Activities | Genetic counselors often work in clinical practice with prenatal, pediatric, adult, and/or cancer genetics patients. They are members of healthcare teams that provide information and support to families whose members may have or are at risk of having various genetic conditions. Many genetic counselors are involved in education of health care professionals as well as the general population. Genetic counselors also coordinate and/or conduct research projects in a variety of settings, serve as consultants, work in the marketing departments of commercial laboratories, and coordinate state run genetics programs. |
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Outlook | Faster-than-average-job growth |
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Median Income | $52,380 per year in 2004 |
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Work Context & Conditions | Most genetic counselors in a clinical setting typically work a 40-hour work week and work in medical office buildings or outpatient areas of hospitals. The job is not physically demanding but can sometimes be emotionally demanding given the nature of some cases. Travel to outside clinics is sometimes required. Genetic counselors may also work in association with academic and/or commercial laboratories. |
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Minimum Education Requirements | Master's Degree
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Skills | Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Writing, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Speaking |
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Abilities | Oral Expression, Written Comprehension, Speech Clarity, Inductive Reasoning, Written Expression, Oral Comprehension |
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Interviews | Barbara Biesecker |
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