Where you choose to earn your degree in counseling should depend on several factors, including the languages you speak, the types of counseling taught, and the government support for counseling education and careers (after all, you don’t want to graduate and be unable to find work!). Since most counseling degrees are at least two years long, put some thought into the process; it’ll be hard to change once you start a degree program.

That being said, while there are counseling degrees offered in many countries around the world, most degree programs are offered in English-speaking countries, such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. What you learn in English-taught counseling degree programs can easily be taken back to your home country, but paper credentials will be harder to transfer. As is the case with many industries, the best practices, customs, and ideologies may differ between regions and countries, so focus in on what you’d really like to delve into.

While earning your degree in counseling, you will likely be attending a school in a larger city, such as Melbourne, London, Dublin, and New York. An important factor in your decision should be ensuring the accreditation of the program you pick. Non-accredited counseling degree programs can provide a big hindrance to your career, even if the location is amazing. The last thing you want to do is spend years studying only to find yourself unable to “pass go” and collect the salary of an accredited counselor.