ll present patients with test options and help them understand the pros and cons of each one.
Write-Up Consultation Reports
After compiling information from patient interviews and genetic tests, you’ll present that information in the form of a consultation report.
The report is crucial as a reference for the patient. However, it’s also a valuable reference for any other physician treating the patient.
Provide Counseling to Caregivers and Family Members
Dealing with genetic disorders can be pretty challenging.
Quite often, you won’t just deal with the patients directly, their family members, and any other caregiver they might have.
This part of your day is dedicated to explaining things to the caregivers and answering any concerns.
Communicate With Other Medical Professionals
As a genetic counselor, you are likely not the only medical professional interacting with your patient.
So there will be days when you’ll communicate with their other physicians to brief them on the patient’s genetic conditions and risks.
Attend Conferences to Update Knowledge
The field of genetics is constantly evolving.
That’s why you will also devote some time in your day or week to attending conferences or other industry events.
Spending time at those events offers you two crucial benefits. Firstly, it allows you to stay updated with the latest developments in your field.
Secondly, it also helps you network with fellow genetic counselors and other medical professionals interested in your line of work.
Process for Becoming a Genetic Counselor
The process you’ll go through to become a genetic counselor is pretty straightforward.
It emphasizes formal education, followed by certification and licensing, before working unsupervised as a counselor.
As you’ll see below, the process doesn’t have many different pathways for you to choose from.
That means your experience will mostly be the same as any other genetic counselor you meet once you start working.
Here’s what the process will look like for you:
Start in High School
If you’re still in high school, there are several electives you can take that will help you to become a genetic counselor.
Here are some of the high school electives that the Illinois Career Information System (CIS) lists as being helpful:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Child Development
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Parenting
By taking these kinds of electives, you’ll gain early exposure to some topics you’ll learn in college.
When that happens, you’ll learn these topics a lot faster and in greater detail than many other students.
1. Get a Related College Degree
Overall, you’ll need to pursue a master’s degree to learn how to become a genetic counselor.
However, the first step towards that is to pursue a bachelor’s degree, typically in a science-related field.
The most important thing to consider is the prerequisites for the master’s program you’d like to sign up for later.
Some may differ from others regarding what bachelor’s degree they’ll accept.
2. Progress on to a Master’s Degree
After completing your bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to pursue a master’s degree in genetic counseling, genetics, or a related field.
These master’s degrees must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC).
During this part of the process, you’ll complete courses like:
- Public Health
- Developmental Biology
- Epidemiology
- Psychology
As part of your master’s degree course, you’ll also gain hands-on experience through clinical rotations. That’s when you’ll work on genetic counseling programs involving patients while under the supervision of a qualified genetic counselor.
Clinical rotations performed as part of your graduation requirements. They can happen at several different medical facilities with genetic counseling programs like pediatric hospitals, cancer centers, and more.
3. Obtain Certification
The next step in your journey is to obtain certification as a genetic counselor. You can do that through the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC).
You can only become certified by having a master’s degree and passing an exam. After that, you’ll have to complete continuing education courses from time to time to maintain your certified status.
Getting your certification matters for two significant reasons.
Firstly, approximately half of the states in the country will require you to have that certification to obtain a state license.
Even if your state doesn’t require a license, the employer you work for will likely require you to have the certification anyway.
4. Get Licensed by the State
Depending on your state, you might have to get a state license. The requirements will differ based on where you plan on working. So, you’ll have to refer to the state’s medical board to know what requirements you must fulfill to get a license and begin working.
Are You Suited for a Genetic Counselor Career? Skills, Credentials, Tools, and Technology
A career as a genetic counselor can be just as challenging as it is rewarding. So, it’s essential to consider whether or not you’re suited for the job.
Here are some of the personality traits, skills, and proficiencies you must have or be willing to develop to pursue this career path.
Personality and Skills
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), communication, critical thinking, and decision-making skills are essential qualities to become a genetic counselor.
Firstly, you’ll be explaining genetic test procedures and results with your patients. However, some of those results could be difficult for the patient to receive, which is why you must be able to communicate things in a straightforward and easy-to-understand way.
Besides that, your critical thinking is crucial every day as you analyze test results and understand the patient’s genetic risks accurately.
Lastly, your decision-making skills matter in several ways. Firstly, you’ll have to decide what the test results mean based on your genetic expertise.
You’ll also have to decide how best to deliver news to the patient, especially regarding complex issues like the genetic risks they’ve inherited.
Credentials and Proficiencies
The Occupational Information Network (O*Net) points out that proficiencies in medicine, psychology, and sociology are crucial when learning how to become a genetic counselor.
Firstly, being proficient in medicine is crucial as you’re working in the medical field. Also, a lot of the genetic tests you’ll do relate to the risks of specific medical conditions that you must understand well enough to explain to your patients.
