Genetic counselors are medical professionals who work as part of the health care team to help patients and families interpret, understand and make decisions about their genetic health. The information below answers some commonly asked questions about the field of genetic counseling for individuals interested in pursuing this exciting career. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a genetic counselor, please see our training information page to learn more about undergraduate and graduate education to prepare you to work in this exciting field.

What do genetic counselors do?

Genetic counselors are healthcare professionals that help people understand how genetics can affect health.

Genetic counselors:

• Have a deep knowledge of genetics and genetic conditions
• Educate patients, families, and healthcare providers about genetic conditions
• Provide emotional support to patients
• Understand and explain genetic testing to patients, families, and healthcare providers

Where do genetic counselors work?

Genetic counselors work in a variety of settings, such as clinical settings such as hospitals or smaller clinics, laboratories, universities or industry positions that focus on genetics. Genetic counselors can work from home or in in-person settings across different specialty areas.

What topics do genetic counselors specialize in?

Genetic counselors can work in clinical settings directly with patients or in non-patient care roles. Clinical genetic counselors may see patients of all ages in a variety of settings. This can include:

• Adults in specialty clinics such as cancer, cardiology, neurology or general clinical settings working with patients with adult-onset genetic conditions.
• Children in pediatric settings such as cancer, cardiology, neurology or general clinical settings working with patients with childhood-onset genetic conditions. 
• Patients in prenatal clinic settings. This may include working with patients or families planning for future pregnancies or who are looking to learn more about genetic factors relating to their current pregnancy.
• Patients who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding and are wondering about the effect of an exposure. Teratology is the study of changes in development, such as birth defects. Genetic counselors working in teratology may speak with patients about factors that can impact the development of a fetus or a child. These factors may include medications, supplements, food and more. You can learn more about teratology at MotherToBaby.

Genetic counselors also frequently work in roles that do not involve working directly with patients:

• Laboratory genetic counselors work for genetic testing companies. Depending on their role, they may have a variety of duties, such as:
  • Interpreting genetic information to understand its clinical impact
  • Coordinating genetic testing and genetic research
  • Explaining genetic test results to patients and providers
• People with education in genetic counseling may work in a variety of other roles and positions. This may include fields such as law, marketing, education, industry and more.

What does a clinical genetic counselor do on a typical day?

• First time patient appointments, which may include:
  • Documenting the patient’s personal and family health history
  • Educating the patient about any relevant genetic  conditions, inheritance patterns and chances of having a genetic condition
  • Explaining genetic testing options, result types and pros and cons of testing
  • Working with the patient to help find the best option for them, which may or may not include performing genetic testing
• Results appointments, which may include
  • Explaining genetic testing results
  • Providing emotional support and resources to assist the patient
  • Discussing what these results may mean for the patient and their biological relatives
• Administrative tasks such as
  • Writing letters for the patients, families and providers to explain results
  • Reading about updates in genetics research
  • Documenting appointment summaries
  • Ordering genetic tests for patients

What is the job outlook?

In a 2023 report from the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), 88% of genetic counselors surveyed reported that they were satisfied with the career of genetic counseling.¹ The average starting salary for full time genetic counselors who graduated in 2022 was around $80,000 a year, with average salary of all genetic counselors being around $104,000 a year.¹ Genetic counseling is a growing field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, genetic counseling is growing at a faster rate than average for all jobs.²

What training is required to become a genetic counselor?

• Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree from an accredited genetic counseling program
• Additional certifications and licensure
  • The American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) examination
    • Upon passing the ABGC exam, genetic counselors earn the title of a certified genetic counselor (CGC). While this title is not a requirement for all genetic counseling jobs, it can increase job prospects.
  • Licensure
    • In the United States, some states require licensure for genetic counselors who work with patients.

References

1. National Society of Genetic Counselors. (2023) 2023 Professional Status Survey. https://www.nsgc.org/Policy-Research-and-Publications/Professional-Statu...
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Genetic Counselors, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/genetic-counselors.htm (visited July 10, 2023)

These resources were developed by UAGCGP student, Juliana Williams (Class of 2024), as part of her capstone project.