Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat a Genetic Counselor DoesReasons to See OneTraining and EducationBenefitsDownsides
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What a Genetic Counselor Does
Reasons to See One
Training and Education
Benefits
Downsides
Genetic counselors are medical professionals who help determine your risk for genetic conditions. They provide advice about whether you should have a genetic test and what to do if you’re at risk for a medical condition.
If you’re pregnant, genetic counselors can help you find out whether your child is at risk for conditions such asDown syndrome. They can also help determine your risk of developing an inheritable disease, such as breast cancer.
This article provides information about what a genetic counselor does and who can benefit from genetic counseling. It also covers the pros and cons of the career as well as the educational requirements.
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What Does a Genetic Counselor Do?
Genetic counselors help patients understand how their genetic information affects their health so they can make informed decisions. For example, if a genetic counselor determines you have a higher risk of developing heart disease, your healthcare provider can closely monitor your cardiac health and recommend screenings and preventive care.
Prospective parents might also consult a genetic counselor to determine whether their unborn child might be at risk for an inherited disorder. These consultations can be done before or during pregnancy.
A genetics counselor is a professional who helps people make decisions based upon genetic information.
Genetics counselors also work alongside other healthcare professionals, including doctors, geneticists, nurses, and social workers. The goal is to help individuals and families make informed decisions about their health and to assist clients in finding the services that best serve their needs.
During a session with a client, a genetics counselor might:
In the past, genetics counselors primarily worked in prenatal areas. Today, the role has expanded into specialized areas of medicine, including oncology, neurology, pediatrics, and cardiology.In addition to seeing patients, they can also work in clinical research, education, and industry.
As researchers, genetic counselors help with developing new treatments for genetic conditions.This includes coordinating experiments, collecting research data, working with other researchers, and presenting findings.
In the education field, genetic counselors can teach in high schools, colleges, and universities. They can also provide education for community groups.
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Who Needs a Genetic Counselor?
The National Library of Medicine suggests a number of different reasons to seek out genetic counseling, including:
Training and Educational Requirements for Genetic Counselors
As part of their training, students learn about inherited diseases, the types of tests available, and preventive care to minimize the risk of disease. Before entering an accredited master’s program, many students opt to earn undergraduate degrees in subjects such as psychology, biology, social work, public health, genetics, or nursing.
Benefits of Being a Genetic Counselor
TheU.S. News Best Job Reportof 2023 ranks genetic counselors as #2 for best healthcare support jobs and #25 on the list of top jobs overall. Helping people understand their options and explore their healthcare options can be very rewarding.
Downsides of Being a Genetics Counselor
In many cases, your clients may be facing very difficult and painful decisions. Counseling people in such situations can feel meaningful, but it can also be very stressful and emotionally draining.
Promotions can be limited in this role. Once you have become a counselor, you are likely to stay in the same position over the course of your career unless you choose to move into another position, such as becoming a professor or pharmaceutical consultant.
Summary
Genetic counselors work with patients to assess their risk of health conditions based on their genetic information. They often work directly with the patient, helping to gather family history, explaining genetic tests, and counseling patients on their options. They can also work in the fields of research, education, and industry.
To become a genetic counselor, you need a master’s degree in genetic counseling. Before entering a master’s program, students earn undergraduate degrees in various subjects, including psychology, biology, and nursing.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Human Genome Institute.Gene.Ormond KE.From genetic counseling to “genomic counseling.”Molec Gen & Gen Med. 2013;1(4):189-193. doi:10.1002/mgg3.45National Society of Genetic Counselors.About genetic counselors.American Society of Human Genetics.Genetic counseling researchers shape the future of precision medicine.Cincinnati Children’s.Genetic counseling graduate program: Prospective students.Field T, Brewster SJ, Towne M, Campion MW.Emerging genetic counselor roles within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries: as industry interest grows in rare genetic disorders, how are genetic counselors joining the discussion?.J Genet Couns. 2016;25(4):708-719. doi:10.1007/s10897-016-9946-9National Library of Medicine.Genetic counseling.American Board of Genetic Counseling.Candidate guide.National Society of Genetics Counselors.Genetic Counselor Burnout Often Related to Stress, Depression.Additional ReadingU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Genetic counselors.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Human Genome Institute.Gene.Ormond KE.From genetic counseling to “genomic counseling.”Molec Gen & Gen Med. 2013;1(4):189-193. doi:10.1002/mgg3.45National Society of Genetic Counselors.About genetic counselors.American Society of Human Genetics.Genetic counseling researchers shape the future of precision medicine.Cincinnati Children’s.Genetic counseling graduate program: Prospective students.Field T, Brewster SJ, Towne M, Campion MW.Emerging genetic counselor roles within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries: as industry interest grows in rare genetic disorders, how are genetic counselors joining the discussion?.J Genet Couns. 2016;25(4):708-719. doi:10.1007/s10897-016-9946-9National Library of Medicine.Genetic counseling.American Board of Genetic Counseling.Candidate guide.National Society of Genetics Counselors.Genetic Counselor Burnout Often Related to Stress, Depression.Additional ReadingU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Genetic counselors.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Human Genome Institute.Gene.Ormond KE.From genetic counseling to “genomic counseling.”Molec Gen & Gen Med. 2013;1(4):189-193. doi:10.1002/mgg3.45National Society of Genetic Counselors.About genetic counselors.American Society of Human Genetics.Genetic counseling researchers shape the future of precision medicine.Cincinnati Children’s.Genetic counseling graduate program: Prospective students.Field T, Brewster SJ, Towne M, Campion MW.Emerging genetic counselor roles within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries: as industry interest grows in rare genetic disorders, how are genetic counselors joining the discussion?.J Genet Couns. 2016;25(4):708-719. doi:10.1007/s10897-016-9946-9National Library of Medicine.Genetic counseling.American Board of Genetic Counseling.Candidate guide.National Society of Genetics Counselors.Genetic Counselor Burnout Often Related to Stress, Depression.
National Human Genome Institute.Gene.
Ormond KE.From genetic counseling to “genomic counseling.”Molec Gen & Gen Med. 2013;1(4):189-193. doi:10.1002/mgg3.45
National Society of Genetic Counselors.About genetic counselors.
American Society of Human Genetics.Genetic counseling researchers shape the future of precision medicine.
Cincinnati Children’s.Genetic counseling graduate program: Prospective students.
Field T, Brewster SJ, Towne M, Campion MW.Emerging genetic counselor roles within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries: as industry interest grows in rare genetic disorders, how are genetic counselors joining the discussion?.J Genet Couns. 2016;25(4):708-719. doi:10.1007/s10897-016-9946-9
National Library of Medicine.Genetic counseling.
American Board of Genetic Counseling.Candidate guide.
National Society of Genetics Counselors.Genetic Counselor Burnout Often Related to Stress, Depression.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Genetic counselors.
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