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Genetic Counselors
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.
Other titles employers use
Certified Genetic Counselor · Genetic Counselor · Medical Science Liaison · Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor · Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator · Chromosomal Disorders Counselor · Mitochondrial Disorders Counselor · Prenatal Genetic Counselor
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Interpret laboratory results and communicate findings to patients or physicians.
- Discuss testing options and the associated risks, benefits and limitations with patients and families to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Analyze genetic information to identify patients or families at risk for specific disorders or syndromes.
- Provide counseling to patient and family members by providing information, education, or reassurance.
- Write detailed consultation reports to provide information on complex genetic concepts to patients or referring physicians.
- Provide genetic counseling in specified areas of clinical genetics, such as obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology and neurology.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to analytical, helping and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Subjects to know
- Biology
- Psychology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.9 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 1.8 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.5 | Little of the day |
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Medical software
- Analytical or scientific software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 410
- Job openings each year
- 30
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 13.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 410 | 30 | 13.9% |
| Illinois | 290 | 20 | 11.5% |
| Minnesota | 190 | 10 | 11.8% |
| North Carolina | 160 | 10 | 33.3% |
| Texas | 150 | 10 | 25.0% |
| Wisconsin | 150 | 10 | 15.4% |
| Ohio | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Washington | 110 | 10 | 22.2% |
| Missouri | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| New Jersey | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Massachusetts | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Tennessee | 80 | 10 | 33.3% |
| Utah | 80 | 10 | 33.3% |
| Colorado | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| South Carolina | 60 | 10 | 20.0% |
| Indiana | 50 | 0 | — |
| Maine | 30 | 0 | — |
| Nebraska | 20 | 0 | — |
| Rhode Island | 10 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- Degrees each year
- 402
- Admit rate
- 65%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
Texas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 342
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
University of Georgia
- Degrees each year
- 226
- Admit rate
- 37%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of California-Irvine
- Degrees each year
- 401
- Admit rate
- 26%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
University of California-Davis
- Degrees each year
- 87
- Admit rate
- 42%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Degrees each year
- 87
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Degrees each year
- 435
- Admit rate
- 61%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
University of Maryland-College Park
- Degrees each year
- 416
- Admit rate
- 45%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000