What do they do?
Assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. Provide information to other healthcare providers or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions. Advise individuals and families to support informed decisionmaking and coping methods for those at risk. May help conduct research related to genetic conditions or genetic counseling.
Also known as:
Certified Genetic Counselor, Genetic Counselor, Medical Science Liaison, Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor, Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator
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Ranks #23 in job growth rate10Job Openings
Ranks #13 in net job growth
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- Master's degree (36%)
- Bachelor's degree (31%)
- Some college, no degree (12%)
- Associate's degree (9%)
- High school diploma equivalent (6%)
- Doctorate or Professional Degree (4%)
- Less than high school diploma (<1%)
Most Popular Majors that prepare Genetic Counselors
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#1
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Degrees Granted
299
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Female Students
276
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Male Students
23
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Median Starting Salary
$37,200
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#2
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Degrees Granted
215
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Female Students
184
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Male Students
31
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Median Starting Salary
$42,090
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#3
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Degrees Granted
101
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Female Students
66
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Male Students
35
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Median Starting Salary
$42,090
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#4
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Degrees Granted
80
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Female Students
41
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Male Students
39
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Median Starting Salary
$42,090
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#5
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Degrees Granted
28
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Female Students
20
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Male Students
8
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Median Starting Salary
$42,090
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People in this career often have these skills:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
People in this career often know a lot about:
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
- Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
People in this career often have talent in:
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
People in this career often do these activities:
- Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
- Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
- Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members.
- Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
- Interact with patients to build rapport or provide emotional support.
- Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.
- Advise patients on effects of health conditions or treatments.
- Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.
- Develop medical treatment plans.
- Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests.
- Gather medical information from patient histories.
- Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
- Record patient medical histories.
- Evaluate patient functioning, capabilities, or health.
- Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
- Prepare healthcare training materials.
- Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.
- Conduct health or safety training programs.
- Train medical providers.
- Develop healthcare quality and safety procedures.
- Advise medical personnel regarding healthcare issues.
- Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.
This page includes data from:
Career data: O*NET 28.3 Database
by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA
Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics
Videos: CareerOneStop, USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development
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