At the same time, understanding psychology helps you see things from the patient’s perspective. In doing so, you’ll be much more effective at understanding their concerns and how to address them.
Lastly, being proficient in sociology will also help you go a long way in this line of work. While some disease risks are universal, there are some that people will share based on sociological factors. Proficiency in this topic will give you a better understanding of people’s genetic risks.
How Does a Genetic Counselor Find Work?
As you learn how to become a genetic counselor, you should also plan for how you’ll find work in the industry.
You can find work effectively by focusing on sectors that hire genetic counselors the most. Data by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that these are the largest employers of genetic counselors:
- Hospitals (including local, state, and private hospitals)
- Physician’s offices
- Medical and diagnostic laboratories
- Academic institutions like colleges and universities
You can start your job hunt by searching the area you’d like to work for employers from the categories listed above.
Then, you can find out about current and future job openings by:
- Checking the Careers page of their official websites
- Contacting them directly via email or phone
- If possible, visit their location and ask directly
Whenever possible, be sure to submit a copy of your CV or resume to these potential employers to keep on file. Even if there are no current job openings, some employers will contact you about future job openings when they become available.
What Is the Average Salary of a Genetic Counselor?
The effort and resources you invest in learning how to become a genetic counselor can be very rewarding.
Data by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that genetic counselors earn an average of $89,710 a year. Their data also shows that:
- The top 90th percentile of genetic counselors earns $126,350 a year, and
- The bottom 10th percentile of genetic counselors earns $66,930 a year.
Where Do Genetic Counselors Get Paid the Most?
Your average salary as a genetic counselor can also differ based on your work location. The BLS shows that these are the 5 top-paying states for this line of work:
- California: $119,880
- Connecticut: $013,790
- New York: $96,850
- New Jersey: $91,610
- Colorado: $91,530
How Do You Increase Your Salary as a Genetic Counselor?
You can maximize your earning potential as a genetic counselor through further education and training and by developing a specialization.
For example, after pursuing your master’s degree, you can then progress onto a doctoral degree in this field.
Besides that, improving your knowledge and skills from time to time by undergoing further studies will also make you a more effective genetic counselor.
Lastly, developing a specialization helps you stand out from among your peers. By being an expert in a niche, you’ll be sought after for jobs with better pay, consulting and education roles, and more.
Genetic Counselor Job Outlook
Learning how to become a genetic counselor can lead you to a promising future. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 26% growth of jobs in this sector by 2030.
The BLS describes that growth rate as being ‘much faster than average’, which means that there will be significantly more jobs available in the coming years.
Still, you can remain competitive in this industry by developing a specialization or pursuing an alternative career path, which you’ll discover below.
Top Genetic Counselor Specializations
An article by Science.org shows that genetic counselors can choose from several medical genetics specializations, including:
Prenatal
In this specialization, you’ll focus on genetic conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth. Your focus will be on helping parents a
.nd families assess risk for genetic disorders and birth defects.
Read our related article on How to Become an OBGYN Nurse.
Pediatrics
A patient who is an infant, child, or adolescent falls into the ‘pediatrics’ category. You can choose this specialization if you prefer to provide genetic counseling to patients of those age ranges.
Cardiovascular Disease
This specialization focuses on genetic conditions related to the circulatory systems. That means your focus will be on what might affect the patient’s heart, as well as arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Cancer
The many forms of cancer also have genetic factors related to them. So, genetic counselors can also choose to develop specialist knowledge in this area. Your work will help patients understand what cancers they’re at risk for so they can catch them early if it happens.
Metabolic Disease
Metabolic diseases are those that relate to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. As a genetic counselor focused on this area, you’ll help patients understand their genetic risk of facing these issues.
Alternative Career Paths for Genetic Counselors
The same article by Science.org also highlights that genetic counselors can choose to work in various environments beyond traditional healthcare facilities.
That means you can work in areas like:
Research
Aside from working directly with patients, you can also apply the skills and knowledge you pick up as a genetic counselor to research. Here, you’ll make discoveries to improve the existing practices that genetic counselors use in their daily practice.
Education
With enough hands-on experience, you can also go into the education field. In this career path, you’ll educate future genetic counselors and other medical professionals.
Public Policy
The public policy sector also has places for genetic counselors. Your expertise will be crucial to help formulate policies related to public health.
Consulting
Your expertise as a genetic counselor is also valuable to companies, particularly those in the medical industry. Because of that, you can also become a consultant working directly with them.
Professional Associations
The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC)
Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC)
Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors (AGCPD)
American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC)
State-level associations like:
Minnesota Genetic Counselors Association
Top Colleges and Universities
Case Western Reserve University
Virginia Commonwealth University
